Critical Race Theory, Fourth Edition: An Introduction

by Richard Delgado, Richard Delgado, Jean Stefancic

A new edition of a seminal text in Critical Race Theory

Since the publication of the third edition of Critical Race An Introduction in 2017, the United States has experienced a dramatic increase in racially motivated mass shootings and a pandemic that revealed how deeply entrenched medical racism is and how public disasters disproportionately affect minority communities. We have also seen a sharp backlash against Critical Race Theory, and a president who deemed racism a thing of the past while he fanned the flames of racial intolerance and promoted nativist sentiments among his followers. Now more than ever, the racial disparities in all aspects of
public life are glaringly obvious.

Taking note of all these developments, this fourth edition covers a range of new topics and events and addresses the rise of a fierce wave of criticism from right-wing websites, think tanks, and foundations, some of which insist that America is now colorblind and has little use for racial analysis and study. Award-winning authors Richard Delgado and Jean Stefancic also address the rise in legislative efforts to curtail K–12 teaching of racial history.

Critical Race Theory, Fourth Edition, is essential for understanding developments in this burgeoning field, which has spread to other disciplines and countries. The new edition also covers the ways in which other societies and disciplines adapt its teachings and, for readers wanting to advance a progressive race agenda, includes new readings and questions for discussion aimed at outlining practical steps to achieve this objective.

Genres: Social Justice

223 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 14, 2023

Reviews

[Katie Schroder · Rating 4 out of 5]

CRT is such a buzz word all across the political spectrum. This book was helpful in me understanding CRT, the origins, divisions within the theory, and the critiques. Also love it when a book criticizes white liberals.

[Kathryn LaMontagne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve read a lot of things with these concepts baked into the writing but it was interesting to read explicitly what CRT is about — this book is basically a super short & accessible reader. It was interesting to learn that CRT is specifically legal theory, a lens through which analyze laws & legal practice in the US. Also interesting to learn that part of CRT is involving activists and activism into the theory vs most other theory that just well, theorizes these people and their actions!! looking forward to reading some of the essays and writings they talk about in the book.
Anyway….I’m very glad they’re teaching this to kindergarteners!

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great overview and a great place to start. I kinda thought I'd learn more new things but since this topic isn't new to me and this is literally an introduction... I should have guessed it. My only issue was that I listened to the audiobook and the narrator didn't make it clear when they were reading the name of a source (complete with authors, date of publication, page numbers and edition) and it took me WAY too long to realise what these random strings of names and numbers were that disrupted otherwise already very long sentences. The end of each chapter drove me particularily insane when the narrator read at least a dozen of these references and I was listening in my car with no way to skip ahead and no idea where all these names and numbers were coming from. Sources are great but please, guys, save yourself and read the physical edition.

[Eric Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall the book is informative, but honestly, it didn't tell us anything new about CRT that you might actually know. It has good research, but it didn't really make me think I would learn something about CRT and its controversy in the legal system. So there's that and while it doesn't explain anything new about the theory, it does provide somebody who doesn't know about it a primer on the subject. But in another case, you can find better somewhere else too.

[Rick · Rating 4 out of 5]

It would be nice to be able to skip some of the citations as they are super long. I read this to understand what CRT is. Given that the authors accomplished their goal. Knowing what has happened in this country with the 2024 elections I would be interested to listen to an updated version of this book. We have moved backwards in my opinion. I'm sad to live thru this with my children. One of whom is moving out of the country because of the election. I'm happy they have this option.

[Gabriella Reyes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. I have no faith in America’s system lol. This book made me become a progressive leftist. So much more to learn. Excellent book tho, waiting for the 5th edition to come out and excited to see what they’ll include with everything currently going on with our administration 🤡

[Kristen Campbell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fourth edition does not add much.

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing introduction to CRT. It taught me so much and really questioned what it meant to be anti-racist. I recommend this book to anyone that wants to start their journey

[Chris Beach · Rating 1 out of 5]

Know the enemy . Critical Race Theory has destroyed America. It is insane.