"Why Are All The Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?": A Psychologist Explains the Development of Racial Identity by Beverly Daniel Tatum

Aug 30, 2007 Melanie Russo rated it it was amazing

As a caucasion mother of an adopted african american son...this book was a MUST READ. It teaches us how to have effective and constructive conversations about race. Recent generations of caucasions have taught their young children to avoid using race to describe other people. Unfortunately, all this does is create a society frightened to discuss race. Without effective communication on this topic, we will never achieve true peace and equality among different races and cultures.

flag 57 likes · Like · see review

Feb 14, 2010 Toe rated it did not like it

Shelves: nonfiction

Completely awful. Tatum's book is thinly disguised racist propaganda devoid of actual statistics or legitimate quantification of the state of race relations in modern America. Worse than that, it does great harm to the ongoing struggle of race relations by crying wolf, mucking up the lines of communication, and creating resentment where none would otherwise exist.

Because she won't or can't point to empirical evidence of racism, such as earnings per unit of time worked when adjusted for education ...more

flag 43 likes · Like · see review

Sep 04, 2013 Zanna rated it it was amazing

I have learned that a sincere, though imperfect attempt to interrupt the oppression of others is usually better than no attempt at all

This is a really useful book for white people as it lays out the 101 on how racism works and is full of advice for would-be allies. Tatum explains how and why white people often fail to be good listeners and to do useful ally work, and how we could do better, with very generous empathy. She explains things that white people can get away with ignoring and so often

I have learned that a sincere, though imperfect attempt to interrupt the oppression of others is usually better than no attempt at all

This is a really useful book for white people as it lays out the 101 on how racism works and is full of advice for would-be allies. Tatum explains how and why white people often fail to be good listeners and to do useful ally work, and how we could do better, with very generous empathy. She explains things that white people can get away with ignoring and so often forget or fail to realise:

Whether one succumbs to the devaluing pressures of the dominant culture or successfully resists them, the fact is that dealing with oppressive systems from the underside is physically and psychologically taxing

White folks don't want to be called out for racism, but living in a racist culture is like being in 'smog' – you can’t help breathing it in and being affected by it, so if as a white person you want to do something about racism, you had better start by becoming aware of the racial messages around you and how you're responding to them.

It's not my fault, but I am responsible

I especially enjoyed reading how the author tries to help her own sons navigate and resist this culture effectively. She recalls talking to them as young children and as young adults, and discusses the effects of various strategies other parents might adopt on the identity processes of children. Anything technical (this is a psychology book) is broken down for easy understanding and she goes over a wide range of scenarios, including brief explanations of the specific oppressions of Native/Indian, Asian and Latin@ communities in the USA and how these affect people at different ages and stages as she does with black and white people (pointing out that the latter rarely realise that they have a racial identity). She points out that whites need to develop a positive racial identity; this can be done by learning about historical white anti-racists. This interesting idea doesn't feel quite right to me, but I'll keep thinking about it. More important that white people feeling good about ourselves is people of colour being able to access histories in which they are protagonists rather than passive victims, and, Tatum explains how she makes sure to mention how oppressed racialised people have always resisted slavery, colonisation and so on.

Tatum’s discussion of affirmative action is really helpful I think. She explains the different ways of implementing it and how they fail or succeed as well as the need for such measures. A brilliant suggestion she includes is for the hiring organisation to set diversity goals and look for people who can help them to reach those goals not so much by being black/female/gay etc but by bringing their experience in Race/Gender/Sexuality etc Studies and similar. Naturally, black/female/gay etc candidates are more likely to have such experience and are therefore more likely to get the posts but white/male/straight people could improve their chances only by doing such studies, which would at least improve the culture overall and (eventually) reduce the need for affirmative action programs since black lesbians would just get hired and promoted anyway :-) ...more

flag 41 likes · Like · see review

Apr 05, 2013 Cheryl Kuhl-paine rated it really liked it

Shelves: race, nonfiction

White people: This is not a Racism 101 book. Don't read it if it's your first, second, or even third book on racism. It won't help you. You'll feel attacked and guilty, and write a self-centered, whiny review about how the author is so reverse-racist, and how there's only really one human race, and how you're really just tired of people talking about "privilege" and "racism" and blahblahblah...

