What is Critical Race Theory: Diving into the debate and Florida's ban on CRT

Critical Race Theory is a hot-button topic that a lot of people have an opinion on. But how many people can explain exactly what it is? Florida recently banned Critical Race Theory from being taught in public schools, one of over a dozen states trying to make that move. Advocates call CRT a lesson in social justice, while critics call it reverse racism. WESH 2’s Marlei Martinez breaks down exactly what Critical Race Theory is and the reason everybody’s talking about it now. "How would you define Critical Race Theory?" WESH 2's Marlei Martinez said."Indoctrinating," said Angie Smith, who was visiting Florida."What is the definition of Critical Race Theory?" Martinez asked."I don’t think I can define it, but I think it’s allowing the truth out about how we’ve treated people," George Leach said. "Be it bad, good, whatever, it’s our history, so it is who we are." "Do you have any thoughts on it?" Martinez said."I don’t even know what that is," said Akayla Harper, an Oviedo High School student.Critical Race Theory is the latest buzz words in the classroom, but what is it all about? "In the most basic terms, simply put: What is Critical Race Theory?" Martinez said."So, the easiest way to understand it is that it teaches you to understand your state institutions: the Department of Education, the Department of Corrections, from the perspective of race. The best analogy is to think about it in terms of gender studies," said Dr. Eric Smaw, a philosophy professor at Rollins College.Smaw has been a philosophy professor at Rollins College for 15 years. This will be the first year he teaches a Critical Race Theory class. He said universities first started formally teaching CRT in the 1970s. Fast forward to today, Florida's governor does not want to hear about it in public schools at all."We have this ban now at Florida public schools that they can’t teach it. But, were they teaching it to begin with?" Martinez said."This is a great question. I sometimes think of this conversation as a solution in search of a problem. No schools, certainly not high schools in the state of Florida or anywhere else would have been teaching Critical Race Theory because it’s scholarly work. You’ll see it in graduate schools, in law schools and Ph.D. programs. But you certainly wouldn’t see it in grade schools," Smaw said.So, if Florida public schools aren't even teaching CRT, then why all the controversy now?This is why: Conservative activist Christopher Rufo spoke out against CRT on Fox News last summer, grabbing the attention of then President Donald Trump, who quickly issued an executive order banning Critical Race Theory just weeks later.Since then, President Joe Biden reversed Trump's ban, but other Republican leaders are now blocking CRT in their own states, including Gov. Ron DeSantis."Teaching kids to hate their country and to hate each other is not worth one red cent of taxpayer money," DeSantis said.In early June, the state board of education approved the ban, but that unanimous vote outraged others. Ben Frasier, Northside Coalition of Jacksonville president, sounded off and led protestors before being escorted out."It’s an effort to whitewash, cover-up and candy coat history," Frasier said.So, what exactly does Florida's new rule ban?It bans teaching that, "...racism is embedded in American society and its legal system in order to uphold the supremacy of white persons."While Florida leaders try to silence CRT lessons, Smaw said now the conversation is already underway."Students are interested. They want to know: What is critical race theory and what should I think about it?" Smaw said.It's a flashpoint in Florida schools, sparking both educational and now political debates. ORLANDO, Fla. — Critical Race Theory is a hot-button topic that a lot of people have an opinion on. But how many people can explain exactly what it is? Florida recently banned Critical Race Theory from being taught in public schools, one of over a dozen states trying to make that move. Advocates call CRT a lesson in social justice, while critics call it reverse racism. WESH 2’s Marlei Martinez breaks down exactly what Critical Race Theory is and the reason everybody’s talking about it now. "How would you define Critical Race Theory?" WESH 2's Marlei Martinez said. "Indoctrinating," said Angie Smith, who was visiting Florida. "What is the definition of Critical Race Theory?" Martinez asked. "I don’t think I can define it, but I think it’s allowing the truth out about how we’ve treated people," George Leach said. "Be it bad, good, whatever, it’s our history, so it is who we are." "Do you have any thoughts on it?" Martinez said. "I don’t even know what that is," said Akayla Harper, an Oviedo High School student. Critical Race Theory is the latest buzz words in the classroom, but what is it all about? "In the most basic terms, simply put: What is Critical Race Theory?" Martinez said. "So, the easiest way to understand it is that it teaches you to understand your state institutions: the Department of Education, the Department of Corrections, from the perspective of race. The best analogy is to think about it in terms of gender studies," said Dr. Eric Smaw, a philosophy professor at Rollins College. Smaw has been a philosophy professor at Rollins College for 15 years. This will be the first year he teaches a Critical Race Theory class. He said universities first started formally teaching CRT in the 1970s. Fast forward to today, Florida's governor does not want to hear about it in public schools at all. "We have this ban now at Florida public schools that they can’t teach it. But, were they teaching it to begin with?" Martinez said. "This is a great question. I sometimes think of this conversation as a solution in search of a problem. No schools, certainly not high schools in the state of Florida or anywhere else would have been teaching Critical Race Theory because it’s scholarly work. You’ll see it in graduate schools, in law schools and Ph.D. programs. But you certainly wouldn’t see it in grade schools," Smaw said. So, if Florida public schools aren't even teaching CRT, then why all the controversy now? This is why: Conservative activist Christopher Rufo spoke out against CRT on Fox News last summer, grabbing the attention of then President Donald Trump, who quickly issued an executive order banning Critical Race Theory just weeks later. Since then, President Joe Biden reversed Trump's ban, but other Republican leaders are now blocking CRT in their own states, including Gov. Ron DeSantis. "Teaching kids to hate their country and to hate each other is not worth one red cent of taxpayer money," DeSantis said. In early June, the state board of education approved the ban, but that unanimous vote outraged others. Ben Frasier, Northside Coalition of Jacksonville president, sounded off and led protestors before being escorted out. "It’s an effort to whitewash, cover-up and candy coat history," Frasier said. So, what exactly does Florida's new rule ban? It bans teaching that, "...racism is embedded in American society and its legal system in order to uphold the supremacy of white persons." While Florida leaders try to silence CRT lessons, Smaw said now the conversation is already underway. "Students are interested. They want to know: What is critical race theory and what should I think about it?" Smaw said. It's a flashpoint in Florida schools, sparking both educational and now political debates.