Critical race theory is a framework of analysis and an academic movement of civil-rights scholars and activists who seek to examine the intersection of race and law in the United States and to challenge mainstream American liberal approaches to racial justice. It is part of graduate level curriculum in law school, and some social sciences courses of study. It has been considered as the basis to exonerate white police officers for killing unarmed black citizens because of the culture they were brought up in and the stereotypes they grew up with.