Beverly Daniel TatumWhy Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?: And Other Conversations About Race

This book covers all races and ethnicities, in great detail, although you may not realize that from the title. You can take her explanations to find patterns in place in Europe, South America, or Asia for example, just as much as in a U.S. high school cafeteria.And, paradoxically, it turns out that everyone of all races are more like each other than not, even specifically about ethnic identity, even when it's different. That's why this book should receive continued and expanded reading. As people may embrace identity politics and their own ethnic identity, they mistakenly think they are being unique, which Tatum explains, they are not. Tatum explains the varied scales of ethnic identity that humans go through in stages by human and social nature.Tatum shows that in all races, some of us embrace ethnic identity a lot, or more so, while others don't at all, or less so. And the cycles are similar, for all races, around the world, depending on social situations, like depending upon which ethnicity is in a large majority in a given situation. For example, Ms. Tatum, while black herself, identifies blacks who care not at all about embracing a black identity. That is like my family, which was all ethnic German, but didn't care at all about our ethnic identity, like cooking German food, or having clothing from the old country. I still feel that way, while my wife, who is African American, continues to stress her ethnic identity, embracing African history, African-American cooking, and art and items from the old country. We were both born in the U.S., in similar working-class backgrounds.Ms. Tatum is refreshingly frank, for, example, as she describes herself in her college youth as being so enthusiastically into her own race, that she can't even remember one person's name, outside of her race, from her first four years of college. But she points out, that many others of her own race don't feel that way at all, and don't stress an ethnic identity as being important to them. Some people use ethnic pride for self-confidence, while others do not, or in varying degrees, and it all depends on social situations as well.This is based on some serious research, not just anecdotes, and it covers every different situation that the multitude of us in all these ethnic backgrounds in the United States are in, as we all have an ethnicity. This book explains results, covering all ethnic groups, all social situations, and the lifetime patterns people take around the world in their identities.This book helps explain why by human nature how we often think of ourselves, and others, in the ways that we do, as we go through life in various stages. Might I suggest that Ms. Tatum, or others, look further into how or if ethnic identity stages are affected by class status, from the lower working class up to the wealthy. That's a lot of variables, but Ms. Tatum shows that a lot of variables can be indeed be covered.

Very good stuff!

This was the first book I have read about race, and I think it was a great foundation to work from. I feel a lot more prepared to delve into other books, resources, and conversations on the same topic. Tatum spoke to my heart as a white woman that doesn't know what to make of her identity amidst so much racial tension in our country. I feel a lot more at peace about who I am and what to do going forward, especially as someone going into education.Another aspect of the book I really like is that Tatum does not just talk about black and white race relations. She acknowledges people of all racial-ethnic-cultural identities and delves into the immigration history of some of the larger minorities in the US. She also discusses the process of REC identity development for biracial kids and adopted kids who have a different REC identity than their parents.The book is great for educators and anyone getting started with educating themselves on race, especially white people who feel any anxiety, fear, or guilt. She speaks to these feelings and normalizes them for white people who are not used to engaging in conversations about race and explains that there is hope for anyone feeling that way that they can move beyond that stage and find a sense of peace while still learning and working towards ridding racism from our communities. :)

I'll be honest, I've only read a little over a third of the book so far. I wanted to quickly write my initial thoughts about it, though.It's an outstanding text that causes one to really examine racism through a critical lens. At first, I was taken aback by Tatum's definition of racism as being a systemic issue whereby all White people would be classified as racist in either an active or passive way. Reading further, though, it makes sense, especially to me, a White Southerner who lives among many active racists. Tatum beautifully articulates issues with racism using quite accessible language. This book is making me reflect on my own passive racism and how I don't really do much to improve the situation.She also briefly covers other isms in the book including classism. I am from a poor family and dragged myself out in ways. I have to say that were I not a White, heterosexual male, I might not have been able to do this. I am sure I benefitted from passive racism and capitalized on affordances made possible by a dominant White society. In a way, though, I'll always be seen as poor by some affluent members of the White class. This mirrors racism in our society to a degree.I don't want to belabor things here. I'll simply say that this is a book everyone should read. It can cause you to interrogate your own position in society and begin to see how the issue truly is a systemic issue governed by a successful White society.

A deep analysis about racism in american society. I love it.

Excellent eye-opening read, very much enjoyed the 20yrs update also.

Brilliantly written, informative and certainly eye opening.