Guide: Counter-Narrating the Attacks on Critical Race Theory

Version 1: June 4th, 2021

Table of Contents:•••

Background
Developing our Counter-Narrativeso Know Your Goals; Know your Audienceo Messaging Guideo Sample Messages (Click this link to be taken immediately to messages you can adapt)o Storytelling Framework
Asks

Background:
Essential conversations about race in America are being hijacked and curtailed by broad narrative
attacks launched by Christopher Rufo, Senior Fellow at the Manhattan Institute. The attacks by Rufo andother critics, pundits, and politicians who have joined the effort are shutting down critical racial equity
work and conversations in institutions across the country—primarily schools, universities, andgovernment—and are extending further into our society.
This effort started merely weeks after the public outcry over the murder of George Floyd. Rufo penned apiece describing racial equity work in government as “radical” and an “aggressive new racialist ideology
to fund a corrupt consultant class while maligning all white people.” The prior Administration adopted
Rufo’s effort to shut down conversations on race, and in documents explaining the order that banned
the use of the term “systemic racism,” among others, elevated similar narratives attacking critical racetheory and “racialist ideologies.”
At Race Forward, we conducted research that shows the term “systemic racism” was used more times
in the media after the murder of George Floyd than in the last 30 years combined. These attacks by
Rufo and his allies are in direct response to a broad scale and growing recognition of how systemic
racism shapes almost every life outcome in our country.
While President Biden rescinded the executive order banning racial equity training and replaced it with
one to advance racial equity, opponents to racial justice have introduced upwards of 20 state legislative
bills, some passed, that would ban racial equity work in government and education on race in schools.
Versions of this argument have now passed as legislation and are already becoming a central debate incountless school districts across the country. City, state, and federal government agencies have halted
trainings and initiatives designed to advance racial equity.

Guide: Counter-Narrating the Attacks on Critical Race Theory

The bills themselves are all vulnerable to court challenges (President Trump’s Executive Order was
blocked by a federal judge), but the danger to racial equity is not at the level of policy, but rather
narrative. Using slogans like “Stop Racism. Stop Hate” this Orwellian effort to frame the discussion ofracism to be racism against white people is undermining the momentum recently gained by the racial
justice movement.

This attack on critical race theory ispart of a broad, coordinated effort tothwart a multiracial democracy.

As we have seen multiple times in our country’s history, this divisive framing is devastatingly effective.
Leading up to and through the triumphs of the Civil Rights Movement, politicians – particularly, but not
exclusively, on the right – have consistently framed people of color, particularly Black people, LGBTQ
people, and people who are immigrants as the “real culprits” of our country’s ills. This fearmongeringand scapegoating is not an end to itself; it is a means to keep people of all races distracted and divided
so that the wealthy elite and their enablers retain power and dominance at a time when a multiracial
majority is emerging in this country. The timing of the attack on critical race theory is telling; it is bothcover and justification for the wave of voter suppression bills making their way through statelegislatures across the country. These attacks on critical race theory are a part of a broad, coordinatedeffort to thwart a multiracial democracy at a time when the right is consolidating their base in thelead-up to the mid-term elections.

Guide: Counter-Narrating the Attacks on Critical Race Theory
It is important to remember that these attacks employ a caricature of critical race theory to distract us
from enacting a racially equitable agenda, one that would provide benefits to the vast majority ofpeople in this country, including white people. Instead, they are shrinking the conversation to a debate
about critical race theory, a concept most people living in the United States do not fully understand. Our
response cannot be that we abandon or malign the concept; but that we keep the focus on the
purpose of these attacks and how having honest and courageous conversations about race – how itshows up in our past and informs our present – is the key to building the promise of a just, multiracial,democratic society.
Their goal is for us to stop doing our work of advancing racial equity – whether in the classroom, inthe workplace, or in government. We hope this guide will help you counter-narrate these attacks in away so that you and your partners can continue this critical work.

Developing our Counter-Narratives:
The attacks on critical race theory draw on narratives that breed racial resentment. These narratives
include:•Talking about race is inherently “divisive;”•

Racism is solely about “hate in one’s heart;” Systemic racism is not real;•

We should be “colorblind” when it comes to solving issues of race;•

Lack of hard work and personal responsibility is the primary driver of racial inequities;•

White people will be “victims” when we talk about race or address systemic racism in any
meaningful way (i.e., zero-sum game);

We know these narratives, while false, are highly effective because all of us have been socialized in adominant culture that reinforces these narratives. Counteracting their narrative attack with telling thefacts about critical race theory will, therefore, not be as effective as we would want it to be. Remember,their aim is to brand critical race theory as a catch-all for “radical” and “woke” ideas, and they are
subsuming systemic racism and any race-conscious remedies to address systemic racism under thatumbrella.
So, what do we do? We fight narrative with narrative. Here is a starter list of narratives that we offer ascounters to these attacks:•

We all deserve an honest education about race in this country;•

Systemic racism is real;Guide: Counter-Narrating the Attacks on Critical Race Theory•

Learning about the history of race and how it informs our present helps us all become wiser andstronger;•

Politicians are using a caricature of critical race theory to rob us of our history and theknowledge to solve our biggest challenges.

