"Why Are All The Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?": A Psychologist Explains the Development of Racial Identity
by Beverly Daniel Tatum
List Price:
Our Price: $8.73
You Save: $7.22 (45%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $0.95 (click here)
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions
Book Summary Information
Author: Beverly Daniel TatumEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2003-01-07
ISBN: 0465083617
Number of pages: 320
Publisher: Basic Books
Book Reviews of "Why Are All The Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?": A Psychologist Explains the Development of Racial Identity
Book Review: A critical look at racial awareness and identity development
Summary: 5 Stars
Not until recently have I, as a 20-year-old white American college student, really become aware of the extent of my own white privilege and what it means to be white in America today. Even the fact that I was able to go for so long without recognizing the significance of race in my life is a manifestation of my white privilege. Children of color, however, are generally confronted by the fact of their race at a much earlier age. Their process of identity development differs significantly from that of most white children. This is the issue psychologist Beverly Tatum discusses in her book. She opens with the question that forms the book's title: "Why are all the black kids sitting together in the cafeteria?" It is common to see high school students self-segregate, socializing in groups composed mostly of others of the same racial background. But why is this?
Because Tatum herself is a black woman, she predominantly addresses the identity development of black individuals. She cites psychologist William Cross in describing the stages of development: pre-encounter, when young children simply absorb the messages they receive from those around them, not yet having reason to question them; encounter, when an individual first becomes aware of racism through some "event or series of events that force the young person to acknowledge [its] personal impact" (55); immersion/emersion, when the individual works actively to learn about and affirm their own racial identity; and internalization/commitment, when the individual has established a positive personal identity for him/herself. Throughout, Tatum offers explanations for the behaviors many black adolescents may engage in which may puzzle their white counterparts, including the reason for student self-segregation along racial lines. Tatum also provides tips for black parents looking for ways to help their children successfully deal with the racism they encounter and develop a positive sense of self.
Tatum then goes on to discuss the identity development of white people. Because white individuals are a part of the dominant culture in the United States, they are often oblivious to the fact that they, too, are a part of a racial group. "But I'm just normal!" they may say (93). However, this mode of thinking can and does cause significant problems for whites and people of color alike. Tatum analyzes these problems and their roots, and explains how white parents can raise their children to have a positive awareness of race. She debunks the popular idea that it is best to be "color-blind," revealing the damage this ideology does and why racial awareness, when free of negative prejudices and stereotypes, is actually a good thing. Tatum also discusses, more briefly, the identity development of Latino/Hispanic, Native American, Asian American, and biracial individuals, and the issues unique to each ethnic grouping.
White readers may have some trouble with this book for a variety of reasons. Some may be offended, as several other reviews here clearly demonstrate. The book raises issues most white people have never had to think about before. When confronted with these ideas for the first time, it can feel like a personal attack. But Tatum is not engaging in white-bashing or "reverse racism" as some might claim. Nowhere does she accuse all white people of being actively racist. In fact, she points out that the majority are not. Her primary concern here is the ingrained cultural behaviors people often engage in without even realizing that they may be, and most likely are, hurting someone of another race. It is these more subtle, more insidious manifestations of racism that Tatum seeks to bring to our attention, so that we can all work to weed these often-unconscious behaviors from our lives.
Another common reaction among white readers is to be overwhelmed with a sense of guilt at the realization that one's past actions, done unconsciously and without any racist intent, were actually hurtful and offensive to people of color around them. The biggest piece of advice I can offer readers who find themselves experiencing such a reaction is this: Do not beat yourself up for things you may have done in the past without knowing better; Tatum acknowledges that she herself has made mistakes, and a sincere apology is usually sufficient to gain forgiveness, if it has not already been granted without your asking. And even if it is not, you cannot change the past and you will accomplish nothing by dwelling on it. Rather, use your newfound awareness to move forward in a more positive way.
"Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?" is a profoundly important book. One other reviewer stated, and I agree, that this should be required reading for all American high school students. And I will go further to say that many of the issues Tatum writes about here should be discussed with children at even younger ages. It is never too early to begin educating one's child about the realities of race and racism, and help them form a healthy personal identity. While this book's primary importance may be in bringing awareness to white readers, it should in no way be restricted to a white readership. People of color - be they Black, Latino, Native American, or Asian American - will find plenty of worthwhile material here as well. Throughout her discussions on race, Tatum offers readers of color tools they can use to develop and maintain a positive sense of self in the midst of a racist environment. I highly urge everyone - and I do mean everyone - to read this book.
More "Why Are All The Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?": A Psychologist Explains the Development of Racial Identity reviews:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Summary of "Why Are All The Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?": A Psychologist Explains the Development of Racial Identity
Walk into any racially mixed high school and you will see black youth seated together in the cafeteria. Of course, it's not just the black kids sitting together-the white, Latino, Asian Pacific, and, in some regions, American Indian youth are clustered in their own groups, too. The same phenomenon can be observed in college dining halls, faculty lounges, and corporate cafeterias. What is going on here? Is this self-segregation a problem we should try to fix, or a coping strategy we should support? How can we get past our reluctance to talk about racial issues to even discuss it? And what about all the other questions we and our children have about race? Beverly Daniel Tatum, a renowned authority on the psychology of racism, asserts that we do not know how to talk about our racial differences: Whites are afraid of using the wrong words and being perceived as "racist" while parents of color are afraid of exposing their children to painful racial realities too soon. Using real-life examples and the latest research, Tatum presents strong evidence that straight talk about our racial identities-whatever they may be-is essential if we are serious about facilitating communication across racial and ethnic divides. We have waited far too long to begin our conversations about race. This remarkable book, infused with great wisdom and humanity, has already helped hundreds of thousands of readers figure out where to start.
