The Layman’s Intro to Critical Race Theory

Critical Race Theory Has Escaped Into the Wild

It’s true. What was once an odd little plant cultivated on the fringes of academia is now a ubiquitous dandelion, popping its head out of every crack in the sidewalk.

Increasingly, we see its ideas becoming entrenched in the conversations of our friends and neighbors, in the curriculum for our schools and workplaces, and in the pop culture of our entertainment and social media. The ideology fuels both college protests and city-wide destruction as well as kindly-intentioned personal and professional choices across almost every walk of life. It colors how people view the world, how ambiguous actions are interpreted, and provides a set of assumptions that profoundly affects how we tackle pressing social problems, such as poverty, homelessness, drug use, judicial integrity, police accountability, and barriers to education, healthcare, and employment.

Something this far-reaching should be understood by everyone – not just by the social elite.

However, a caution is in order. It’s equally important to understand that most people who are influenced by socially popular ideas would not actually subscribe to Critical Race Theory (CRT) as a whole. Most people couldn’t even define it, let alone defend it. So before you insult (or flatter) a friend or family member by applying a label, stop to hear their real views. Instead of making assumptions, start discussions. And instead of passively absorbing the views and perspectives around you, understand what CRT actually is, what its implications are, and where it does and doesn’t line up with Scripture.

What Is Critical Theory?

Critical Race Theory (or CRT) is a specialized branch of a larger, all-encompassing social theory that goes by many names, but most popularly, it is just called “critical theory” or “critical theories.” These are living theories that are constantly evolving, adapting, and altering their language. Plus, like Christianity, not all adherents believe exactly the same things or apply their beliefs in exactly the same ways. Therefore, it’s overly reductive to paint all critical theorists with the same brush.

However, four core beliefs together form the foundation of the meta-narrative:

Everyone in society is either oppressor or oppressed
According to critical theory, everyone on earth belongs to one of these two classes – there is no such thing as a neutral figure. Furthermore, no one gets to choose which class he or she will inhabit based on his or her actions, attitudes, or behaviors. The class he is born in is the class he will die in, although oppressors may find some partial redemption by actively recognizing their true oppressive nature (becoming “woke”) and fighting against it to liberate the oppressed.

Everyone in the oppressor class is responsible for and a contributor to the oppression, even if unwittingly, and everyone in the oppressed class is victimized, even if they can’t see it.

The oppressed/oppressor classifications run along many social lines, including race, gender, sexual orientation, physical ability, age, religion, and others. The group in each dyad with the most social power is the oppressor and the other, the oppressed. For example, along the lines of race, white people are the oppressor class and People of Color (POCs) are the oppressed.

Because every person inhabits all of these social spheres at once, he may experience many different kinds of oppression, creating a unique experience. For example, a black lesbian woman would be oppressed along three different vectors, not only experiencing three different types of oppression, but a unique form of oppression that only occurs at this junction of oppressed classes. The intersection of these oppressions is its own field of study called intersectionality.

It is also important to note that, according to critical theory, disparities of outcome are direct proof of oppression. To say that personal choices or differing ideologies, values, and practices play a role is a form of oppression because it perpetuates an ideology that normalizes or justifies the status quo. Disparities are caused by and only by oppression in this worldview.
Oppressor classes use social norms, values, truth claims, etc. to stay in power
The official term for this is hegemonic power. When critical theory claims that one group has more power, they don’t necessarily mean they have more legal rights or political persuasion (although that may be part of it). They mean that one group has created and perpetuated an ideology that legitimizes its elevated place in the social hierarchy (and everyone else’ subordination) as right, normal, and natural.

