In 1987, critical race theorist Derrick Bell declared “and we are not saved” reflecting on Black folks’ endless pursuit of sustained racial justice, equality, and equity to no avail. Specifically, his proclamation points to the lack of racial salvation that undergirds a cyclical system that seemingly grants rights then quickly denies them and slowly but surely intensifies the disillusionment with a society that says they are committed to the freedom of all. Essentially, freedom (i.e., salvation) is merely a racial symbol that is simultaneously ubiquitous for some and elusive for others. Unsurprisingly, we were met with the same disposition towards human rights with the November 5, 2024, re-election of Donald Trump as the President of the United States of America. Confronting this reality, scholars of communication are well positioned to consider how we use our existing resources to cope, temper, and resist the present and coming state of affairs.

Amidst genocidal violence, threats of mass deportations, the looming divestment and destruction of education with targeted attacks against historically excluded epistemologies (e.g., African American Studies, Ethnic Studies, Women and Gender Studies), the crumbling protection of women’s choices about their bodies, and laws that target the dignity of folks part of LGBTQ communities, this Research Topic echoes the lament of Derrick Bell and posits that we are still not saved. 'And We Are STILL Not Saved!' invites scholars to contend with and respond to our current and future sociopolitical and cultural climate by imagining critical race theory (CRT) as one site of refuge. Importantly, it seeks to do the following:

1) reflect on how critical race theory can be understood as a movement that offers us tools, space, and imaginative insight to cultivate intellectual preservation and epistemological safety
2) ask what critical race theory means to communication scholars that desire to make sense of the moral, ethical, and intellectual standards and breakdown of society
3) consider critical race theory as a framework that can equip us with strategies, tactics, and the wherewithal to move forward.

This Research Topic welcomes scholars to deeply (re)imagine CRT as one kind of intellectual refuge that develops responses to questions such as, but not limited to, the following:

• How is CRT an intellectual refuge?
• What from CRT can we use to create an intellectual refuge?
• If CRT does not offer security, safety, or any measure of refuge, then how can we further advance it to do so?
• How can we use CRT to understand our failure to secure rights?
• How can CRT help to disrupt the perceived and felt futility of our teaching, research, and service?
• How can CRT save us?

The Topic Editor encourages manuscripts that take on a variety of forms of original research (e.g., counterstories) and scholarship that responds to questions that grapple with the constantly changing political landscape. Articles should adhere to guidelines detailed by Frontiers in Communication and should be no more than 12,000 words.

Authors are strongly encouraged to submit a manuscript summary (i.e., an extended abstract) of 500 to 1,000 words before submitting their full manuscript.

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