Anyone who's been to a high school or college has noted how students of the same race seem to stick together. Beverly Daniel Tatum has noticed it too, and she doesn't think it's so bad. As she explains in this provocative, though not-altogether-convincing book, these students are in the process of establishing and affirming their racial identity. As Tatum sees it, blacks must secure a racial identity free of negative stereotypes. The challenge to whites, on which she expounds, is to give up the privilege that their skin color affords and to work actively to combat injustice in society.
Social Sciences Books
Book Subjects
- Arts & Photography
- Biographies & Memoirs
- Business & Investing
- Children's Books
- Comics & Graphic Novels
- Computers & Internet
- Cooking, Food & Wine
- Entertainment
- Gay & Lesbian
- Health, Mind & Body
- History
- Home & Garden
- Horror
- Law
- Literature & Fiction
- Mystery & Thrillers
- Nonfiction
- Outdoors & Nature
- Parenting & Families
- Professional & Technical
- Reference
- Religion & Spirituality
- Romance
- Science
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Sports
- Teens
- Travel
Most talked about in Social Sciences Books
Our Kind of People: Inside America's Black Upper Classby Lawrence Otis Graham
Harper; Published: 1999-01-06; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $9.52
Price in other shops:
Cutting Loose: Why Women Who End Their Marriages Do So Wellby Ashton Applewhite
Harper; Published: 1997-05-01; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $0.98
Price in other shops:
Dance of Angerby Harriet Lerner
Harpercollins Publisher; Published: 1985-09; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $59.95
Blue Suburbia: Almost a Memoirby Laurie Albanese
Harper Perennial; Published: 2004-03-16; Paperback; Book
Best price: $0.01
Price in other shops:
The Proper Care and Feeding of Husbandsby Laura Schlessinger
Harper; Published: 2003-12-30; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $2.96
Price in other shops:
Secret Channels: The Inside Story of Arab-Israeli Peace Negotiationsby Mohamed Heikal
Harpercollins Pub Ltd; Published: 1997-07; Paperback; Book
Best price: $346.80
Trusted Moleby Milos Stankovic
Harpercollins Pub Ltd; Published: 2001-03; Hardcover; Book
Price in other shops:
INFORMING STATECRAFT (INTELLIGENCE FOR A NEW CENTURY)by Angelo Codevilla
Free Press; Published: 1992-03-30; Board book; Book
Best price: $14.00
Price in other shops:
BLACK BOURGEOISIEby Shervert, md Frazier
Scribner; Published: 1962-07-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $39.98
![Life at the Extremes: [The Science of Survival] Image](/images/Life-at-the-Extremes-The-Science-of-Survival-0006551254-X.jpg){kind=small}
Life at the Extremes: [The Science of Survival]by Frances M. Ashcroft
Flamingo; Published: 2001-07; Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.42
Price in other shops:
Similar Books and other products
Immigration: A Wadsworth Casebook in Argumentby Sharon K. Walsh, Evelyn D. Asch
Wadsworth Publishing; Published: 2004-11-25; Paperback; Book
Best price: $41.88
Price in other shops:
Other People's Children: Cultural Conflict in the Classroomby Lisa Delpit
New Press, The; Published: 2006-08-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $8.50
Price in other shops:
Bridging Multiple Worlds: Case Studies of Diverse Educational Communities (2nd Edition)by Lorraine S. Taylor, Catharine R. Whittaker
Allyn & Bacon; Published: 2008-04-28; Paperback; Book
Best price: $34.99
Price in other shops:
Deculturalization and the Struggle for Equality: A Brief History of the Education of Dominated Cultures in the United Statesby Joel Spring
McGraw-Hill Humanities/Social Sciences/Languages; Published: 2009-02-13; Paperback; Book
Best price: $39.99
Addressing Cultural Complexities in Practice: Assessment, Diagnosis, and Therapyby Pamela A., Ph.D. Hays
Amer Psychological Assn; Published: 2007-10-15; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $36.28
Price in other shops:
Counseling the Culturally Diverse: Theory and Practiceby Derald Wing Sue, David Sue
Wiley; Published: 2007-08-10; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $67.88
Everyday Antiracism: Getting Real About Race in SchoolNew Press, The; Published: 2008-06-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $15.17
Price in other shops:
Racism without Racists: Color-Blind Racism and the Persistence of Racial Inequality in Americaby Eduardo Bonilla-Silva
Rowman & Littlefield Publishers; Published: 2009-11-16; Paperback; Book
Best price: $18.50
Price in other shops:
Privilege, Power, and Differenceby Allan G. Johnson
McGraw-Hill Humanities/Social Sciences/Languages; Published: 2005-02-11; Paperback; Book
Best price: $27.49
We Can't Teach What We Don't Know: White Teachers, Multiracial Schools (Multicultural Education Series)by Gary R. Howard
Teachers College Press; Published: 2006-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $13.57
Price in other shops: