Contemporary Art & Critical Pedagogy Week 6 – Oct. 8 What is Critical Race Theory (CRT) and how is it related to Critical Pedagogy? How can CRT inform how we teach and learn with our students?

Interviews about Class

Critical Race Theory A framework for analyzing (as well as changing) the realities of race and racism in society today. Like Critical Pedagogy, CRT is not a thing in and of itself. CRT continues to inspire and inform Critical Pedagogy. CRT doesn’t do anything directly but is a tool we can use as critical educators to check ourselves and look at the policies, stories, curricula, and other narratives around us and our students.

What are the key tenets of Critical Race Theory? Gloria Ladson Billings, “Just what is CRT and what’s it doing in a nice field like Education?” Richard Delgado & Jean Stefancic, “Critical Race Theory: An Introduction” and Chapter 2, Second Edition

Storytelling - Narratives of people of color are integral to understanding any discipline or field of knowledge . Colorblindness, meritocracy, and other forms of race neutrality are dominant discourses and must be questioned. White experience is the dominant and pervasive; Racism is endemic. It is enmeshed and seems both normal and natural. Intersectionality - and interdisciplinary Historical and contextual analysis/understanding is necessary - race is shaped and formed over time through historical experiences. Working towards dismantling racial injustice and by extension all forms of social/racial/economic injustice.

Racism is endemic to American life. Education must name and discuss the pervasive reality of racism in US society, which serves to disadvantage people of color. Dominant claims of neutrality, objectivity, colorblindness, and meritocracy must be challenged. Education should expose and deconstruct seemingly “colorblind” or race neutral policies and practices. Contextual/historical analysis is necessary. Education - including curriculum and instruction - must be contextualized and historicized. The experiential knowledge of people of color and our communities of origin should be integrated into discourse and analysis across disciplines and fields of knowledge. Education should legitimize and promote the voices and narratives of people of color as a source of critique of the dominant social order. CRT is interdisciplinary (crosses disciplinary fields such as law and politics or economics, etc.) and intersectual (ie takes into account how race, class, and gender are interdependent and connected). Education should reflect an interdisciplinary approach that acknowledges the intersectional nature of race, class, and gender. CRT works toward ending racial oppression as part of the broader goal of ending all forms of social oppression—it has a social justice focus. Education must challenge race neutral lessons and superficial approaches to multicultural curriculum that utilize a tourist-like approach to culture and/or privileges the dominant culture.

How do the artworks from this week exemplify or connect to the key tenets of critical race theory?

LaToya Ruby Frazier, Landscape of the Body (Epilepsy Test), 2011 LaToya Ruby Frazier, Landscape of the Body (Epilepsy Test), 2011. Gelatin silver print, mounted on archival museum cardboard, wooden frame. LaToya Ruby Frazier, Fifth Street Tavern and U.P.M.C. Braddock Hospital on Braddock Avenue, 2011. Gelatin silver photograph, 20 x 24 in.

Ghana Think Tank, Black Lives Matter Street Signs, 2015 Ghana Think Tank, Black Lives Matter Street Signs, 2015. Installed on 14th Street between Alphabet City and 10th Avenue.

Kerry James Marshall, On Museums: Kerry James Marshall, Heirlooms and Accessories, 2003, Ink-jet prints on paper in wooden artist’s frames w/ rhinestones, three parts: 57″ x 54″ each Kerry James Marshall, On Museums: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5mIklsZl5s Being an Artist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwcldfebtVs Kerry James Marshall, Untitled (painter), 2009 from the “Black Romantic” series

CRT & History CRT & Intersectionality CRT & Human Development Discuss and chart the key ideas from this week’s readings and connect to artworks and videos… then pose at least 2 questions for discussion for each theme.

Themes and questions related to CRT… CRT & History Education/knowledge (of the past) is power. How do we as educators find the primary sources to tell the stories that have been written out of history or undertold? How do we foster an inclusive curriculum that is sensitive to all. How can we unteach what is already endemic? CRT & Intersectionality Using intersectionality to take victimization and demonization out of the equation - eliminate the binary of good/bad, oppressed/oppressor. We are all privileged and underprivileged simultaneously. Why does CRT place such a large interest on class vs. gender/sexuality, disability? How can contemporary art reflect or reinvent the intersectionality of CRT? Do you work within the white construct (Brown V Board of Ed) or do you work outside the system to dismantle and create social justice/necessary change (Audre Lorde)? CRT & Human Development Alignments/connections between developing racial awareness and awareness around intersectionality? How do you individualize education (growth of awareness) while students are at different phases in their formation/awareness? How do you make learning about racism pragmatic, not blaming of an individual? How do you acknowledge, work with different cultural, familial socializations?