Introduction
In recent years, several states have taken a stand against the teaching of Critical Race Theory in public schools. Mississippi and Arkansas have enacted laws that prohibit the teaching of any material that promotes “divisive concepts” such as race or sex stereotypes. Meanwhile, Idaho has passed legislation banning the use of any instruction that advocates for the overthrow of existing government structures or that encourages resentment against particular races or classes of people. Additionally, Texas has issued an order preventing any school from teaching about the concept of systemic racism. The decision to ban these teachings has been met with passionate criticism from educators and civil rights advocates who see this as an effective way to suppress important conversations about race and equity in education. These state governments claim to be acting on behalf of its citizens in shielding them from divisive materials; however, critics argue that this is yet another example of how political power can be used to restrict knowledge and stymie progress towards true racial justice.
| State | Critical Race Theory Ban Status | Black Population |
|---|---|---|
| Indiana | Ban Failed To Pass | 648,513 |
| Maine | Ban Failed To Pass | 25,752 |
| North Carolina | Ban Failed To Pass | 2,140,217 |
| Rhode Island | Ban Failed To Pass | 62,168 |
| Wisconsin | Ban Failed To Pass | 376,256 |
| Wyoming | Ban Failed To Pass | 5,232 |
| Alabama | Banned | 1,296,162 |
| Arizona | Banned | 33,915 |
| Arkansas | Banned | 453,783 |
| Georgia | Banned | 3,320,513 |
| Idaho | Banned | 15,726 |
| Iowa | Banned | 131,972 |
| Mississippi | Banned | 1,084,481 |
| Montana | Banned | 5,484 |
| New Hampshire | Banned | 20,127 |
| North Dakota | Banned | 26,783 |
| Oklahoma | Banned | 289,961 |
| South Dakota | Banned | 17,842 |
| Tennessee | Banned | 1,092,948 |
| Texas | Banned | 3,552,997 |
| Utah | Banned | 40,058 |
| Virginia | Banned | 1,607,581 |
| Alaska | Considering A Ban | 21,898 |
| Colorado | Considering A Ban | 234,828 |
| Florida | Considering A Ban | 3,246,381 |
| Illinois | Considering A Ban | 1,808,271 |
| Kansas | Considering A Ban | 168,809 |
| Kentucky | Considering A Ban | 362,417 |
| Louisiana | Considering A Ban | 1,464,023 |
| Maryland | Considering A Ban | 1,820,472 |
| Michigan | Considering A Ban | 1,376,579 |
| Minnesota | Considering A Ban | 398,434 |
| Missouri | Considering A Ban | 69,984 |
| Nebraska | Considering A Ban | 96,535 |
| New Jersey | Considering A Ban | 1,219,770 |
| New Mexico | Considering A Ban | 45,904 |
| New York | Considering A Ban | 2,986,172 |
| Ohio | Considering A Ban | 1,478,781 |
| Pennsylvania | Considering A Ban | 1,423,169 |
| South Carolina | Considering A Ban | 1,280,531 |
| Washington | Considering A Ban | 307,565 |
| West Virginia | Considering A Ban | 65,813 |
| California | No Restriction | 2,237,044 |
| Connecticut | No Restriction | 388,675 |
| Delaware | No Restriction | 218,899 |
| Hawaii | No Restriction | 23,417 |
| Massachusetts | No Restriction | 494,029 |
| Nevada | No Restriction | 304,739 |
| Oregon | No Restriction | 82,655 |
| Vermont | No Restriction | 9,034 |
Critical Race Theory Ban Status by State
Alabama
Critical Race Theory Ban Status
Banned
1,296,162
Ranked in the US
#14
Alaska
Critical Race Theory Ban Status
Considering A Ban
21,898
Ranked in the US
#45
Arizona
Critical Race Theory Ban Status
Banned
33,915
Ranked in the US
#40
Arkansas
Critical Race Theory Ban Status
Banned
453,783
Ranked in the US
#21
California
Critical Race Theory Ban Status
No Restriction
2,237,044
Ranked in the US
#5
Colorado
Critical Race Theory Ban Status
Considering A Ban
234,828
Ranked in the US
#29
Connecticut