•

Addressing the harmful impact of systemic racism will benefit us all;oSystemic racism describes how laws and institutions (e.g., schools, hospitals,
workplaces, etc.) have discriminated against people of color, whether intentionally or
not;oSystemic racism explains the differences in opportunities and outcomes across race.

oSystemic racism primarily hurts Black people, Indigenous people, Latinx people, andAsian American, and Pacific Islander people; and it also has limited opportunity for thevast majority of white people (see Heather McGhee’s “The Sum of Us” for more stories)

arra ve Ecosystem

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essa ee

eeply held values that have been repeated andreproduced over me. They are baked in.
ollec on of stories messages that represent anidea or belief. arra ves highlight a es, de ne
the r em ca ses and determine thess acsAn account of a series of related
events or experiences
Words, images, and or sounds thatconvey an idea or belief

a ro ect of

Figure A: Conceptual framework from The Narrative Initiative
From these narratives, we can use all the tools in our narrative toolbox (see Figure A). When our stories
and messages align with the narratives we want to elevate, we create impact.
In this guide, we offer messaging and storytelling frameworks to help you lift up these narratives in a
way that helps you continue the transformative work you are doing. Remember that stories andmessages are just some of the tools we can use to lift up these narratives. We also value the power ofarts and culture to challenge the dominant narratives underlying these attacks.

Guide: Counter-Narrating the Attacks on Critical Race Theory

Know your Goals; Know your Audience
Before responding, take a few moments to think about:1) Your goal (Is it to defeat the bill? To continue anti-racist education in your school, workplace,
your neighborhood, or in government? To get people to call their state legislators?);2) Who your audience is;3) Who your messengers are (note: white people, this is your opportunity to speak up!).
Knowing these things will help you with the content of your messages and stories.
At the end of the day, you know your audience and what gets them to act and inspire others to act.
Use the messaging and storytelling guides below as a jumping off point to develop your own messages
and stories that underscore the reality of systemic racism and the imperative of advancing racial
equity.

Messaging Guide
We use the framework below as a guide to develop and sequence messages.
•
•
•

•

Shared Values: What is this issue about at the core? Frame the issue on a big idea, one thatreflects the beliefs and emotions of your audience.
Challenge: What is the barrier to overcome? Ideally the problem is one that can be understoodas a community or public issue.
Solution: Define the solution from your perspective. Your listeners will be inspired if you can tellthem that you know what to do. Put your organization and its mission smack in the middle ofthe solution.
Ask: What is the listener/reader/viewer to do? This can be as simple as learn more, visit our
website, etc. or please write/call/visit your elected officials.

Sample Messages:
Shared Values•

We solve problems by having honest and courageous conversations about them / We value anhonest education about race in this country.

•

It may be easier to deny or avoid our challenges, but that is never how we overcome them.

•Every day, more and more people living in this country are beginning to understand thatsystemic racism is a major problem.

•

Learning about systemic racism – within our neighborhoods, in our schools, and in our
workplaces – is the first step in healing our divisions so that we can solve problems that harm us

Guide: Counter-Narrating the Attacks on Critical Race Theory
all.
oSystemic racism describes how laws and institutions, whether intentionally or not, work
to the detriment of people of color.

oSystemic racism has directly harmed Black people, Indigenous people, Latinx people,
and Asian and Pacific Islander people. It has also decreased the quality of life foreveryone, including people who are white.

•

We resist attempts to distort truth and rob us of our history. Learning about the history of raceand how it impacts our present helps us all grow stronger, wiser, and more able to solve ourcurrent-day problems•

Having honest and courageous conversations about systemic racism helps us achieve thepromise of racial equity.
o

We achieve racial equity when a person’s race no longer determines the opportunities
in their life; because of systemic racism, it often does, to the detriment of us all.

oAdvancing racial equity will benefit us all, strengthening our neighborhoods, our cities,
and our states.

Challenges•

Today, some politicians want to ban the conversations about race we are having in classrooms,
workplaces, and in government.
oState legislatures across the country have either introduced or passed bills to ban theseconversations. These bills are a copycat of Trump’s Executive Order in 2020 banning“diversity” training in federal government agencies.

•

These attacks use a caricature of critical race theory to distract and divide us from addressing
real problems in our society. Instead of supporting people after a devastating pandemic, they
are wasting time trying to ban conversations about systemic racism – conversations that would
actually help us unite to solve our country’s biggest challenges.

•

The timing of the attack on critical race theory is telling. They are attacking critical race theory as
both cover and justification for the wave of voter suppression bills making their way throughstate legislatures across the country. This attack on critical race theory is part of a broad,coordinated effort to thwart a multiracial democracy.

