What is Ethnic Studies?

A pedagogically sound Ethnic Studies course promotes respect and understanding among students by teaching about ethnic groups’ diverse histories, cultures, obstacles faced, and contributions made to our nation. Unfortunately, instead, many schools around the country are inculcating kids in “critical consciousness” training, i.e., the supposed ability to see hidden systems of oppression everywhere around them.

The California state legislature instituted a mandate that every California high school student take a class in Ethnic Studies to graduate but did not define the approach. This led to many problem curricula, including several advanced by far-left groups which extol radical “role models” and omit civil rights leaders like Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Many states are currently following California’s example with Ethnic Studies and other curriculum legislation.

The Coalition for Empowered Education has developed an alternative to Liberated/Critical Ethnic Studies framework that is presently the default option in many K12 and higher education spaces nationwide. 

It is important that educators, legislators, community advocates, and students alike are aware of the ways that learning experiences may vary depending on the approach that is used to teach an ethnic studies class. Our report, ETHNIC STUDIES: FROM RADICAL ROOTS TO GOVERNMENT MANDATE, outlines key educational components that may impact student learning experiences when a critical social justice approach is used to teach ethnic studies.