Dr. Christopher Williams Issues Statement on the Critical Race Framework Study in the 2025 Political Climate

June 20, 2025

By Dr. Christopher Williams 

The purpose of the Critical Race Framework Study might be misconstrued as political in light of events in 2025 under the Trump administration. That would be a highly errant and misplaced assumption. The impetus for my dissertation was, in fact, to improve public health research by defining scientifically defensible and specific populations to accelerate health equity. In my community of practice in Washington, DC, my reputation is as a staunch defender of low-income and public housing residents. I reflect equity and justice in my research and everyday practice. I am highly dissatisfied with the pace of change in eliminating health disparities and frustrated by inaccurate or incomplete epistemologies. Major reform in public health research is warranted to align with community experiences and the dynamics of public health economies. That begins with re-evaluating norms and practices on the scientific and practical significance of race-based research.

The Critical Race Framework Study was conceptualized in 2022. The University of Maryland Institutional Review Board reviewed the application for human subjects research in 2023, determining that it was exempt due to its educational nature. I published my study findings in the summer of 2024. My study did not and could not have had any connection with the political debates on diversity, equity, and inclusion in 2025.