Brittany Murphree, Nonprofit Mississippi News, was born in Rankin County in Mississippi. This is one of the most Republican areas in one of America’s most Republican states. She attended Northwest Rankin High School, where she was president of the Teenage Republicans of Mississippi chapter. She interned as a Republican governor. Phil Bryant and her parents voted twice for Donald Trump (she also did once). Murphree’s friends at the University of Mississippi Law School where she is currently in her second year are mostly conservative white people. Murphree surprised them all in January when she revealed that she was taking “Law 743 – Critical Race Theory” this semester. Her dad reacted on the phone, “Why would that be?” “It’s the most absurd concept.” Some of her classmates warned that “Brittany,” the class was “just gonna make you feel so guilt about being white.” Murphree felt they were genuinely concerned, even though their tone was playful. She understood why. She understood why critical race theory was so important in national politics in 2021. Conservative media seized on the term and deemed it “hostile”, academic, divisive. Tate Reeves had pledged to stop the theory being taught in schools. Murphree wasn’t familiar with critical race theory but knew that some Mississippians considered it taboo. Murphree still wanted to learn more about the “hotly contested topic”. “Law 743 Critical Race Theory” in Mississippi is the only law course that teaches the high-level legal framework. Murphree viewed the class as an opportunity that she may never get again. She told her friends that she would either agree completely with the class or be able to say “No, this course is terrible!” “The best way for me to express my opinion on this class is to actually take it,” she said to her friends. “Critical Race Theory Law 743” is an unusual course offered by the University of Mississippi Law School. Most classes at the University of Mississippi Law School teach students about the law, or how to argue as lawyers. Law 743 is unique because it gives a bird’s-eye view of the legal system and a framework to understand the law’s impact on racial minority communities. Law 743’s class is more diverse than other classes at UM’s legal school. Murphree was one of four students from a 13-person class. Murphree, out of all the courses she took this semester was most eager to learn more about Law 743. Murphree listened to Yvette Butler’s disclaimer on the first day. Butler stated that critical race theory examines difficult topics and can be upsetting. However, it was crucial that the class remains a safe and respectful place. There were bound to be disagreements between students about the readings, as well as with each other. Butler asked them to “radical accept” each other when they did. Murphree began her readings later that same day and tried to remain open-minded. Derrick Bell, a Harvard Law School professor and the founder of critical-race theory, was one of her first assignments. Bell’s article, “Serving Two Masters,” lays out the foundation for his most famous argument: School desegregation was, in large part, a failure. He argues that Brown v. Board of Education was detrimental to Black communities throughout the country. Black teachers, principals and bus drivers lost their jobs as Black schools closed. Black children were more likely than their white counterparts to be bussed to white schools and beat, arrested, or expelled. Bell was a NAACP lawyer and had sued for desegregation. In “Serving Two Masters,” Bell was questioning if this was the right tactic. Murphree found this article amazing. Murphree had assumed that critical race theory was primarily about critiquing white people’s actions, and not examining the tactics and decisions of Black civil rights lawyers. Her other readings were just as surprising to her. She learned that criticizing critical race theory was wrongly called Marxist by lawmakers. The framework was actually a rejection for legal theories that centered class and left out race. She was thrilled by the information she was learning and wanted to share it her peers. On Wednesday night, she began chatting with her conservative peers at a mixer held at a bar near the Square about how the readings were different from what she had imagined. A classmate laughed and asked, “Am I going to regret talking with you about this?” On Thursday’s second day of class, Butler asked students for their opinions on Bell’s argument in “Serving Two Masters.” Butler then presented a PowerPoint slide that stated: “How does Bell describe the Brown decision?” “Do you agree with his description?” Teresa Jones, a second-year law student, raised her hand. Jones stated that her life experiences gave her a different perspective. She understood Bell’s argument. She grew up in the Mississippi Delta in a Black working-class family. Her mother worked at the catfish farm trimming fish, while her father was an HVAC technician and a veteran of the military. Sharkey County had only one high school when they were children. It was the school for white kids. Jones stated that Brown was not as detrimental to rural Mississippi’s Black community as segregation. Brown was, in fact, the only reason her family could go to school. Jones stated that there were many people who didn’t go to school before desegregation. The class discussed racism, how to define it, colorblindness and the difference between equality and inequality. They were also