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Up To Date

Critical Race Theory | Mystery Author Elizabeth C. Bunce

By Brian Ellison,
Chris Young, Reginald David
Published June 25, 2021 at 12:55 PM CDT
"Critical Race Theory: The Cutting Edge" was published in 1995.
Temple University Press
"Critical Race Theory: The Cutting Edge" was published in 1995.

Why the theory that has been taught for decades is now under attack and Lenexa author Elizabeth Bunce shares the creation story of her youthful detective Myrtle Hardcastle.

Segment 1, beginning at 1:00: Critical Race Theory is being debated in statehouses across the country.

Missouri joins 20 states that have considered bills to ban the teaching of CRT in public schools. This primer includes when Critical Race Theory started, how it intersects with other disciplines and why its teaching is being challenged now after being taught for nearly 50 years in learning institutions throughout the U.S.

  • Toya Like, associate professor, Interim Chair of Race Ethnic and Gender Studies, University of Missouri - Kansas City
  • Darius Watson, PhD, Assistant Professor of Political Science,Lincoln University

Segment 2, beginning at 32:34: Elizabeth Bunce's Victorian 12-year old sleuth won the author the 2021 Edgar Award for best juvenile mystery.

The book 'Premediated Myrtle' has received a flood of praise and two sequels have already hit the shelves. Myrtle Hardcastle is a precocious detective with a penchant for science, law, and botany. Says Bunce, "I could happily write nothing but Myrtle Hardcastle mysteries for the rest of my career."

Tags
Up To Date Critical Race Theoryeducationpublic schoolsraceBlack Lives MatterBlack HistoryBooksmysterychildren's booksauthorsliteratureTalk Show
Brian Ellison
As a host and contributor at KCUR, I seek to create a more informed citizenry and richer community. I want to enlighten and inspire our audience by delivering the information they need with accuracy and urgency, clarifying what’s complicated and teasing out the complexities of what seems simple. I work to craft conversations that reveal realities in our midst and model civil discourse in a divided world. Follow me on Twitter @ptsbrian or email me at brian@kcur.org.
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Chris Young
Chris Young is an Assistant Producer for KCUR’s Up To Date. Contact him at chrisy@kcur.org.
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Reginald David
As an assistant producer on Up To Date, my goal is to amplify voices of people who serve as pioneers in their respective fields while shedding light on issues that affect underserved communities. I produce daily conversations to uplift and inspire the people of the Kansas City area to make the world a better place. You can reach me at reginalddavid@kcur.org.
See stories by Reginald David