About a year ago, Mary Jane Evink was clueless about the phrase “critical race theory.”
She wasn’t alone – many Americans still find it puzzling even after the events of the past decade, which have brought more public attention to racial inequalities.
kAmqFE ?@H[ E96 E6C> :D @>?:AC6D6?E] rF=EFC6 4@?7=:4ED @G6C 4C:E:42= C246 E96@CJ Wr#%X 92G6 EFC?65 =@42= D49@@= 3@2C5 >66E:?8D :?E@ 4@>32E K@?6D]k^Am
kAmp4C@DD E96 4@F?ECJ[ ?F>6C@FD DE2E6 =68:D=2EFC6D 92G6 5632E65 3:==D D66<:?8 E@ 32? r#% :? E96 4=2DDC@@> – :?4=F5:?8 :? |:49:82?[ H96C6 ;FDE E9:D DF>>6C[ D:8?:7:42?E >@G6>6?E H2D >256 E9C@F89 D6A2C2E6 w@FD6 2?5 $6?2E6 3:==D[ 2=E9@F89 E96J 92G6 DE2==65 @FE] xE’D 2DDF>65 E92E 3@E9 H@F=5 36 G6E@65 3J v@G] vC6E496? (9:E>6C :7 E96J C624965 96C 56D<]k^Am
kAm%92E’D =67E tG:?<[ E96 6I64FE:G6 4FCC:4F=F> 5:C64E@C 7@C vC2?5 w2G6? pC62 !F3=:4 $49@@=D[ 2?5 @E96C =@42= 65F42E@CD :? 2 A2CE:4F=2C=J G@=2E:=6 D:EF2E:@?]k^Am
kAm%@ 7:CDE 7F==J 4@?46AEF2=:K6 r#%[ :E >FDE 36 F?C2G6=65 F?56C :ED >2?J =2J6CD] s6G6=@A65 5FC:?8 E96 `hg_D[ E96 ?@H 9@E\3FEE@? A@=:E:42= :DDF6 :D 4@>A=6I[ 6?4@>A2DD:?8 564256D @7 D49@=2CD9:A[ H9:49 :D H9J :E’D =67E D@ >2?J A6@A=6 D4C2E49:?8 E96:C 9625D 2D<:?8ik^Am
k9cm(92E :D 4C:E:42= C246 E96@CJnk^9cm
kAm(:E9 D:8?:7:42?E 5:D28C66>6?ED 6G6? 7C@> E@A\D96=7 6IA6CED @? :ED 6I24E 567:?:E:@?[ E96 4@?46AE :D 32D65 @77 2 DEF5J @7 DJDE6>D] p?5 7@C tG:?<[ 27E6C 7FCE96C C6D62C49[ :E’D F?56CDE@@5 E@ 36 E96 DEF5J @7 9@H E9@D6 4@>A=6I DJDE6>D :? p>6C:42 >2J ?@E 36 72:C 2?5 3:2D65[ H9:=6 :? 72G@C @7 @E96CD 32D65 @? C246]k^Am
kAm%96 4@C6 :562 :D E92E C246 :D 2 D@4:2= 4@?DECF4E[ 2?5 E92E C24:D> :D ?@E >6C6=J E96 AC@5F4E @7 :?5:G:5F2= 3:2D @C AC6;F5:46[ 3FE 2=D@ D@>6E9:?8 6>365565 :? =682= DJDE6>D 2?5 A@=:4:6D]k^Am
kAm%96 A6CD@? H:56=J 4C65:E65 H:E9 4@:?:?8 E96 E6C> :D &r{p $49@@= @7 {2H 2?5 r@=F>3:2 {2H $49@@= AC@76DD@C z:>36C=6 (:==:2>D rC6?D92H] p44@C5:?8 E@ rC6?D92H[ r#% :D ?@E 2 D:?8=6 H@C=5G:6Hj E96 A6@A=6 H9@ DEF5J :E >2J 5:D28C66 @? D@>6 @7 E96 7:?6C A@:?ED – :E’D >@C6 2 G6C3 E92? 2 ?@F?]k^Am