If you're past that stage of indoctrinated colorblind racism, past the knee-jerk reactionary self-defen ...more

flag 28 likes · Like · see review

Feb 25, 2008 Siri rated it it was amazing

Think you're not racist? THINK AGAIN. Hahaha sorry had to write that bc I felt like it was a catchy phrase to get you to read this review. ANYWAY... this gets 5 stars for content, not writing, but the content is sooooo valuable that it deserves a 5-star rating so everyone will read it. At times it might get a little pedantic, BUT if you can put your uber-white, privileged, upper-middle-class ego aside for the duration of this book, you will learn a LOT about WHY THE HECK all the black peole DO s ...more

flag 18 likes · Like · see review

Nov 11, 2012 Sps rated it liked it

Shelves: 300s

A useful read.

When advantaged people claim that since they aren't actively persecuting anyone, they aren't actually on the top of the hierarchy, I want to share Tatum's clear explanations and examples. E.g. "If a person of color is a victim of housing discrimination, the apartment that would otherwise have been rented to that person of color is still available for a White person. The White tenant is, knowingly or unknowingly, the beneficiary of racism, a system of advantage based on race. The u A useful read.

When advantaged people claim that since they aren't actively persecuting anyone, they aren't actually on the top of the hierarchy, I want to share Tatum's clear explanations and examples. E.g. "If a person of color is a victim of housing discrimination, the apartment that would otherwise have been rented to that person of color is still available for a White person. The White tenant is, knowingly or unknowingly, the beneficiary of racism, a system of advantage based on race. The unsuspecting tenant is not to blame for the prior discrimination, but she benefits from it anyway." (9)

"The view of oneself as an individual is very compatible with the dominant ideology of rugged individualism and the American myth of meritocracy. Understanding racism as a system of advantage that structurally benefits Whites and disadvantages people of color on the basis of group membership threatens not only beliefs about society but also beliefs about one's own life accomplishments." (103) Don't we all know somebody like this? Who can accept that blatant racism is wrong, but does not believe that a culture that systematically pushes some groups down could have had anything to do with his or her own personal ascent?

Since Tatum is a psychologist by training, the book is especially strong on the psychological reality of living with U.S. racism. She talks about stages of racial identity development that, especially among Black youth, sometimes lead to an oppositional, anti-education stance. "It is clear that an oppositional identity can interfere with academic achievement, and it may be tempting for educators to blame the adolescents themselves for their academic decline. However, the questions that educators and other concerned adults must ask are, How did academic achievement become defined as exclusively White behavior? What is it about the curriculum and the wider culture that reinforces the notion that academic excellence is an exclusively White domain?....an oppositional identity discouraging academic achievement is not inevitable even in a racist society." (64-65)

For Whites who begin to learn about racism, Tatum discusses how, because of the conflict with their self-image as a good, fair person, they often try to turn away from the responsibility of racial advantage. Some become frustrated and antagonistic in their retreat from shame. Some try "to escape Whiteness via people of color" (107) by having friends explain to them or vouch for them--which also places the burden of fighting racism back onto people of color. Wisely, Tatum suggests that "the resource which [a White person at that stage] needs most at this point are not people of color, but other Whites who are further along in the process and can help show him [or her] the way." (107)

(On a side note, I really like that she uses White and Black both in capital letters, because the norm of having lower-case 'white' while all other ethnic/racial identities are set apart with capitals reinforces Whiteness as normal, invisible, assumed.)

By the end of the book I wished there were a few more concrete ideas how-to ideas on getting started as an active antiracist at whatever point in your life. I mean the step beyond self-education, because she does have good resources for that. On the other hand, I don't think that's what Dr. Tatum set out to do, nor does her book promise it, so perhaps I should just say I want her to write a how-to book as well. ...more

flag 13 likes · Like · see review

Aug 28, 2013 Bonnie rated it did not like it

Shelves: nonfiction, least-favorite

I was angry pretty much the entire time I was reading this, until the last two chapters about races other than black people, and biracial kids, respectively. I want to have a list of both pros and cons, but I might not have been able to see past the red to find any insights in this book. So on with the cons!

