Thread by @rasoolberry

What do I mean by CRT? In the book CRT, Delgado & Stefancic write: "What do critical race theorists believe? Probably not every member would subscribe to every tenet set out in this book, but many would agree on the following: 1st that racism is ordinary, not aberrational 1/

2: most would agree that our system of white-over-color ascendancy serves important purposes, both psychic & material. Bc racism advances the interests of white elites (material) & working-class ppl (psychic) large segments of society have little incentive to eradicate it 2/

3rd, theme of critical race theory, the “social construction” thesis, holds that race and races are products of social thought and relations. Not objective, inherent, or fixed, they correspond to no biological or genetic reality. 3/

4th, Another, somewhat more recent, development concerns differential racialization and its many consequences. [This means that racism adapts like a virus and isn't static: see slavery>peonage>segregation>mass incarceration ...] and Latinx/Asian/Native struggle 4/

5: intersectionality & anti-essentialism is the idea that each race has its own origins & ever-evolving history. 6 voice-of-color thesis holds that because of different histories & experiences to white counterparts', matters that the whites are unlikely to know can be conveyed.5/

I also agree w/ 1,2, & 4 w/o much qualification. #5 is where many critics spend much time in disputation. It is also where I offer my some of my strongest critiques. #6 is where we get to the issue of "lived experience" and the full extent of epistemology. 6/

This is again where I believe perspicuity of Scripture and our shared humanity from Imago Dei lead me to accept some of the principles, but not all- & see tension. the premise of the question "Is CRT 'compatible' with Christianity?" is a bit misleading. 7/

It can reinforce an assumption to some that "CRT" is one simple thing like the Theory of Relativity that has little divergence when in fact I think it's more like "critical theories of race." Delgado note this diversity (see 1) 8/

Critics assumes struggle for liberation is defined by theorists when chronologically & historically theorists tried to understand & explain the struggle! CRT doesnt emerge until the '70s-centuries after anti-racism work began, yet they want to claim "antiracism" as a CRT term? 9/

They assume a move must be made to make CRT compatible as opposed to recognizing that much of the main concepts are actually reflected in scripture (support of social justice, denunciation of similar types of racism, intersectionality, privilege, etc). They miss the point! 10/

George Floyd's family isn't protesting bc of CRT, but bc they saw how he died by those sworn to protect him. Breonna Taylor's mom isnt protesting bc of CRT, but bc her child was shot in her home. We are not marching bc of CRT but bc of what we have seen, heard & weep over. 11/

Point: Many can't see bc they have an UnCritical Race Theory. They insist race isn't a construct designed to oppress & in spite of history, case law, & outcomes that systemic racism is real. Despite the fact the resistance began centuries ago. 12

Despite the record of racism's insidiousness in the church (see formation of SBC, PCA, Jim Crow in major Christian institutions). Despite all of this, and the clear record of Scripture insisting on justice, they insist on Uncritical Race Theory. 13/

They brand us a label CRT most of us had to look up to even know what we were being accused of. Being Black gives us a critical theory on race. I didn't need Bell or Crenshaw to tell me what me & my people know. But I'm glad they cared enough to see r pain instead of deny it. 14/

Of course every human ideology has error. See above for brief critiques. But it isn't CRT that's killing unity in the church or silencing the church on issues of justice. It's uncritical race theory (UCRT). And Until U C Race Thoroughly
U. Cant R.eally T.heorize accurately.

@davidebrown23