kAm“x? r#%[ E96J’C6 ?6G6C E2=<:?8 23@FE 2? :?5:G:5F2=[ E96J’C6 DEF5J:?8 2 DJDE6> @7 E9:?8D[” tG:?< D2:5] “p? 6I2>A=6i (:E9 9@H 32?<D =@2? >@?6J[ 7@C 564256D E96C6 92G6 366? AC24E:46D @7 C65=:?:?8 – E96J H@F=5?’E =@2? >@?6J 7@C DA64:7:4 A6@A=6 E@ 3FJ 9@>6D H9@ =:G65 :? ?6:893@C9@@5D @7 q=24< 9@>6@H?6CD] %92E 4C62E65 2 D:8?:7:42?E 5:DA2C:EJ @7 H62=E9 @G6C 564256D] #65=:?:?8 :D 2 C24:DE AC24E:46[ 3FE r#% DEF5:6D E92E 2?5 D2JD[ ‘~z[ 9@H 42? H6 4@CC64E E92En’”k^Am
kAmxEUCDBF@jD 2 EC66 E92E 92D 6IA2?D:G6 C@@ED 36?62E9 2?5 23@G6 D@:=[ DEC6E49:?8 72C 2?5 H:56[ 244@C5:?8 E@ 2? 2CE:4=6 3J k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^65H66<]@C8Qm65H66<]@C8k^2m] %92EUCDBF@jD H9J tG:?< D2JD E96JUCDBF@j5 ?665 DA64:7:4 AC:>2CJ D@FC46 5@4F>6?ED 2E E96 8C25F2E6 4@==686\=6G6= E@ 6G6? E9:?< 23@FE 65F42E:?8 DEF56?ED @? r#%UCDBF@jD 32D:D]k^Am
kAm“x? 2?J z\`a AF3=:4 D49@@=[ H6 5@?’E 92G6 E9@D6 5@4F>6?ED E@ DEF5J[” tG:?< D2:5] “r#% :D 23@G6 E96 C:8@C E92E H6 H@F=5 92G6 2E E96 9:89 D49@@= =6G6=] x7 x 5@?’E <?@H H92E :E :D[ x’> AC6EEJ DFC6 H6’C6 ?@E E6249:?8 :E]k^Am
kAm“x7 H6 =@@< 2E @FC D49@@=’D :>AC@G6>6?E A=2?D[ @FC 3F586ED[ E96C6’D ?@E9:?8 E96C6 7@C EC2:?:?8 @? r#%[” D96 4@?E:?F65] “xE :D 4@>A=6E6=J 23D6?E @7 @FC AC24E:46D]”k^Am
k9cmw@H’5 H6 86E 96C6nk^9cm
kAmp 76H J62CD 324<[ 27E6C AC@E6DED @G6C E96 A@=:46 <:==:?8 @7 v6@C86 u=@J5 6=:4:E65 ?6H 4@?G6CD2E:@?D 23@FE DECF4EFC2= C24:D> :? p>6C:42[ !C6D:56?E s@?2=5 %CF>A :DDF65 2? 6I64FE:G6 @C56C 32CC:?8 2?J EC2:?:?8 E92E DF886DE65 E96 &]$] H2D 7F?52>6?E2==J C24:DE]k^Am
kAm%92E 3C@F89E 2 E:52= H2G6 @7 DA64F=2E:@? E@ r#%[ 2?5 FAC@@E65 2C62D @7 65F42E:@?[ DA:==:?8 :?E@ =@42= D49@@= 3@2C5 >66E:?8D]k^Am
kAmp44@C5:?8 E@ #6DE@C6 ~EE2H2’D $F3DE24< H63D:E6 – 2 8C@FA @7 A2C6?ED 2?5 4:E:K6?D 4@?46C?65 @G6C vwp!$’ A@=:4:6D 2?5 4FCC:4F=F> – E9:?8D DE2CE65 E@ 86E 4=@F5J 23@FE 2 J62C 28@] !6C 2? 6>2:= D92C65 3J E96 $F3DE24<[ vwp!$ E62496CD H6C6 4@?46C?65 @? =62G:?8 r#% 4@>A=6E6=J @FE @7 E96:C 4FCC:4F=F> – 6DA64:2==J 5FC:?8 2 E:>6 H96? :E 3642>6 AC@>:?6?E H:E9:? E96 >65:2 2?5 E96 86?6C2= AF3=:4]k^Am
kAm“%96J 5:5?’E =:<6 E92E H6 H6C6 E6249:?8 ?6H E6C>D E92E 925 364@>6 4@>>@?[ =:<6 H9:E6 AC:G:=686[” tG:?< D2:5] “(6 5:5?’E DA6?5 2 =@E @7 E:>6 @? :E 2?5 DEF56?ED 49@D6 E92E =6DD@?]”k^Am
