1. Introduction to Critical Race Theory (CRT)
English 10B
Spring 2013

2. What does race have to do with it?
When were you first aware of yourself as a member of a particular racial group?
When were you first aware of people from other races?
When did you first witness or experience someone being treated differently because of his or her racial group?
When was a time you realized that you would be treated differently because of your race?
What is one other significant event in your life related to race or racism?

3. Step to the Line - Activity
What did you notice during and/or after the activity?
How did you feel about the questions?
What thoughts do you have on the idea of race and privilege?
What factors do you believe go into ultimate success in life?

4. Common misconceptions on the topic of race…
Race is not a biological category, but an idea, a social construction
Saying that color doesn’t matter, actually draws attention to the fact that we are paying attention to the fact that colors exist.
Racism is not a Black/White issue – but also affects everyone in society – White, Black, Latino, Asian, Native American, bi-racial, and multi-racial people – because of the social advantages and disadvantages associated with race.

5. So, what is Critical Race Theory?
It is a specific set of principles and theories that actively engage general racial theories of particular times and/or social contexts.
Along with class and gender, it completes the main set of three oppressed social groups.

6. What are the purposes of CRT?
To advance social justice ideas to the general public, and scholars, while also aiming to even out social inequalities
Study the intersections between different groups of minorities. Recognizing that race and racism work with and through gender, ethnicity, class, sexuality and/or nation as systems of power
Study the significance of mass media and popular culture in the distribution of power and the perception of minorities

7. What does CRT ask us to focus on?
Is this good for people of color (we don’t say “colored people”)?
How does this portray people of color?
What conclusions seem to be made about people of color?
What intersectionalities (race + gender, class, ethnicity, sexuality) can you find and what do they mean?

8. What perspective do you take when using Critical Race Theory?
The perspective of the minority, of the oppressed, of the person who is viewed as “other”

9. Simply put…
Critical Race Theory examines how people of different races are portrayed.

10. Let’s try it out…
Take a look at the advertisement from the 1920’s to the right.
Write down what you see – as if you were describing the photo to me over the telephone…

11. Analysis using Critical Race Theory
Use the questions below to
critique the ad through the lens
of CRT.
Is this good for people of color (we don’t say “colored people”)?
How does this portray people of color?
What conclusions seem to be made about people of color?
What intersectionalities (race + gender, class, ethnicity, sexuality) can you find and what do they mean?

12. And so… After your analysis, what does it all mean?
What can you take away from this?
What insight does this give you about the society that Jem and Scout are living in?

13. Let’s try an ad that is more modern…
Take a look at the advertisement from 2012 to the right.
Write down what you see – as if you were describing the photo to me over the telephone…

14. Analysis using Critical Race Theory
Use the questions below to
critique the ad through the lens
of CRT.
Is this good for people of color (we don’t say “colored people”)?
How does this portray people of color?
What conclusions seem to be made about people of color?
What intersectionalities (race + gender, class, ethnicity, sexuality) can you find and what do they mean?

15. And so… After your analysis, what does it all mean?
What can you take away from this?
What insight does this give you about the society we live in?

16. Then there is this gem… This ad is brought to us by a Ukrainian travel
company who is trying
to promote travel to
Asia.
What do you think? Racist? Why?
Explain using the analysis questions that have to do with CRT…

17. Questions to ask…
Is this good for people of color (we don’t say “colored people”)?
How does this portray people of color?
What conclusions seem to be made about people of color?
What intersectionalities (race + gender, class, ethnicity, sexuality) can you find and what do they mean?