Covering Critical Race Theory: Resources and Tips to Debunk Misinformation

This story was updated on Sept. 23, 2021. 

After a more than 40-year-old graduate-level, academic research framework became the center of a national culture war that began last year, misinformation and disinformation infiltrated the public sphere, and internet searches increased.

In 2019, Nexis listed a total of 635 news articles mentioning “critical race theory.” Today, the phrase is cited in more than 5,000 pieces a month. And the vast majority of those stories focus on how history and race are taught in schools.

The topic gained notoriety in the summer of 2020, when Christopher Rufo, a self-described conservative “brawler,” published a critique of civil rights training curricula he said was based on CRT. Since then, education journalists have seen the controversy boil over into their beat as some community members berate school board members and other education leaders, often based on misinterpretations of the framework.

Reporters covering these disputes can best serve their readers by avoiding incendiary generalizations, putting CRT in context, and investigating motives of the most important players in the debate.

“People are using it inappropriately and incautiously, making generalizations and claims they probably shouldn’t make,” Charles A. Price, a Temple University professor, said during a Q&A in August. “And critics are pointing to the worst examples of critical race theory applications rather than the best, and rather than considering its original purpose.”

Reporters seeking to set the record straight can start by arming themselves with knowledge. Here are several resources to help journalists accurately cover CRT and prevent misinformation.

Background, Context and History

Though mostly taught in law schools, CRT – like other theoretical frameworks – can be applied by those in other disciplines in higher education – typically only by graduate students and professors – to help organize research. (Note: I first learned about CRT while doing research for a graduate cultural anthropology course in 2017.) Professors and students utilizing this framework examine scholarly sources on how “U.S. social institutions are laced with racism embedded in laws, regulations, rules, and procedures that lead to differential outcomes by race.”

Education scholars have used CRT to research inequalities, such as the underfunding of majority-Black and Latino school districts or the disproportionate disciplining of Black students.

The framework doesn’t focus on the effects of racism by individuals. And much CRT research isn’t easily accessible to K-12 teachers. So, it seems unlikely it’s widely taught to students in public schools. Additionally, although it shares the same initials, CRT isn’t the same as culturally relevant teaching, “which seeks to affirm students’ ethnic and racial backgrounds and is intellectually rigorous,” according to Education Week.

Basic background:

•  Untangling the controversy around critical race theory. A Temple University education professor discusses CRT’s origins, how it’s taught and its politicization.
• Why are states banning critical race theory? Sociology professor and Brookings fellow Rashawn Ray discusses CRT misinformation and the number of state bans.
•  What is critical race theory? The Oklahoman Reporter Nuria Martinez-Keel discusses the simmering culture war around CRT and how racism in America is taught in public schools in this EWA Radio podcast episode.
• Critical race theory: A brief history. This New York Times article explains why it’s complicated to describe the over 40-year-old academic framework, misinformation, key figures who developed and established CRT, and why one legal scholar sees CRT “like global warming.”
• What is critical race theory, and why are conservatives blocking it? PolitiFact fact checkers explain CRT, criticism against it, and why some allegations – such as the framework’s “tie” to Marxism – is overly broad.
•  Ask the Expert: What is critical race theory and why is it under attack in our schools?  Michigan, like several other states, introduced legislation that would limit how race and racism is taught in classrooms. A Michigan State University education professor explains CRT and why moving away from a “Eurocentric approach” to history has sparked fear.
•  Misleading conflation of equity and critical race theory. Detroit Free Press Reporter Lily Altavena shows how calls for equity in schools have been incorrectly conflated with CRT in this EWA blog post.
•  What is critical race theory? Resources for educators. The College of William & Mary School of Education created this resource, which includes a list of 15 books, news articles and scholarly articles as well as history and background about CRT.
• The folk devil made me do it. Scholars make the connection between the psychological phenomenon “moral panic” and CRT. They give examples of how moral panic has manifested throughout history and how it led to discrimination through laws, such as the Chinese Exclusion Act and the racial profiling of Muslims following 9/11.
• The debate over critical race theory. This audio explainer from NYT’s The Daily details why CRT began dominating headlines and how it became a “rallying cry” for conservatives.
• What is critical race theory, and why is it under attack? The Education Week article explains how certain groups see CRT differently and anti-CRT bans that incorrectly conflate the framework with other multicultural curricula and issues affecting people of color.
• How a conservative activist invented the conflict over critical race theory. The New Yorker details how Christopher Rufo, a conservative activist, turned the once obscure CRT into the “perfect weapon.”

Resources and Reporting Tips

Journalism organizations and education institutions are helping reporters on the ground fight misinformation and disinformation with these resources.

•  Covering critical race theory and the push to keep it out of US public schools: 4 tips for journalists. The Journalist’s Resource gives journalists essential background, CRT scholars and resources to research, questions to ask and more.
•  Critical race theory 101: Essential context for education reporters. Academic experts break down the core tenets of CRT and how the framework has been used in education research and practice in this recording of an EWA webinar. Speakers also address how misinformation is driving the controversy, and what journalists can do to cover the topic fairly and accurately.
•  Critical race theory: understanding the debate. In this on-demand recording, Education Week reporters speak with a lawyer-educator about why CRT has become controversial.
• How a GOP Senate resolution condemning critical race theory distorts the facts. A PolitiFact fact checker explains both sides of the debate and vets an anti-CRT resolution, explaining its “distortions.”

Important Coverage Examples on Critical Race Theory, Race and Racism

Journalists around the country have reported on CRT, and how race and racism is taught in schools. Some of their work is listed here:

• Michigan Republicans aim to limit teaching about racism and sexism. Michigan Republicans proposed legislation to restrict how race is taught in classrooms, such as removing race and gender stereotypes from instruction, Chalkbeat Detroit reports. The bill is reportedly fueled by conservative reactions to New York Times Magazine’s The 1619 Project, but it also comes amid the national CRT debate.
• Critical race theory battles are driving frustrated, exhausted educators out of their jobs. NBC reports on how administrators and teachers either resigned or were fired after battles over diversity and equity initiatives, which often were conflated with CRT.
• Gov. Abbott signs ‘anti-critical race theory’ bill into law over objections from educators and civic groups. Dallas Morning News reporters answer a series of questions about a new anti-CRT law in Texas that bans “a long list of subjects and ideas” that must – or must not – be taught. Opponents argue the law will have a chilling effect in schools.
• Tulsa commits to teaching ‘hard history’ after state restricts antiracist instruction. As K-12 teachers prepared to teach the long-ignored history of the Tulsa Race Massacre to students, Oklahoma lawmakers passed a bill limiting how teachers could teach race and racism to students, The 74 reports. This was the state’s take on critical race theory.
•  The battle over teaching critical race theory. NPR’s Fresh Air looked at how CRT critics are conflating the framework with “anything teaching students about systemic racism, any mention of white privilege.” Guest NBC reporter Tyler Kingkade explains that critics want to limit discussions about race and racism in classrooms.