Critical race theory has been making headlines as the latest bogeyman for white conservatives’ racial anxiety and resentment, transforming typically sedate school board meetings into reality TV-worthy showdowns for parents hell-bent on shielding their kids from portrayals of America as anything less than exceptional. Twelve states have banned teaching CRT or limited educators' discussions of racism and sexism as of August 12, according to Education Week.
Even those of us who haven’t stepped foot in a classroom in a while have gotten swept up in the debate — including the progressive-minded among us who wished we’d learned about our country's racist origins and its ripple effects sooner, before the “onward and upward” narrative had taken hold.
