The division between racial idealists and racial realists is a division in what is seen as the root of racism. For racial idealists, racism originates in the mind, and so it is the mind that must be changed in the pursuit to eliminate racism. For racial realists, racism originates in the pursuit of economic gain, with racist attitudes fabricated in order to justify economic exploitation, and so it is economic empowerment that people need in order to fight racism.

While these views do not contradict each other, they hold different issues as top priorities. While idealists may focus on speech laws, representation in media, and diversity seminars, realists would be more likely to focus on workers rights, immigration laws, and the criminal justice system.

Racial Idealism vs. Racial Realism

These are theoretical framworks that conflict or are positioned at odds with each other within the Critical Race Theory movement.

- Racial Idealism vs. Racial Realism

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Critical Race Theory is an interdisciplinary movement made up of activists and scholars working to understand and change the relationships between race, racism, and power. 

Critical Race Theory (CRT)

Delgado, R., & Stefancic, J. (2012). Critical Race Theory: An Introduction (2nd ed.). NYU Press.

Critical Race Theory: An Introduction 

Critical Race Theory came out of a time in the 1970s United States during which a number of legal scholars, lawyers, and activists decided that the advances of the civil rights era the decade before were no longer progressing forward, or were even being pushed backward. They saw a need for new theories and strategies to combat racism. More people and disciplines soon joined the movement. 

Origins of Critical Race Theory

- Critical Race Feminism
- Critical Race Masculinism
- Queer-Crit theory
- Lat-Crit Theory
- Asian-Crit
- Critical White Studies

Spin-off Movements from Critical Race Theory

While not universally supported by every critical race theorist, these are the basic propositions uniting the movement:

- Racism is ordinary
- Racism serves the dominant group
- Race is socially constructed

Basic Tenets of Critical Race Theory

These are specific actions studied and promoted within Critical Race Theory.

- Legal storytelling
- Revisionist history

Methods within Critical Race Theory

Divisions within Critical Race Theory

These are terms that were created within Critical Race Theory or are necessary to understand some of the theories within Critical Race Theory

- Intersectionality
- Color blindness
- Racial Idealism
- Racial Realism

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