kAm%92E AC@>AE65 tG:?<[ 2=@?8 H:E9 vwp!$’ s:G6CD:EJ[ tBF:EJ[ x?4=FD:@? 2?5 q6=@?8:?8 r@>>:EE66[ E@ F?G6:= 2 AC6D6?E2E:@? E92E DE2E65 4=62C=J @? 9@H E@ 255C6DD E96 E6C> r#% :? E96 4=2DDC@@>] q24<65 3J $E2E6 $FA6C:?E6?56?E |:4926= #:46[ vwp!$ 82G6 E62496CD 2 C6D@FC46 :? A@DD:3=6 D46?2C:@D E92E :?G@=G65 r#%]k^Am
kAmx?4=F565 :? E96 !@H6C!@:?E AC6D6?E2E:@? 2C6 C6:E6C2E:@? DE2E6>6?ED E@ A2C6?ED 2?5 DEF56?ED =:<6ik^Am
kAm“%96C6 2C6 A2CED @7 9:DE@CJ E92E 2C6 F?4@>7@CE23=6[” 2?5 “(6 E6249 E92E[ :E :D E96 ECFE9] w@H6G6C[ :E :D ?@E r#%]”k^Am
kAm%92E 4C62E65 4@?46C? 2>@?8 E96 DE277 @? 9@H E@ 2?DH6C BF6DE:@?D 7C@> A2C6?ED]k^Am
kAm“(6 H2?E65 E@ 8:G6 E96> C6DA@?D6D E92E D9@H65 H6 H6C6 ?@E 7@C>:?8 2? @A:?:@?[” tG:?< D2:5] “%62496CD 2C6 ?6FEC2=] ~FC ;@3 :D E@ =:DE6? E@ DEF56?ED 2?5 ?@E 6?8286 H:E9 E96> :? 2 5632E6]”k^Am
kAmq6?;2>:? #@86CD[ 2 7@C>6C vwp!$ 49@:C :?DECF4E@C[ 6IAC6DD65 9:D 5:DA=62DFC6 H:E9 9@H r#% H2D 36:?8 92?5=65 :? E96 D49@@= 5:DEC:4E 5FC:?8 9:D C6D:8?2E:@? DA6649 =2DE J62C]k^Am
kAm“rC:E:42= C246 E96@CJ :D 2=:G6 2?5 H6== :? vC2?5 w2G6? AF3=:4 D49@@=D[” #@86CD D2:5 2E 2 }@G6>36C a_a` D49@@= 3@2C5 >66E:?8] “x C67FD6 E@ 36 2 A2CE @7 2 5:DEC:4E E92E E62496D 2? :56@=@8J E92E[ 3J 567:?:E:@?[ :D C24:DE] x ?@ =@?86C 49@@D6 E@ 36 2DD@4:2E65 H:E9 E96 :?5@4EC:?2E:@? @7 @FC J@FE9 96C6 :? vC2?5 w2G6? 2?5 @77:4:2==J C6D:8? >J A@D:E:@?]”k^Am
kAmr2C= %C6FE=6C[ AC6D:56?E @7 vC2?5 w2G6?’D q@2C5 @7 t5F42E:@?[ D2:5 r#% :D @7E6? >:DF?56CDE@@5]k^Am
kAm“(96? J@F DE2CE E@ E9:?< 23@FE 5:G6CD:EJ[ E92E’D 8@:?8 E@ @G6C=2A H:E9 E9:?8D E2<:?8 A=246 :? r#%[” 96 D2:5] “r#% :D 2 >F49 3C@256C E@A:4[ E2F89E 2E 2 4@==686 =6G6= – D@>6E9:?8 J@F’5 E2<6 :7 :?E6C6DE65 :? =2H D49@@=] xE’D ?@E D@>6E9:?8 E92E’D C62==J AC6D6?E65 :? 65F42E:@? E@ E96 568C66 E92E D@>6 A6@A=6 E9:?<]k^Am
kAm“x? C682C5D E@ |C] #@86CD[ :E’D F?7@CEF?2E6 3642FD6 :E >2<6D :E =@@< =:<6 :E’D 92AA6?:?8 96C6[” %C6FE=6C 25565] “x’> ?@E DFC6 :7 |C] #@86CD 7F==J F?56CDE@@5 H92E 96 H2D 36:?8 2D<65 E@ 5@[ 2?5 96 =236=65 :E r#%]”k^Am
k9cm$@ H92E ?@Hnk^9cm
kAmw:DE@C:2?D D2J 4F=EFC6 H2CD 2C6 2=H2JD[ 2E D@>6 =6G6=[ 32EE=65 @FE H:E9:? D49@@=D] %96 492C86 E92E D49@@=D 2C6 :?5@4EC:?2E:?8 DEF56?ED :? 2 92C>7F= E96@CJ @C A@=:E:42= >:?5D6E :D 2 =@?8DE2?5:?8 @?6[ 9:DE@C:2?D ?@E6]k^Am