An example of this is the current debate over LGBTQ+ rights. According to critical theory, the very fact that heterosexuality is viewed as normal and natural while homosexuality is not is an example of the hegemonic power of the straight community. Any appeal to morality is seen as just a front in a fight for power and dominance. Even if the LGBTQ+ community were to achieve all the legal rights and protections of marriage, until social norms and popular attitudes treated all forms of sexuality as equally normal, natural, and desirable, they would be victims of the heterosexual group’s hegemonic power.
Lived experience is the highest form of truth
Critical theory holds that all truth claims are bids for power. The oppressors choose which means of arriving at the “truth” are acceptable based on what is best for maintaining their status in society. Absolute objective truth is either unknowable or non-existent. Therefore, traditional means of defining truth, such as logic, the scientific method, and peer-reviewed evidence should hold no more weight than indigenous traditions, ancestral wisdom, mystical experiences, emotion, intuition, or cultural practices.

In addition to this, an oppressor’s constant immersion in a toxic culture has robbed him of the ability to discern reality correctly. Therefore, the lived experience of the oppressed functions as the highest form of truth in every scenario.

There are exceptions to this, however. Since some oppressed persons can internalize their oppressors’ toxic norms, values, and truth claims, becoming self-deluded, any lived experience that conflicts with the basic tenets of critical theory doesn’t count as true lived experience, but as internalized oppression.
The goal of social justice is to strip the oppressors of power
The final end of social justice is a society in which no discernible social hierarchies exist. All members of society have equal social, economic, and political influence in every sphere of life. This includes all beliefs, lifestyles, ideologies, cultures, and practices being viewed as equal and achieving equal results.

Since social justice is the Ultimate Good, anything that contributes to this good is also good. For example discrimination is bad if it increases the social, economic, or political power of white people at the expense of People of Color (POC), but it can be very good, even essential, if it diminishes the power of white people and “liberates” POCs, moving society closer to the goal of equity.

Equity, in this context, is an important word. It is not the same as equality. In a society dedicated to equality, no favoritism is given to any member, regardless of the end result. In a society focused on equity, favoritism may be used as a tool if it achieves the result of a power-neutral society.

What is Critical Race Theory?

Critical Race Theory (CRT) builds on this foundation, but more specifically examines the topic of race. This theory uses many of the same words that pre-CRT society used, but with much more expansive definitions. Understanding the differences in language is essential for understanding Critical Race Theory. Below is a brief and non-comprehensive overview of some of these differences:

Term	Traditional Definition	CRT Definition
Racism	Discrimination or prejudice based on race. Primarily a personal attribute, although it can be codified into rules and laws at the structural level.	Everything covered by the traditional definition, PLUS: Anything that creates or perpetuates racial disparities, regardless of intent. Primarily an institutional attribute, although it can be perpetuated and reinforced at the personal level.
Oppression	Arbitrary and cruel exercise of power. Usually involves the violation of human rights, physical violence, threat of force, risk of imprisonment, or the intentional impoverishment of a group of people.	Everything covered by the traditional definition, PLUS: The way society teaches and rewards compliance with a certain set of ideologies, values, and social norms.
Justice	Everyone being treated impartially, as measured according to a morally upright and objective standard. Who you are does not matter; only what you’ve done.	The equal sharing of power and influence in every form (social, economic, political), with no one group’s morals or standards being elevated above another’s. This balance may be reached by any means necessary; therefore who you are can matter much more than what you’ve done.

In addition to these new definitions and the adoption of the four foundational tenants of critical theory, Critical Race Theory, adds several core beliefs of its own:

Racism is a common, normal, and permanent feature of American society
CRT assumes that racism is the normal way that society operates and is a common, everyday experience for People of Color. Remember, however, that this does not necessarily mean that POCs experience hatred and personal prejudice in their everyday interactions with friends and neighbors. Racism is seen as primarily a structural feature. Things like private property, states rights, traditional values, drug laws, and even the law and legal system itself are seen as institutionalized designs to keep POCs subordinate.
Race is a social construct
Race is not skin color alone, but also incorporates ideas of privilege and status. This is why you may hear things like “people should strive to divest themselves of their whiteness.” Whiteness is viewed as a structural advantage and a set of cultural practices, more than a certain skin tone.
Contemporary racism is hidden beneath “race-neutral” ideas
CRT acknowledges that although personal hatred and blatant prejudice do exist, they are abnormal in our society. It holds that contemporary racism is more subtle and hidden behind socially acceptable ideas like colorblindness, meritocracy, individualism, neutrality, and objectivity, all of which maintain the racial status quo just as effectively as Jim Crow laws.

