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A review by leswag97
Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? And Other Conversations about Race by Beverly Daniel Tatum
4.0
Dr. Tatum's work, originally written in 1997, and revisited twenty years later in 2017, is an incredibly important work on the issue of racism and also of racial identity development in both people of color and in white individuals. Tatum's insights into the development of children, into adolescence, and then into adulthood is interesting and very insightful; while she is herself a black woman, and can more easily and personally address the experiences of black men and woman growing up in America, she also lays forth helpful perspectives and thoughts on the development of white people and other groups and peoples of color in America, such as Latinxs, Native Americans, Asian Americans, and Middle Eastern and North African persons.
What I found especially helpful as I read through this book was her insights into the understanding of race and identity for children and adolescents. As early as three years old, children are recognizing and noticing differences between people, such as skin color, hair texture, and facial features. While it may seem strange to address issues of race and even racism at a young age, it is important to take up this job for our children, as they will grow up to be the leaders of our country in due time; the cost of silence is more than the risk of talking about the reality of racial identity and the presence of racism in our world and our country.
Her chapters devoted to the identity of white people in regards to racial identity were also insightful and helpful. It is easy for me, as a white person, to think of myself as "raceless," in a way, because whiteness is the norm in my environment and in this country. Because of this, it may be rather difficult for me to recognize racism, to understand the offense of racism, and even to be blinded to the effects of racism on not only people of color but on my own life. It is important for white people to realize that racism will and does have a negative effect on their own lives, as well as on the lives of people of color, albeit in different ways. We are all in this together.
All in all, Tatum's book is helpful. It is a must-read when it comes to better understanding racism and racial identity. It opens us up for more capacity and ability to break silence, to have dialogue about these difficult and important topics, and to become anti-racist presences wherever we go.
What I found especially helpful as I read through this book was her insights into the understanding of race and identity for children and adolescents. As early as three years old, children are recognizing and noticing differences between people, such as skin color, hair texture, and facial features. While it may seem strange to address issues of race and even racism at a young age, it is important to take up this job for our children, as they will grow up to be the leaders of our country in due time; the cost of silence is more than the risk of talking about the reality of racial identity and the presence of racism in our world and our country.
Her chapters devoted to the identity of white people in regards to racial identity were also insightful and helpful. It is easy for me, as a white person, to think of myself as "raceless," in a way, because whiteness is the norm in my environment and in this country. Because of this, it may be rather difficult for me to recognize racism, to understand the offense of racism, and even to be blinded to the effects of racism on not only people of color but on my own life. It is important for white people to realize that racism will and does have a negative effect on their own lives, as well as on the lives of people of color, albeit in different ways. We are all in this together.
All in all, Tatum's book is helpful. It is a must-read when it comes to better understanding racism and racial identity. It opens us up for more capacity and ability to break silence, to have dialogue about these difficult and important topics, and to become anti-racist presences wherever we go.