I’ve Been Exposed To Critical Race Theory In High School… Is That A Bad Thing?

“Step forward if your parents graduated from college. Step back if you’ve ever felt judged for the color of your skin.” These were the instructions echoing across the classroom during our 10th-grade privilege walk. I glanced around as my classmates shuffled forward and backward, the room filling with uneasy tension. After that day, I came to a realization: The Republicans were right! “Critical Race Theory” really was being taught in high schools—but why is that a bad thing?

As I thought more about what I learned that day after the privilege walk, I realized this wasn’t the first time I had encountered a version of Critical Race Theory, and it definitely wouldn’t be the last. But first, what is Critical Race Theory?

In 2022, it became the political lightning rod for the right. Critical Race Theory was the issue that propelled Ron DeSantis to prominence and catalyzed a years-long Republican crusade against “wokeism.” For a term that’s so politically charged, what does it actually mean? According to Oxford Reference, Critical Race Theory is defined as “An argument that racism, white privilege, and white supremacy are deep-seated within American culture and history and that such racism, privilege, and power have negatively impacted and continue to negatively impact non-whites on various levels.”[i] Essentially, it argues that racism and white supremacy are embedded in American systems and continue to harm racial minorities.

To what extent have I been exposed to this in high school?

I think it first began in 9th grade, albeit to a relatively minor extent. That year, we were assigned several novels as required reading. One of those books was The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas.

The Hate U Give revolves around the experiences of Starr, an African American teenager growing up in a low-income, predominantly Black neighborhood, while struggling to navigate her identity at the predominantly white prep school she attends.[ii] The novel explores themes of systemic racism, police brutality, and criminal justice inequities, particularly in the aftermath of Khalil’s death—Starr’s childhood friend—who was fatally shot by a white police officer despite being unarmed.

As a class, we had a variety of discussions about the role racial oppression plays in modern American society. After reading the book and watching the movie adaptation, we were assigned a project where each student chose a contentious social issue to present. I chose to focus on Colin Kaepernick, the NFL quarterback who knelt during the national anthem to protest police brutality. The thesis of my presentation was that Kaepernick should be applauded for his activism.

Interestingly, there wasn’t a single presentation that didn’t align with a progressive or left-leaning viewpoint. The atmosphere didn’t feel like one of exploration but rather agreement, as though there was an implicit expectation about the “correct” stance to take.

The following year, also in my English class, we participated in a privilege walk. Our teacher lined us up in the center of the room, making us all hold hands. She then asked us to take a step forward or backward depending on whether a specific scenario applied to us. For example, she asked us to step forward if we lived in a two-parent household. I stayed in place as I watched many of my classmates step forward, feeling the tension as the distance stretched between our hands.

Other questions focused on race and ethnicity. For instance, students were asked to step backward if they were Black or Latino. This inherently conveyed that being African American or Latino is a disadvantage—a key idea aligned with Critical Race Theory.

During my senior year, also in English class, we were introduced to the “power wheel.” On each desk was a circular diagram divided into slivers labeled with categories such as “race,” “gender,” and “immigration status.” Each sliver was divided into three sections: the innermost section represented the group with the most power, the middle section indicated less power, and the outermost section represented those deemed oppressed.

According to the wheel, African Americans and Latinos were labeled the most oppressed racial groups, while whites were identified as the most powerful and privileged.

In the same class, we also analyzed literature through various critical lenses. One of these was the Marxist lens, which examines power structures and class struggles. While Marxism isn’t the same as Critical Race Theory, it could be argued that the two are adjacent, as CRT can be seen as a form of racial Marxism.

While I do believe it’s clear that I’ve been exposed to Critical Race Theory—or at least its foundational ideas—over the last several years, it’s much less clear whether this has had a negative or positive effect on my education as a whole. Republicans often rail against Critical Race Theory, while many Democrats claim that it’s not being taught at all. According to them, schools are simply teaching American history, as it should be.

But is that entirely true? It’s obvious that schools are going beyond just history lessons when it comes to discussions of racial issues. From novels like The Hate U Give to privilege walks and power wheels, these lessons aim to make students think critically about systemic racism and privilege. But what if these discussions are beneficial?

Overwhelming evidence indicates that systemic racism is very real. The disparities faced by racial minorities in many American systems—especially in the criminal justice system—are staggering. If schools are tasked with educating children to critically analyze societal structures, doesn’t it make sense to teach Critical Race Theory?

Critics, however, would argue that when schools teach African American and Latino students they are oppressed, it robs them of the agency to define their own paths and overcome challenges. Additionally, some claim that teaching white students about systemic racism might make them feel guilty for the actions of their ancestors—actions they had no control over.

Regardless of one’s personal view on Critical Race Theory, I believe it’s important to recognize that the fundamental ideas of CRT are being taught in some schools. The extent to which this ideology is being taught, or how often, remains largely unknown. That said, even if it’s only being taught in a handful of schools, the debate should not center around whether or not it’s being taught but instead about the merits of teaching Critical Race Theory.