A critical look

Dr. Lynn Hampton has been utilizing CRT as an academic long before it became a national hot topic. Hampton, a professor in TCU's John V. Roach Honors College, designs and teaches courses centered around racial disparities.

Teaching in the Honors College, specifically, is a joy for Hampton because it brings together students from a wide range of disciplines.

"I like that I can teach classes that bring these students together in the same classroom and then develop courses that are interdisciplinary focused but also have them work collaboratively on certain types of projects that allow for those different perspectives to be integrated," Hampton said.

Hampton's most popular course at TCU, "Beyoncé and Intersectionality," uses Beyoncé and her music as a framework for understanding issues of race, class and gender.

But where does CRT come into play and why does Hampton use it as a way to educate her students?

Hampton uses CRT as a "theoretical framework" in her courses, but says it is not a specific course or curriculum like many people believe.

In fact, Hampton finds that much of the public resistance towards CRT is rooted in misconceptions.

Sabrina Jones, a junior biology major at TCU, has seen racial misconceptions addressed and corrected in Dr. Hampton's classes. Jones has taken two courses with Hampton, most recently a #BlackLivesMatter class.

"I specifically remember this one time in class a girl said, 'I've never seen my skin color as a defining factor. Whenever I walk into stores, et cetera, I don't feel like my skin has ever given me a privilege, but now that I'm in this course, reading these articles, and seeing these documentaries I'm realizing that people of color live in a completely different world. Everywhere they go they have to question whether or not they'll be accepted in a space, are they going to be looked at when they walk into a store, are they going to be seen as a janitor even though they're a doctor in the building,'" Jones said.

Jones said she found this student's perspective and growth to be fascinating.

"I really enjoyed seeing the growth of especially the white students in the class," Jones said.

To Jones' surprise, she said the #BlackLivesMatter class consisted of majority white students.

"In the Black Lives Matter class, there were only three students of color and the rest were white. You have to sign up to take the course, it is not a requirement," Jones said. "They came in knowing nothing - they admitted that openly."

Jones, a Black woman, admitted she too had a lot to learn in taking Hampton's courses.

"Both classes were very beneficial to me, even identifying as a person of color. You can be a person of color and still learn more about people of color," Jones said.

At the end of the day, Hampton said she seeks to create space for dialogue and understanding in her courses.

“I don’t take it for granted that I’m teaching future business leaders, CEOs, educators, people working in the criminal justice system, science and engineering," Hampton said.

"Every time I come into the classroom I think ‘I could be teaching the next senator from somebody’s state,’ and I want them to recognize and understand what intersectionality is really about,” Hampton said.

_{Photo 1: Lynn Hampton, assistant professor of professional practice in the John V. Roach Honors College, teaches classes on engaging difference and diversity. Photo by Glen E. Ellman}

_{Photo 2: Lynn Hampton. Photo by TCU.}