ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

2020s controversies around critical race theory

So, imagine you and your friends are playing a game and everyone is having fun. But then one friend starts saying things that make some of the other friends feel bad, like they're not good enough or they don't belong. That's kind of like what's happening with critical race theory.

Some people are using critical race theory to talk about how certain groups have been treated unfairly because of their race. They want to help make things more fair for everyone, and that's a good thing. But some other people think that this way of thinking is causing more problems than it's solving.

They say that instead of bringing people together, critical race theory is making some people feel like they're being blamed or attacked just because of their race. They don't like that. They also think that this way of thinking might make it harder for everyone to get along and work together, which is what we really need to solve problems.

So, there's a big argument going on about whether we should keep using critical race theory or not. Some people think it's really important and some people think it's causing more problems. It's a big issue and people are still trying to figure out the best way to go forward.