Critical Race Theory and African American Culture

Double Consciousness

• Concept introduced by W.E.B. Du Bois in his book "The Souls of Black Folk" (1903)
• Refers to the internal conflict experienced by African Americans, who are forced to navigate two conflicting identities: their own black identity and the dominant white culture
• Du Bois describes it as "twoness" or "two-ness," where individuals are torn between their own cultural heritage and the dominant society's expectations
• Double consciousness is a result of the historical and systemic oppression of African Americans, leading to a sense of duality and fragmentation

Color Line

• Term coined by W.E.B. Du Bois to describe the racial segregation and discrimination that separates people of color from white people
• Refers to the social, economic, and political barriers that prevent people of color from fully participating in society
• Du Bois argued that the color line is a fundamental problem in American society, perpetuating inequality and injustice
• The color line is not only a physical barrier but also a symbolic and ideological one, shaping social attitudes and perceptions

Intersectionality

• Concept developed by critical race theorists, including Kimberlé Crenshaw, to describe how different forms of oppression intersect and intersect
• Intersectionality recognizes that race is not the only axis of oppression, but rather intersects with other categories such as gender, class, sexuality, and ability
• Du Bois' work on double consciousness and the color line laid the groundwork for intersectionality, highlighting the complexity of black experiences and the need for a more nuanced understanding of oppression

Racial Realism

• Concept developed by critical race theorists to describe the ways in which race is socially constructed and perpetuated
• Racial realism argues that racism is a permanent and integral part of American society, rather than a temporary aberration
• Du Bois' work on the color line and double consciousness is an early precursor to racial realism, highlighting the ways in which race is embedded in social structures and institutions

Critical Race Theory

• Theoretical framework that emerged in the 1980s, building on the work of critical race theorists such as Derrick Bell, Kimberlé Crenshaw, and Richard Delgado
• Critical race theory argues that race is a central factor in shaping social relations and institutions, and that racism is a permanent and integral part of American society
• Du Bois' work on the color line, double consciousness, and racial realism is an early precursor to critical race theory, highlighting the need for a more nuanced understanding of race and racism

Theorizing Whiteness

• Concept developed by critical race theorists to describe the ways in which whiteness is constructed and perpetuated as a dominant and normative identity
• Theorizing whiteness argues that whiteness is not a neutral or default category, but rather a specific and privileged identity that is perpetuated through social structures and institutions
• Du Bois' work on the color line and double consciousness can be seen as an early precursor to theorizing whiteness, highlighting the ways in which whiteness is constructed and perpetuated through social and cultural norms.