Between 1526 and 1867, around 12.5 million individuals were captured in Africa and transported to the Americas during the Atlantic Slave Trade. This trade, considered one of the most lethal global migrations, led to the arrival of 10.7 million people in the Americas. The first enslaved Africans destined for the New World departed from Europe in the early 16th century, with the first direct voyage from Africa to the Americas occurring around 1526.

During the 1690s, 30,000 individuals per year were taken from Africa, a number that rose to 85,000 per year a century later. The peak period for this migration was between 1700 and 1850, with over 80% of Africans forced into the trade crossing the Atlantic during this time. In the 1821-1830 decade, more than 80,000 people per year were transported, and within the following two decades, over a million individuals, constituting one-tenth of the era’s total, were taken in slave ships.

By 1820, the Atlantic crossings saw nearly four Africans for every one European, with approximately four out of five women making the journey from Africa. The majority of enslaved Africans arriving in British North America came between 1720 and 1780. In Brazil, most were from Angola, while those bound for North America and the Caribbean primarily originated from West Africa.

Over 90% of enslaved Africans were sent to the Caribbean and South America, with only about 6% directly transported to British North America. Nevertheless, by 1825, the U.S. population included about one-quarter of people of African descent in the Western Hemisphere. The Middle Passage, the sea journey in this trade, was perilous and horrifying, involving separation by gender, close packing of naked individuals, and chaining of men for extended periods. About 12% of those who embarked on this journey did not survive.

What Is Critical Race Theory

Critical Race Theory (CRT) is an academic and legal framework that asserts the presence of systemic racism within various facets of American society, spanning education, housing, employment, and healthcare. In contrast to the notion of a “colorblind” society, CRT emphasizes that racism extends beyond individual bias, recognizing its ingrained presence in laws, policies, and institutions that perpetuate racial disparities. This scholarly perspective contends that issues such as higher mortality rates among Black Americans, disproportionate exposure to police violence, the school-to-prison pipeline, lack of affordable housing, and elevated death rates of Black women during childbirth are interconnected manifestations of systemic racism.

CRT maintains that racism is not solely a collection of individual prejudices but a pervasive systemic phenomenon woven into the fabric of American laws and institutions. A glance at U.S. history or recent news from 2020, marked by numerous instances of police brutality against Black individuals sparking a historic racial justice movement, substantiates the validity of this theory. The classroom, currently a focal point in the struggle to confront uncomfortable truths about America, has historically been a site of egregious state-sponsored racism. This includes segregation, a challenge taken up by the LDF since its founder, and the first Black Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall successfully litigated Brown v. Board of Education in the 1950s.

Overcoming Racism

To truly overcome racism in America, it is imperative to confront and acknowledge the harsh reality that this country’s foundations were marred by hate and racism. A critical first step involves acknowledging the profound injustice of slavery and recognizing it as an abhorrent and deeply troubling chapter in our history. This acknowledgment is crucial in fostering a collective understanding of the enduring impact that slavery and racism have had on the progress of Black Americans relative to other racial groups.

By openly admitting to the historical atrocities and recognizing the persistent existence of racism, we pave the way for a more honest and inclusive dialogue. Understanding that the legacy of slavery has contributed to systemic inequalities is essential. This recognition enables a more nuanced examination of how historical injustices have shaped contemporary disparities, affecting aspects such as education, employment, and healthcare for Black Americans.

Moreover, acknowledging the ongoing existence of racism is pivotal for dismantling deeply ingrained prejudices and biases. It requires a commitment to actively challenging discriminatory practices, fostering equality, and creating an inclusive society. By confronting our history with humility and a dedication to change, we lay the foundation for a more just and equitable future for all Americans.

Detractors have appropriated the term “critical race theory” as a blanket label and rallying cry to stifle conversations on systemic racism, suppress the accurate teaching of American history, and impede progress toward racial justice. This term has been unjustly stretched to encompass all diversity and inclusion initiatives, race-conscious policies, and education addressing racism, irrespective of their connection to CRT. Attempts to prohibit CRT amount to assaults on free speech, inhibiting discussions about the genuine history of race and racism in the U.S., as well as the lived experiences of Black individuals and other people of color.

While lawmakers and advocates of these bans assert they aim for a balanced and “patriotic” education, their actions produce the opposite effect. These bans undermine an honest portrayal of our nation’s history, quash dissent, and penalize those who speak truthfully against sanitized distortions of history.