introduced to “interest convergence,” which is a fundamental tenet in critical race theory. It states that communities of color can only make progress if they are able to benefit from the efforts of white communities. Jones explained that interest convergence helped Jones understand why Mississippi’s Legislature decided to change the state flag for 2020. It was because they were “about to lose a lot with the NCAA.” One of Murphree’s white classmates asked Murphree what the best term was: “Black” or “African American” before class ended on Thursday. Murphree was initially confused. Murphree wondered, “Are they about to disagree on that?” “Are they going to be offended that she just asking that?” Butler asked Black students in class to choose their preferred choice. Jones didn’t pay much attention to the conversation. She had thought about why she called herself “Black” in her undergrad years ago. The discussion was, however, enlightening for Murphree. Murphree was about starting her homework on Friday Jan. 21 when another Black student pointed out something that she hadn’t considered before: “We don’t call you white Americans.” Senate Bill 2113 was one of many bills that the Senate passed this session. It was intended to ban critical race theory discussion in K-12 schools as well as universities. Murphree was disbelieving as she read the bill. Murphree said, “The party that I associate with,” and was disbelieving. Within two weeks of studying Law 743, Murphree was exposed to new ideas that she hadn’t considered before. She discovered that there were academics and activists who were against school integration and how it was being enforced. She gained a new perspective about racial progress in America. She still had a semester of issues to learn about that didn’t feel intimidating, but were urgently needed: implicit bias in policing and affirmative action. She wondered, “Why are they so afraid of people just theorizing or just thinking?” “We are not going to become communists. Murphree watched footage of the Senate voting to pass SB 2113 that Sunday. Murphree saw the protest of every Mississippi Black senator and decided to take a bold step. She knew it would end her dream of being a local Republican politician. She opened a Microsoft Word document, and began to write. She began, “This course has been the most valuable and enlightening course that I have ever taken during my undergraduate and graduate careers at the State of Mississippi’s flagship universities.” “The ban on teachings and courses such as these is preventing people of all backgrounds and races from coming together to discuss important topics that would otherwise be ignored.” This bill is not only a violation of the values of hospitality, but also declares that Mississippians are rooted in hatred and a great deal more ignorance.” She requested a friend working in the state Capitol to review it. She then addressed the letter to the 27 members of Mississippi House Education Committee and attached it to an email. Follow the 2022 Legislative Session by viewing our Legislative Guide. As it stands, SB 2113’s language is so vague that Law 743 could still be taught. Sen. Michael McLendon (R-Hernando) proposed the bill that would ban schools from requiring students to “personally affirm, adopt, and adhere…that any sex or race, religion, or national origin is intrinsically superior or inferior.” This is not possible in Law 743 or any other public school in Mississippi. Jones stated that “nobody is saying, ‘Dear white child. You are inherently superior than dear Black child.'” “No one is saying this. “If anything, that’s something we’re trying deconstruct.” Murphree still hasn’t heard from any lawmakers to which she wrote the letter. However, the House has until March 1 to decide what to do next with SB 2113. Representatives could make SB 2113 more restrictive, even though several other House bills were more complex and extensive. Jones stated that if the Legislature bans critical race theory, it will be detrimental to the academic environment at UM. She has been able to better understand and defend her opinions, which is what law school is all about. Jones stated that there are certain aspects of critical race theory I disagree with. Professor Butler said that it was OK and a good thing. “We should be talking about these things and saying that I agree with it, but I disagree with it. It’s okay, that’s what open discussions are about.” Murphree stated that it was frustrating to watch fellow conservatives make critical race theory seem like it’s something it’s not. She understands why some might be afraid to think about the core issues of the theory. They don’t want “white guilt”, especially in Mississippi, where many white people can trace their roots back to slave-owners. She said, “Here, in the Bible Belt people ride on their good character, they go to church every Sunday, and they give money to the needy so they can’t imagine being called racists.” Murphree stated that the Mississippi’s younger generation is far more perceptive than conservatives think. Even if teachers ban them from discussing racism, children will still be able see how it organizes society. Murphree saw it growing up; critical race theory gave her a way of talking about it. Murphree stated that she could look around at Northwest Rankin High and see how many people said the n word. “Nobody had the right to tell me what to do. It was something I experienced in my own life.”