7. Racial Equity Detours + in Higher Education: How Critical Race Theory Is Undermined by Teacher Education Nice

Abstract

It is not a surprise that the most virulent attackers of Critical Race Theory (CRT) are from the conservative right who would prefer racial status quo to racial change. More insidious, however, is the undermining of and resistance to racial equity work in higher education by those who openly and proudly state their professed beliefs in diversity, equity, and inclusion. In this article, the authors describe a self-study that was designed to make sense of – and work through – the myriad cognitive and emotional turmoil created when confronted with resistance from white higher education personnel whom were previously counted on to support racial equity efforts. The experiences shared, both with the overtly hostile and violent responses from conservative groups and from the subversively hostile “nice” white colleagues, can inform others who currently do or are interested in joining the racial equity movements in this era of anti-CRT legislation but face pushback from those they least expected.