[__ Science __ ] What Should Christians Think About Critical Race Theory?

[AIG.com]

A report issued by the U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, argues “race should no longer be used to describe populations in most genetics studies.”

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[Barbarian]

The far right went ballistic some years ago, when the Human Genome Project (which was run by Dr. Fauci's boss) showed that there are no biological human races and that race is cultural construct.

But CRT is about the cultural constructs, not genetics. The key to CRT is that it downplays shaming racists, in favor of addressing the structural aspects of society that encourage racism. That approach is much more likely to be effective against racism in America. This is why white supremacists are so frightened of it.

 

[FrumiousBandersnatch]

Unfortunately, the AnswersInGenesis article linked in the OP criticises a straw-man version of CRT - the trope of identifying it with radical or extremist views.

 

[Barbarian]

Unfortunately, the AnswersInGenesis article linked in the OP criticises a straw-man version of CRT - the trope of identifying it with radical or extremist views.

Yes. Every now and then, you see a news report of some idiot screaming about CRT taught in public schools. But it's only taught in graduate-level university courses. As you suggest, they've used "CRT" to describe things like teaching that all humans have equal rights.

 

[Free]

Yes. Every now and then, you see a news report of some idiot screaming about CRT taught in public schools. But it's only taught in graduate-level university courses.

Well, yes and no. CRT as a theory is taught in higher education, but it has been taught in universities for decades to those who then teach undergraduates and even children. So, while the theory is not explicitly taught to children, its ideas absolutely are.

As you suggest, they've used "CRT" to describe things like teaching that all humans have equal rights.

Not necessarily. It's teachings like systemic racism, decolonization, and white fragility.

This is one of the top Christian apologists that speaks out against Critical Theory:

https://shenviapologetics.com/topic-culture/

 

[Barbarian]

Well, yes and no. CRT as a theory is taught in higher education, but it has been taught in universities for decades to those who then teach undergraduates and even children. So, while the theory is not explicitly taught to children, its ideas absolutely are.

Maybe so. I notice that generations following mine are generally less intolerant of other races.

Not necessarily. It's teachings like systemic racism

That's a positive thing. Suppose, as often happens, it's discovered that in a particular school, black students are given more severe punishment than white students for the same offenses. Would it be more useful to investigate the principal for possible racist attitude, or would it be better to look at the structure of the discipline policy to see if there were things in it that promoted a difference in outcomes?

Notice that one doesn't even have to assume racist intent to consider the issue. To me, looking for structural causes of racism, rather than finding someone to blame, makes more sense and would probably be more effective in reducing racial discrimination. Which is probably why racists are so fearful of CRT.

 

[Barbarian]

This is not to say that attitudes aren't important. For example, in most places more black motorists are stopped than white motorists, even though white motorists are more often caught with contraband than black motorists are. But, the disparity in the number stopped for each race goes away when you look only at night time stops.

The difficulty in identifying the race of the motorist at night makes a huge difference in the relative numbers of black and white motorists stopped. It's hard to see how systemic racism can be blamed for this.

 

[Free]

Maybe so. I notice that generations following mine are generally less intolerant of other races.


That's a positive thing. Suppose, as often happens, it's discovered that in a particular school, black students are given more severe punishment than white students for the same offenses. Would it be more useful to investigate the principal for possible racist attitude, or would it be better to look at the structure of the discipline policy to see if there were things in it that promoted a difference in outcomes?

Notice that one doesn't even have to assume racist intent to consider the issue. To me, looking for structural causes of racism, rather than finding someone to blame, makes more sense and would probably be more effective in reducing racial discrimination. Which is probably why racists are so fearful of CRT.

There are a number of people in the black community that deny systemic racism exists. For example:

https://slowtowrite.com/critical-race-theory-in-canadian-schools/

That some people are still racist and some companies or institutions may have some implicitly racist policies, doesn't mean there is such a thing as systemic racism.

CT is (purposefully) divisive. At least the only logical conclusion is its utter collapse on itself as people begin to realize how wrong it is.

 

[Barbarian]

There are a number of people in the black community that deny systemic racism exists.

I'm sure there are. I think structural racism is a more accurate term. Systemic racism implies that it's intentional, and often, it isn't.

That some people are still racist and some companies or institutions may have some implicitly racist policies, doesn't mean there is such a thing as systemic racism.

Personal racism and structural racism are different things. For example, those studies about racial disparities in traffic stops could be because many police are overtly racist. The fact that the disparity doesn't happen at night, suggests that whatever it is, depends on getting a good look at the driver.

But it could be that older cars are stopped selectively for reasons unrelated to racism, and black people tend to keep their cars longer than others. If so, there's a relatively easy fix. Structural racism is a lot easier to fix than personal racism. Go for the low-hanging fruit first.

CT is (purposefully) divisive.

I like the focus away from blaming and toward the institution and rules in society that enable racism. No one likes to be a bad guy, but most people would agree that the structure of society should not have a bias, even if unintentional.