The Teacher and Preacher in me Agree

In addition to being a Unitarian Universalist minister, I’m an educator, having retired from a long tenure at Georgia Southern as a Professor and former Department Chair for Curriculum, Foundations, and Reading.  In writing this letter, I’m drawing my background from both of those careers.  I am very concerned about the proclamations by many leaders regarding banning the teaching of “critical race theory” (CRT) as well as “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion” (DEI) in our schools.  One high ranking state official weighed in before the Cherokee County ban with a letter to the state board of Education calling CRT a “dangerous ideology,” and encouraged them to consider banning any curriculum related to it.  This shows either a deep misunderstanding of Critical Race Theory, or a REAL attempt to keep students from using the highly valued “critical thinking skills” when thinking about “Race” or “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.”  Why would we want to discourage critical thinking about anything?

Here are some things I’d like your readers to consider when they hear about this subject.

1^st:  CRT is not a curriculum.  It’s a theory.  It is complex and has evolved.  There is no simple clear definition.  It began about 40 years ago as a framework for academics to use when looking at race and racism.  I was introduced to it by my colleagues in education who had done research using this framework.  And, in fact, I realized that much of my work was connected to it as well, though I did not have the words or expertise to be able to articulate that before doing more extensive reading.  A relatively simple explanation was provided by Donna Lowry on a recent GPB podcast.  She states CRT supports an understanding that “race issues are embedded in all aspects of society, legal systems, policies.”  It also acknowledges “the legacy of slavery, the legacy of segregation on Black Americans and other people of color continue to permeate the social fabric of this nation.”  

2^nd:  If my fellow white boomers and others are honest with ourselves, there are a lot of things that were “whitewashed” for us as we were growing up in the Southeast.  Like Ty Seidule, author of Robert E. Lee and Me, we were taught a version of truth about the “war between the states” and slavery that highlighted the “lost cause” mythology.  And if we had any privileges at all, we were taught that it was solely due to hard work, that everyone had an equal opportunity for success.  This, my friends, was not so, and still is not so.  After speaking along with members of the NAACP as well as many progressive white folks about the need to move away from a very biased tracking procedure in the early 90’s, a former classmate said to me, “Jane, you were brought up right here with the rest of us and still live here.  What in the world happened to you?”  I responded, “I read.”  I wish I had also said, “I learned to think critically.”  In effect, critical race theory is simply thinking critically about racism.  If we want all our young people to be successful in the 21^st century, we need for them to learn critical thinking skills and certainly, to apply those skills in thinking about issues of oppression. 

3^rd:  Utilizing critical race theory is the right and ethical answer to many of the problems we face today as we attempt to adapt to a changing world.  And this is where I wear my ministerial hat.  My calling as a minister is to be a voice in southeast Georgia sharing (with a deeply southern accent) the need for us to repent.  That’s right – repent.  Recognize that many of us have followed others into a world view where we do not recognize the structures that systematically oppress many folks.  We have been blinded by our own previous failures in education and by our own unwillingness to open our minds and hearts to a new way of thinking that is more inclusive and equitable for all people.  But perhaps, we can one day sing the words of that old hymn with new meaning, “I once was blind, but now I see.”  Yes, that amazing grace is available for us to all be better people, to think more critically, and love more deeply.  And then after we repent, we can move into the world and work for peace, liberty, and justice for all!  May it be so!

Thank you for this opportunity to share some of my thoughts on these issues with my fellow southerners.  I know that many may disagree with me.  I’m not asking for “a fight.”  I’m asking that we listen to one another.  Thanks for listening to me by reading this letter. I too, am listening and hoping we can build some bridges between our divisions.