Critical Race Theory (CRT)
Jacob Forman and Mohammed Shafia both murdered their families. The media coverage of the murders is the subject matter of this assignment, which has two parts. First, students will explain what Critical Race Theory (“CRT”) is. What are CRT’s most important insights and principles? What purposes does CRT serve? Clearly, there is no expectation that students will (or can) discuss every CRT principle in their assignments. Focus on those principles that are most relevant to the assignment at hand and make sure that you explain the principles that you raise. Do not simply list them.
Second, having provided a synopsis of CRT, students will assess the stories of the Forman and Shafia murders using a CRT lens. Are there similarities between the two stories? Are they depicted similarly in media accounts? Are they treated similarly in the legal realm? What does a CRT lens have to show us?
Length: 1250-1500 words excluding notes, bibliography and title page.
Formatting: Students should double space their papers using a 12-point font and standard (1 inch) margins. Students must use the Chicago style for their citations and bibliography. Failure to correctly use the Chicago style will result in a deduction.
There are numerous online citation guides that provide guidance on the Chicago style:
Sources: Students are not expected to do outside research, but are welcome to include other sources should they so choose.
CRT Sources
*Bell, Derrick A. “Who’s Afraid of Critical Race Theory?” University of Illinois Law Review 4 (1995): 893-910. (893-908 only)
*Delgado, Richard, and Jean Stefancic. Critical Race Theory: An Introduction. New York: New York University Press, 2001. (1-11 and 74-80 suggested. Students may wish to read other sections as well.)
News Paper Articles
Jacob Forman case, British Columbia
Mohammad Shafia case, Ontario