Reflections on 'Blackcrit Theory': Human Rights

Abstract

'BlackCrit Theory' addresses the significance of racial attitudes toward Africans and peoples of African descent in the structure and operation of the international human rights system. It further highlights and resists the continued marginalization and subordination of Blacks in international human rights law and politics. 'BlackCrit Theory: Human Rights,' re-asserts the existence of historical critiques and raises new possibilities in the exploration of international approaches to the human rights of Black peoples in their different geographies. This Article identifies a few of the historical links between intellectuals and activists concerned with the impact of racism within the United States and internationally. It then outlines three major critiques of international human rights law identified by BlackCrit human rights theorists. Finally, it uses hypothetical scenarios of Black migrants (and other travelers) with state (and non-state) power to illustrate the global context in which racial discrimination occurs. Critical Race human rights scholars from must continue to include the shape-shifting nature of racism on the international plane in order to eliminate marginalization and subordination of peoples of color, whatever their geographical or cultural ties.