Critical Race Theory

3 units

It is now fifty years since Derrick Bell published two articles that provided the foundations of Critical Race Theory and would forever change legal scholarship and, in some ways, the law itself. This course is an introduction to the now interdisciplinary field of Critical Race Theory. It draws on critical perspectives as a means to explore and interrogate how law interacts with the distribution of different forms of power and privilege, especially along myriad axes of race. The course will explore canonical academic readings in the legal literature on Critical Race Theory, then we will move into modern conceptualizations of the state of the field and law, focusing on key theoretical, doctrinal, and policy interventions. We will also analyze historical figures who developed the field of Critical Race Theory. The course will also devote some attention to contemporary debates over Critical Race Theory. Assignments will include an open-book final exam; an op-ed or Wikipedia entry; and a short "identity" paper. In addition, the class may incorporate brief in-class exercises involving non-graded writing. High quality class participation may enhance one's final grade. [BCCCR Requirement: this course contains 5 or more hours of BCCCR instruction.] This course is not offered every year and will next be offered at the earliest in the academic year 2026-2027.