Introduction:
Consider Tara Yosso’s Critical Race Counterstories along the Chicana/Chicano Educational Pipeline. Opponents of CRT argue that its beliefs are untestable, and as such, one has no choice but to accept or reject CRT outright, not based on empirical, rational reflection, but on one’s emotional reaction to the fictional, highly subjective “evidence” that is the basis on which all CRT claims are supported: the counterstory. Please note that this is not my opinion of CRT or of counter-storytelling. I present this position to you so that you can more fully understand the debate.
For further thought: How do you respond to these criticisms? Is CRT invalid because its tenets are largely untestable?
For this module of our class, we have read the entirety of Yosso’s Critical Race Counterstories text as well as Hughey’s discussion of the white savior trope in film. Prior to writing this essay, you will also watch the film Freedom Writers, based on Erin Gruwell’s popular book, A Freedom Writers Diary.
The prompt:
In a thorough critical analysis, examine the film Freedom Writers through the theoretical lens1 of CRT. One way to approach this essay is to critique the film as either a counterstory or as a majoritarian story; in fact, this is the approach I recommend.
Requirements:
- 4 page minimum
- Meaningful critique of Freedom Writers film
- Close analysis of cited evidence (both primary and secondary)
- MLA style throughout, including a Works Cited page
- Avoid five paragraph essays
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