Critical Race Theory Ban Status
No Restriction
388,675
Ranked in the US
#23
Delaware
Critical Race Theory Ban Status
No Restriction
218,899
Ranked in the US
#30
Florida
Critical Race Theory Ban Status
Considering A Ban
3,246,381
Ranked in the US
#3
Georgia
Critical Race Theory Ban Status
Banned
3,320,513
Ranked in the US
#2
Hawaii
Critical Race Theory Ban Status
No Restriction
23,417
Ranked in the US
#44
Idaho
Critical Race Theory Ban Status
Banned
15,726
Ranked in the US
#48
Illinois
Critical Race Theory Ban Status
Considering A Ban
1,808,271
Ranked in the US
#8
Indiana
Critical Race Theory Ban Status
Ban Failed To Pass
648,513
Ranked in the US
#19
Iowa
Critical Race Theory Ban Status
Banned
131,972
Ranked in the US
#32
Kansas
Critical Race Theory Ban Status
Considering A Ban
168,809
Ranked in the US
#31
Kentucky
Critical Race Theory Ban Status
Considering A Ban
362,417
Ranked in the US
#25
Louisiana
Critical Race Theory Ban Status
Considering A Ban
1,464,023
Ranked in the US
#11
Maine
Critical Race Theory Ban Status
Ban Failed To Pass
25,752
Ranked in the US
#43
Maryland
Critical Race Theory Ban Status
Considering A Ban
1,820,472
Ranked in the US
#7
Massachusetts
Critical Race Theory Ban Status
No Restriction
494,029
Ranked in the US
#20
Michigan
Critical Race Theory Ban Status
Considering A Ban
1,376,579
Ranked in the US
#13
Minnesota
Critical Race Theory Ban Status
Considering A Ban
398,434
Ranked in the US
#22
Mississippi
Critical Race Theory Ban Status
Banned
1,084,481
Ranked in the US
#18
Missouri
Critical Race Theory Ban Status
Considering A Ban
69,984
Ranked in the US
#35
Montana
Critical Race Theory Ban Status
Banned
5,484
Ranked in the US
#50
Nebraska
Critical Race Theory Ban Status
Considering A Ban
96,535
Ranked in the US
#33
Nevada
Critical Race Theory Ban Status
No Restriction
304,739
Ranked in the US
#27
New Hampshire
Critical Race Theory Ban Status
Banned
20,127
Ranked in the US
#46
New Jersey
Critical Race Theory Ban Status
Considering A Ban
1,219,770
Ranked in the US
#16
New Mexico
Critical Race Theory Ban Status
Considering A Ban
45,904
Ranked in the US
#38
New York
Critical Race Theory Ban Status
Considering A Ban
2,986,172
Ranked in the US
#4
North Carolina
Critical Race Theory Ban Status
Ban Failed To Pass
2,140,217
Ranked in the US
#6
North Dakota
Critical Race Theory Ban Status
Banned
26,783
Ranked in the US
#42
Ohio
Critical Race Theory Ban Status
Considering A Ban
1,478,781
Ranked in the US
#10
Oklahoma
Critical Race Theory Ban Status
Banned
289,961
Ranked in the US
#28
Oregon
Critical Race Theory Ban Status
No Restriction
82,655
Ranked in the US
#34
Pennsylvania
Critical Race Theory Ban Status
Considering A Ban
1,423,169
Ranked in the US
#12
Rhode Island
Critical Race Theory Ban Status
Ban Failed To Pass
62,168
Ranked in the US
#37
South Carolina
Critical Race Theory Ban Status
Considering A Ban
1,280,531
Ranked in the US
#15
South Dakota
Critical Race Theory Ban Status
Banned
17,842
Ranked in the US
#47
Tennessee
Critical Race Theory Ban Status
Banned
1,092,948
Ranked in the US
#17
Texas
Critical Race Theory Ban Status
Banned
3,552,997
Ranked in the US
#1
Utah
Critical Race Theory Ban Status
Banned
40,058
Ranked in the US
#39
Vermont
Critical Race Theory Ban Status
No Restriction
9,034
Ranked in the US
#49
Virginia
Critical Race Theory Ban Status
Banned
1,607,581
Ranked in the US
#9
Washington
Critical Race Theory Ban Status
Considering A Ban
307,565
Ranked in the US
#26
West Virginia
Critical Race Theory Ban Status
Considering A Ban
65,813
Ranked in the US
#36
Wisconsin
Critical Race Theory Ban Status
Ban Failed To Pass
376,256
Ranked in the US
#24
Wyoming
Critical Race Theory Ban Status
Ban Failed To Pass
5,232
Ranked in the US
#51