Roll Over Beethoven: 'A Critical Examination of Recent Writing About Race'

Abstract

In Crossroads and Blind Alleys: A Critical Examination of Recent Writing About Race, 62 Tex. L. Rev. 121 (2003), Professor Richard Delgado criticized the scholarly direction of Critical Race Theory (CRT). As a starting point for his criticism, Delgado reviews Crossroads, Directions, and a New Critical Race Theory (2002) edited by Francisco Valdes, Jerome McCristal Culp, and Angela P. Harris. The volume consists primarily of papers and speeches presented at the Critical Race Theory conference at Yale Law School in 1997, an important event reflecting on ten years of CRT. Among the contributors to Crossroads are influential CRT scholars Derrick Bell, Kimberle Williams Crenshaw, Charles Lawrence III, Mari Matsuda, and others.

Delgado laments CRT's current focus, which he characterizes as "idealist" (and too much talk of discourse about inequality) as opposed to the "materialist" (and power disparities contributing to racial injustice). Crossroads, to Delgado, devotes too much to the ideal and, put simply, is filled with discourse about discourse.

Although Delgado makes important points about the state of CRT scholarship, this response contends that he overstates the distinction between the ideal and material forms of discourse and, by so doing, excessively criticizes CRT's direction, and fails to acknowledge the emerging critical scholarship that analyzes current the racial justice issues. In sum, this response questions Professor Delgado's criticism of Critical Race Theory, as well as his challenges to Critical Latina/o (LatCrit) Theory.