Guide: Counter-Narrating the Attacks on Critical Race Theory•

They want to distort the truth and sanitize history at a time when awareness of systemic racismis growing as a result of last year’s historic uprisings in response to the murder of George Floyd
and OVI ’s disproportionate impact on Black, Indigenous, Latinx, and Pacific Islander
communities.

•

They insist that talking about race is “divisive,” but that is a lie designed to rob us of our history
and deny us the knowledge that will help us unite to build a more just and inclusive world – aworld in which one’s race does not limit your opportunity and achievements in life.

•

These attacks originate from conservative think tanks, funded by wealthy elites, many of whichwere formed after the triumphs of the Civil Rights Movement. Their goal over the past few
decades has been to deny the existence of systemic racism and shrink government so that welose the means to address it.

•

These attacks draw from the oldest playbook in American politics. Politicians use fear of peopleof color, immigrants, or LGBTQ people to breed resentment so that they can retain power anddominance at a time when a multiracial, pluralistic majority is emerging in this country.

Solutions•

We know better than to give into lies that prevent us from learning our country’s true racial
history and how it shapes our lives today.

•

History shows that when we work together across our differences, we accomplish great thingsfor ourselves, our loved ones, our neighbors, and our children.

•

History also shows that every time we made progress on race as a country, there has been abacklash. These attacks are in response to a growing movement of people who want to playtheir part in addressing systemic racism.

•

We must not be “colorblind” to the reality of systemic racism. Instead, we must be “raceconscious” in our efforts to understand and fix our country’s problems. That means directly
addressing the harm that systemic racism has caused to people of color.

•

There is benefit for everyone in addressing systemic racism. By having honest and courageousconversations about systemic racism, people of all backgrounds have come to a deeper
understanding of themselves, developed stronger connections with their neighbors, and havefound purpose in doing their part to build a more fair and inclusive world. We call this the
Solidarity Dividend.
oAfter the triumphs of the Civil Rights Movement, the South received better
infrastructure and schools. It also provided the moral and legal framework for otherGuide: Counter-Narrating the Attacks on Critical Race Theory
communities (women, immigrants, LGBTQ people, and more) to thrive.
oPeople who have learned about systemic racism have come together across race to win
raises in the minimum wage.

oPeople who have resisted division have revitalized their small towns by welcoming
immigrantsoCities, in response to federal calls to get to 0 traffic deaths, have begun to move awayfrom enforcement/education to improving infrastructure (because enforcement
disproportionately impacted people of color). And in doing so, they created better
conditions on roads (everyone benefits from better infrastructure) and fewer traffic
deaths.

o[INSERT YOUR EXAMPLE OF THE SOLIDARITY DIVIDEND HERE]

Ask:•

As these attacks against discussing race continue and escalate, now is a vital time to express our
support of learning about systemic racism—in our neighborhoods, classrooms, and workplaces.

Storytelling Framework
Our brains are hardwired for stories. Oftentimes, a personal account of how one has benefited fromlearning about the history of systemic racism in this country will be more powerful than any set of
messages (though you are free to incorporate the messages above into your story!)
Stories can take many forms. One form is the Personal Narrative Framework developed by Professor
Marshall Ganz. The Personal Narrative Framework uses three parts to develop a story that inspires
others for change: Story of Self, Story of Us, and Story of Now.

Guide: Counter-Narrating the Attacks on Critical Race Theory

Be creative with your story. If you have the chance to share your story publicly, strive to keep your story
concise (you do not need to divulge every detail of your personal life; share the parts of your life thathave relevance to the issue at hand.
Questions to guide the construction of your personal narrative:
Story of Self: (Why were you called to motivate others to join you in this action?)•

What events led you to understand your racial identity?

•

What was the personal transformation that occurred when you learned about the history andreality of systemic racism?

•

Why are you now called to address systemic racism?

Story of Us: (Who is your “us” and what does your Story of Self say about who “we” are or should be?)•What does your personal story say about the value of learning about systemic racism for thecommunity or organization that you are a part of?

•

In what ways will learning about the history and reality of systemic racism benefit us all? Whatlessons did you learn that could be helpful for people in your circle that are wary of “critical racetheory” being taught in schools and in government?

•

Who are the people who are stoking division by attacking critical race theory? What is theirgoal?

Story of Now: (What urgent challenge do you hope to inspire others to take action on?)

Guide: Counter-Narrating the Attacks on Critical Race Theory•

Why is it important for your community or organization to continuing learning about the history
and reality of systemic racism? What can you do together to deepen your learning?

•

What actions can you all take to overturn these bills and/or start/continue learning about thehistory and reality of systemic racism?

Asks:
•

Use this moment to advocate for a teach-in on systemic racism in your classroom, workplace, orin government. At Race Forward, we like to use the following media as starting points:
o
o
o
o

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Race: The Power of an Illusion
Segregated by Design
Vox Glad you Asked Season 2
The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together

Contact Race Forward at media@raceforward.org if you want to work with Race Forward’s team
to develop (and potentially pitch) your story in support of education and training on systemic
racism.