One of the reasons for this seemingly odd rejection of a neutral playing field is that CRT rejects the existence of a neutral, objective, or moral framework. Therefore ideas like “neutrality,” “objectivity” and “merit” have no meaning. It is not so much cynicism that drives their rejection of these policies (as if white people were using them as an excuse to cover their more blatant racism). It is that these policies attempt to ascribe worth and social credit according to standards based on fantasy. The only way to combat racism, within the CRT framework, is with race-conscious policies and “reverse racism.”
American history is an unreliable record
American history was written by white men to support white male dominance and designed to serve white interests. Because history is written by the winners, it is biased and unreliable. Therefore, historical records must be scrutinized and reinterpreted.
Racism is interlocked with other systems of oppression
Intersectionality is vital for Critical Race Theory. According to this framework, racism cannot be fought without also fighting against all other forms of oppression. Like unweaving a blanket with different colored threads, dismantling racism also requires dismantling sexism, heteronormativity, ableism, classism, Christian privilege, and all other forms of oppression.

Thinking It Through

Although it’s unlike that you’ll meet any true critical race theorists outside of academic, political, or radical social justice groups, the ideas contained within this worldview have begun to permeate our social imagination, appearing everywhere from social media to workplace training classes. It’s important, therefore, to recognize these ideas when you meet them, and understand their origins, but also understand, before you pass judgment or enter arguments, that other people may not fully comprehend their origins or subscribe to all CRT views.

It’s also critical for your personal faith as well as your outward witness to thoroughly examine these ideas and test them against the truths of Scripture. While a thorough examination is beyond the scope of this introduction, here are some thoughts to get you started:

What is a Biblical definition of oppression?
Does the Bible support the idea that we should view one another as oppressors or oppressed based solely on God-given attributes, like race, sex, or a healthy body?
Does it support the idea that we should view one another as oppressors or oppressed based solely on certain gifts and circumstances, such as wealth or social class?
When we find ourselves genuinely oppressed, how does the Bible teach us to deal with our oppressors?
When we find ourselves oppressing others, how does the Bible teach us to deal with our sin and guilt?
Does the Bible support the idea of inherited guilt? Corporate guilt? If so, compare and contrast the Biblical view with the CRT view.
Does the Bible support the idea that all social norms are bad or oppressive?
Does the Bible teach that all social hierarchies are bad or oppressive?
Does the Bible teach that all disparities (differences in power, wealth, education, social status, etc.) are inherently bad or oppressive?
How does the Bible define objective truth?
What means of seeking truth does the Bible encourage? What means are discouraged? Are some means considered more reliable than others?
When evaluating motives, attitudes, goals, or unwitnessed actions, what moral standards does the Bible teach? What guidelines and words of wisdom does it give? How does this compare to CRT’s worldview?
What is a Biblical definition of justice? Does it differ from CRT’s vision of justice? Compare and contrast.

For Further Reading

This overview has barely scratched the surface of a very complex issue with deep roots and a long history. To learn more about this topic, check out the following resources:

Critical Dilemma: The Rise of Critical Theories and Social Justice Ideology – Implications for the Church and Society.By Neil Shenvi and Pat Sawyer.

Cynical Theories: How Activist Scholarship Made Everything About Race, Gender, and Identity – and Why This Harms EverybodyBy Helen Pluckrose and James Lindsay.

Shenvi Apologetics. https://shenviapologetics.com/critical-theory-all-content