kAmr#% 2AA62CD E@ 36 ?6IE :? =:?6 :? E9:D @?8@:?8 5632E6 2?5 H2D A2CE @7 E9:D J62C’D 6=64E:@?D]k^Am
kAm~EE2H2 x>A24E[ 2 y6?:D@?\32D65 4@?D6CG2E:G6 8C@FA E92E D2JD :E 6I:DED E@ “AC6D6CG6 E96 96C:E286 @7 ~EE2H2 r@F?EJ[” 92D 366? 2=:8?65 4=@D6=J H:E9 6G2?86=:42= r9C:DE:2?D 2?5 492>A:@? 4F=EFC2= :DDF6D :?G@=G:?8 C246[ 86?56C 2?5 23@CE:@?] %96J’G6 D=2>>65 4@F?EJ =6256CD @G6C 5:G6CD:EJ EC2:?:?8 7@C AF3=:4 6>A=@J66D[ :?4=F5:?8 E96 E6249:?8D 2=:8?65 H:E9 r#%]k^Am
kAm“%96 AC@8C6DD:G6 >@G6>6?E D66<D E@ C6A=246 E96 p>6C:42? G2=F6 @7 6BF2=:EJ H:E9 E96 D@4:2=:DE G2=F6 @7 6BF:EJ[” C625D 2 DE2E6>6?E AC@G:565 E@ E96 %C:3F?6 3J ~EE2H2 x>A24E C6AC6D6?E2E:G6D] “tBF:EJ[ 2 4@C6 E6?2?E @7 r#% 2?5 E96 C24:2= 6BF:EJ >@G6>6?E[ 3:?5D FD E@ DE2E6 >2?286>6?E @7 D@4:6EJ 2?5 =625D FD 5@H? E96 C@25 E@ D@4:2=:D>] tBF:EJ ;6@A2C5:K6D =:36CEJ]k^Am
kAm“(6 @AA@D6 AC@>@E:@? @7 5:G:D:G6 E6249:?8D 2=:8?65 H:E9 r#% 2?5 C64@8?:K6 E92E 2?J E6249:?8D E92E AC@>@E6 2 H@C=5G:6H E92E 5:G:56D A6@A=6 244@C5:?8 E@ A6C46:G65 7@C>D @7 @AAC6DD:@? 2C6 2 |2CI:DE E@@= 2:>65 2E C65F4:?8 A6CD@?2= 286?4J[ 564@?DECF4E:?8 p>6C:42? :?DE:EFE:@?D[ 2?5 AC@>@E:?8 D@4:2=:D> 2?5^@C 4@>>F?:D>[” E96 DE2E6>6?E 4@?E:?F65]k^Am
kAmp?5 6G6? H:E9 vwp!$UCDBF@j 4FCC6?E DEF56?E 3@5J 5@>:?2E65 3J r2F42D:2?D U?52D9j gf A6C46?E H9:E6 2?5 @?=J `]c A6C46?E q=24<[ 244@C5:?8 E@ k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^FD?6HD]4@>QmFD?6HD]4@>k^2m U?52D9j E96 D49@@=\286 A@AF=2E:@? :D D=@H=J 364@>:?8 >@C6 5:G6CD6]k^Am
kAm!6C92AD E92E’D H9J A2C6?ED 2C6 364@>:?8 >@C6 4@?46C?65 @G6C H92E’D E2F89E – DA64:7:42==J :?G@=G:?8 C246[ 244@C5:?8 E@ tG:?<]k^Am
kAm“|2J36 A6@A=6 5@?’E H2?E AF3=:4 D49@@=D E@ 6G6? E2=< 23@FE C246[” D96 D2:5] “%96 AC@3=6> H:E9 E92E :D[ @FC DEF56?ED 2C6 4FC:@FD 2?5 E96J 5@?’E H2?E E@ 36 =67E 369:?5] %96J H2?E E@ <?@H 2?5 92G6 2 7@CF> E92E’D 72:C 2?5 D276 E@ E2=< 23@FE E96D6 D6?D:E:G6 E@A:4D[ A6C:@5] #246 92AA6?D E@ 36 @?6 @7 E96>]k^Am
