Critical Race Theory in Political Education

Abstract

This article addresses the question of how the critical race theory can be anchored in school political education and what conditions must be created for this. For this purpose, the first step is to look at the critical race theory as an analytical tool, before focusing on which student and teacher competencies critical race theory can promote.

Critical Race Theory and Antiracism: Lost in Translation

“…Although one might find it difficult to believe, the seemingly translated terms are almost contradictory, which explains the incompatibility of Fereidooni's account of CRT and antiracism with the seminal English texts on these issues. Kendi's antiracism clearly does not claim-as Fereidooni states-"that racism-free spaces can be created" (Fereidooni, 2022). On the contrary, Kendi argues "there is no such thing as a nonracist or race-neutral policy" (Kendi, 2019, p. 18), and that being antiracist does not imply an external position towards or a negation of racism.…”

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This response to Karim Fereidooni's article "Critical race theory in political education" does not deal with either of that article's two premises. Both the explicit thesis, that it is necessary to "tackle racism through education" (Fereidooni, 2022), and the implicit one, that the practice of political education requires a theoretical foundation, are hardly in need of defense. However, Fereidooni presents us with only two options regarding this choice of theory and decisively argues in favor of one.

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“…In his article "Critical Race Theory in Political Education" (Fereidooni, 2022), Karim Fereidooni argues in favor of CRT in political education. He interprets the CRT principle of the universal prevalence, permanence and normality of racism (see point 3 above) -that is, the assumption "that racism is a structural feature of society" (Fereidooni, 2022) and not an aberration -as an invitation to all people to struggle against racism.…”

“…In his article "Critical Race Theory in Political Education" (Fereidooni, 2022), Karim Fereidooni argues in favor of CRT in political education. He interprets the CRT principle of the universal prevalence, permanence and normality of racism (see point 3 above) -that is, the assumption "that racism is a structural feature of society" (Fereidooni, 2022) and not an aberration -as an invitation to all people to struggle against racism. By evading the simple binary of "perpetrator (of racism) and victim (of racism)" (Fereidooni, 2022), CRT is not divisive and provides White people with the basic "ability to be critical of racism" (Fereidooni, 2022), which are arguably both necessary conditions for the possibility of an pedagogical approach towards racism.…”