Marching Forward: Coming Together to Integrate a Critical Theory of Workforce Development Using CRT 

We’ve been getting acquainted with Critical Race Theory (CRT) by taking a look at its five tenets to help us create shared language as we continue our work together in CWDS. This article will focus on the concept of storytelling vs counterstorytelling. 

Critical Race Theory (CRT) is a critical analysis of how race, racism, systems, and power are deeply intertwined. It calls into question the foundation of liberal order as it relates to the law and institutionalized systems. 

We must consider who is telling the story, what voices are missing, and the impact that story may have if it’s based solely on a white perspective (storytelling). Counterstorytelling is the idea that we must hear from the actual people the stories are about (people of color); they are the experts of their experiences.

You may not be surprised to know that we live in a world where stories have historically been told by people in power, thus shaping shared information from a white perspective. This has been the case across industries and methods of communication, such as media outlets, movies, textbooks, research data, and more. Critical race scholars have long held the stance that these perspectives are not only destructive and divisive, they leave out the experiences of the very people the stories are about – thus paving the way for the idea of counterstorytelling. 

Counterstorytelling challenges the accounts that have been told to us. It not only values the narratives of Black, Indigenous, people of color, it serves as a mechanism for advocacy. One that requires us to look at the purpose of the white perspective. Mainstream (white) stories influence how the world views “others” – they marginalize and dehumanize people of color. Counterstorytelling is gives voice to real experiences of individuals and communities that have been silenced. There is power in our words… power in our stories. 

As I think about how this applies to our work, I am reminded of the significance of our narratives. They serve as healing for communities of color. They can help us feel seen and heard by one another. When we share, we often validate our experiences that have gone unspoken or dismissed. We know what we feel is real in a world that tells us it’s not. 

With this in mind, I encourage you to think about ways in which you are hearing voices that have been historically silenced. When working on projects/tasks, what perspectives are missing that you need to tap into to fully inform your approach? This is just a starting point. I always find myself struggling with how to capture a complex topic on a portion of a page. If you want to learn more on this, you can always take a look at Critical Race Theory: An Introduction by Richard Delgado and Jean Stefancic. 

As always, if you have any questions about the specific information shared here please contact Charmaine Utz at cutz@sdsu.edu.