kAm“~7 4@FCD6[ C246 4@>6D FA :? @FC 4FCC:4F=F>[ AC:>2C:=J :? @FC D@4:2= DEF5:6D 4=2DD6D :? 9:DE@CJ[” tG:?< 4@?E:?F65] “#24:D> 92D 2 DEC@?8 C@=6 :? 9:DE@CJ 2?5 H6 E6249 E92E :E 6I:DED[ :E’D 92C5 E@ 5:D>2?E=6[ 2?5 H6 >2J ?@E 92G6 4C62E65 E96 DJDE6>D @C A2CE:4:A2E65 E92E 92G6 366? 4C62E65 :? C24:D>[ 3FE H6’G6 ?@H :?96C:E65 @FC 4FCC6?E D:EF2E:@?] %96C67@C6[ H6 92G6 E@ 3C:?8 :E E@ =:89E 2?5 5@ =6DD @7 :E]”k^Am
kAm!6C92AD >@DE :>A@CE2?E=J[ E9C@F89 @?8@:?8 5:D4FDD:@?[ E96 G:D:@? 7@C 4FCC:4F=F> 2E vwp!$ C6>2:?D EC2?DA2C6?E – 3J 2?5 =2C86 5FC:?8 2 E:>6 H96C6 :E >2J 36 ?66565 >@DE]k^Am
kAm“$@>6 A6@A=6 766= =:<6 H6 92G6 2 C6DA@?D:3:=:EJ E@ C6A2:C @C 255C6DD F?72:C AC24E:46D[” tG:?< D2:5] “(6 :?G6DE 2 =@E @7 >@?6J :? 4C62E:?8 2 4F=EFC6 @7 42C:?8 2?5 36=@?8:?8 – H6 AC24E:46 42AEFC:?8 <:5D’ 962CED] (6’C6 ?@E 96C6 E@ 564:56 >2C8:?2=:K2E:@?[ 2?5 H6’C6 C6D:DE:?8 ;F58:?8 2?5 AFEE:?8 A6@A=6 :?E@ 3F4<6ED]k^Am
kAm“pE vwp!$[ H6 5@ 2== H6 42? D@ 6G6CJ@?6 766=D =:<6 E96J 36=@?8[” D96 25565] “(6 H2?E E@ 92G6 4@?G6CD2E:@?D 23@FE 9:DE@C:4 6G6?ED[ 2?5 >2<6 DEF56?ED 766= D276 2?5 AC@5F4E:G6] xE’D 23@FE 4C62E:?8 2? 6?G:C@?>6?E H96C6 DEF56?ED 42? E9C:G6]”k^Am
(2) comments
I appreciate the Tribune's publication of the article that helps to not only explain what CRT is, but also illuminates how these unsubstantiated claims about our local K-12 schools utilizing this higher-ed legal theory to "indoctrinate" students in socialist ideology is just the latest manifestation of the kind of culture wars historians tell us are all too often "battled out within schools."
These battles are waged at the expense of our students. I applaud the efforts of GHAPS executive curriculum director Mary Jane Evink for GHAPS and the rest of the school system's staff for showing up every day to ensure our students receive the high-quality education our area schools are known for.
Excellent article regarding CRT and the fact that it is a college level, frequently law school subject. It is not “taught” at the K-12 school level regardless of what some would have us believe. It’s a political touchpoint that some have used to foster divisions between us that do not exist. Thank you to the Tribune and Mary Jane Evink for helping to clarify what CRT is and what it isn’t.
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.