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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Critical race theory has rocketed to the top of many educational and political speaking points in recent months.

Be it in educational discussions, cable news debates, political agendas or states going as far as to ban it, critical race theory has become front and center.

But what is it?

That is a complicated answer and can literally come down to who you ask.

• Bay area educators react to the state's critical race theory ban

Critical race theory proposes that systemic racism is part of American society and challenges the beliefs that allow it to flourish. The theory, which was started in the 1970s, is a way to examine how laws and systems promote inequality, but it has since expanded.

Earlier this month, the Florida Board of Education voted to ban any use of critical race theory in school curriculums.

On the latest episode of our To The Point Already podcast, Spectrum Bay News 9's Rick Elmhorst and Roy DeJesus discuss critical race theory with University of South Florida professor Dr. Vonzell Agosto and Political Analyst Berny Jacques.

While CRT has not been a part of any K-12 curriculums in Florida (and frankly hard to find in any classrooms across the country), a question that does remain is if CRT in the academic world is gravitating toward the mainstream vs. politics using it an issue and putting it in the mainstream. 

"It (CRT) became useful for looking at issues around (education) policy, segregation, funding, disability, rates of disproportionality, etc," Agosto said. "If I think about all the life indicators that society uses to say whether or not this is a good society, whether or not people are happy, I see disparities along racial lines."

Opponents say the theory solely uses the lens of race to evaluate all areas of society.

"This academic theory that was really confined to academic circles is now coming into (the) mainstream," said Jacques, a black Republican who has served as a Bay News 9 political analyst. "This new academic theory…is bringing back racial considerations.

"If you have a group of elementary school students, the black students based on this theory are made to feel as if they are victims based on historical events and the white students because of historical events are made to feel as if in current day they are somehow part of an oppressor class. I find it very divisive."

Gov. Ron DeSantis gave a more blunt assessment during the state board meeting.

"The woke class wants to teach kids to hate each other, rather than teaching them how to read, but we will not let them bring nonsense ideology into Florida's schools," DeSantis said. "We will not stand for it here in Florida. I'm proud that we are taking action today to ensure our state continues to have the greatest educational system in the nation."

Still, debate continues over whether the theory is more a way of trying to understand the root of societal ills or placing blame and seeking retribution.

For now, the one thing that is clear is there is no one answer.

ABOUT THE SHOW

Spectrum Bay News 9 Anchor Rick Elmhorst sits down with the people that represent you, the people fighting for change and the people with fascinating stories to ask the hard questions.

To The Point Already will cover people, politics and issues from a Tampa Bay perspective every Wednesday.