What We Are Fighting Against

• In Event: Dreaming Out Loud: Critical Race Theory and Social Studies Futures

Abstract

Objectives
This presentation features authors who have examined the treatment of race in NCSS and CUFA, from interest convergence in the organizations’ recent position statements and current event responses to an in-depth critical race historical analysis of CUFA programs as they pertain to race and racism. Together, these authors delineate why a new text about the role of CRT in social studies education and research is needed and establish the state of the field.
Theoretical framework
The authors in this group draw from the tenets of CRT in their various analyses. Critical race theory’s origins can be traced to critical legal studies and traditional civil rights scholarship. Derrick Bell’s groundbreaking book Faces at the Bottom of the Well (1992) argues that racism is a permanent aspect of American life. Moreover, that race and racism is a social construct and not just the product of individual bias or prejudice, but rather deeply embedded within the legal systems. The presenters utilize the CRT tenet of interest convergence, a theory coined by Bell that contends that legal reforms that benefit communities of Color only occur when the reforms also advance the interests of the white majority.
Methods of inquiry and data sources
The authors in this presentation utilize qualitative methods of inquiry ranging from historiography to critical content analysis. Each of the authors collected and analyzed a wide range of historical documents and artifacts connected to the history of CUFA and NCSS. In particular, chapter authors focused on examining social studies organizations' stance and (in)actions on race and racism within the organization when responding to instances of white supremacist violence in the larger society.
Substantiated conclusions
The authors found numerous instances of interest convergence regarding social studies organizations' willingness to take a stand against racial injustice. For the first 40 years of CUFA’s existence the organization gave little attention to matters of race or racism. It was only because of critical moments in which race and racism have been advanced by CUFA members, namely scholars of Color. NCSS has also avoided the topic of race for decades and only recently began issuing position and current events statements, but only when pressured by its own members.
Scholarly significance
These findings are significant given that these organizations represent the interests of scholars and educators charged with creating an informed citizenry. It is problematic (but not surprising) that time and time again such organizations fail to take the initiative to speak out and act in solidarity of Black and Brown communities and instead prefer to adhere to a racially neutral political agenda. This must change and presenters share concrete steps the organizations must take to avoid the mistakes of the past.

Authors

• Christopher L. Busey, University of Florida

• Hanadi Shatara, University of Wisconsin - LaCrosse

• Esther June Kim, William & Mary

• Neil Shanks, Baylor University

• Delandrea Hall, Georgia Southern University

• Kristen Duncan, Clemson University

• Natasha C. Murray-Everett, West Virginia University