1) By chapter 3, it becomes evident that the author views the black kids sitting at the cafeteria as a POSITIVE thing. This makes the book, not about ending voluntary racial segregation, as I I was angry pretty much the entire time I was reading this, until the last two chapters about races other than black people, and biracial kids, respectively. I want to have a list of both pros and cons, but I might not have been able to see past the red to find any insights in this book. So on with the cons!

1) By chapter 3, it becomes evident that the author views the black kids sitting at the cafeteria as a POSITIVE thing. This makes the book, not about ending voluntary racial segregation, as I originally thought based on the title, but about "having the courage" as a black person to sit at "the black table." Based on the author's defined stages of racial identity, if you're black and you're NOT sitting with other black kids, you just haven't accepted your racial identity yet. God forbid you connect better with someone who isn't your race. This carries into my next point.

2) This book comes dangerously close to encouraging and supporting segregation. She talks about how important it is for blacks to be together without whites, and vice versa, otherwise black kids will start failing in school...? I did over-simplify on that, but chapter 4 still touts the benefits of a separate black space. Separate but equal, right?

3) Something that disgusted me in Chapter 5 is when the author states proudly that she doesn't remember the name of a single white person at her college. How many years is that, of all the people passing around you, you care about them so little that you can't even remember a name, and that's a good thing? God I hope I'm never that narrow-minded that I would disdain someone based on a race they can't help being.

4) Something that might have been relevant when the book came out is, in Chapter 8, she talks about Hispanic kids in high school being discouraged from speaking Spanish, and even of some kids getting detention for being caught speaking Spanish in their free time at school. My high school in south Georgia had a sizable Hispanic population. They mostly kept to themselves but were not hostile toward other students. Spanish is now considered an asset, and someone fluent in a second language is often well-repected. I remember being pressured to study Spanish instead of French in high school because it was more relevant to the area in which I lived. Which, admittedly, it was. But I've been required to study Spanish in school since being taught days of the week and colors in kindergarten. So maybe this book is a little dated in that regard. I'm not saying there isn't discrimination against hispanics. Of course there is. Just saying maybe the example was a little extreme and not the norm.

This book does not seek to end racism, or racial discrimination, or even to allow the white majority to understand black Americans, because according to her, they never will. All the author asks of the white people reading this book is that they keep their distance from black people while simultaneously keeping other white people from making racist jokes in front of them. This, in my opinion, is a pretty low bar. Surely we can hope for better than that. ...more

flag 11 likes · Like · see review

Aug 11, 2017 Emma Deplores Goodreads Censorship rated it liked it

Shelves: nonfiction, psychology, sociology, african-american, united-states, 3-stars-and-a-half

3.5 stars

This is an informative book about the racial aspect of identity development. I am giving it a mild recommendation because I did not find it life-changing. But despite being a book about social issues published in 1997 (with an updated edition in 2003), it has maintained relevance. It is primarily geared toward parents and teachers, with a focus on child and adolescent identity development: how to raise non-white children in the U.S. with a healthy sense of themselves, and how to raise w 3.5 stars

This is an informative book about the racial aspect of identity development. I am giving it a mild recommendation because I did not find it life-changing. But despite being a book about social issues published in 1997 (with an updated edition in 2003), it has maintained relevance. It is primarily geared toward parents and teachers, with a focus on child and adolescent identity development: how to raise non-white children in the U.S. with a healthy sense of themselves, and how to raise white children to speak out against racism. Because of the smattering of angry reviews, it’s also worth pointing out that the book is geared toward those who acknowledge that racism is an existing problem that affects people of color, and would like to improve their understanding or learn to do more about it.

Beverly Tatum is a college professor and administrator with a background in psychology and extensive experience teaching workshops about race, and also a black woman who’s put careful thought into teaching her sons about race. The book has a detached, somewhat scholarly tone, though it remains accessible and readable. The author compiles several theoretical models for racial identity development and illustrates them with examples from students, workshop participants, and her own life. In general I found the information she provides helpful, not earth-shattering for someone relatively familiar with social justice issues, but not too basic either.

The book does mostly focus on black and white, though the author makes an effort to expand from that. There are 10-page sections about Hispanic, Native American, and Asian-American identity, which are more substantial than I expected based on their brevity, but lack space to do more than summarize these groups’ experience with American government and society, and flag some key issues relevant to grade school teachers. Unsurprisingly, the portion of the book dealing with African-American identity is the richest. It’s useful – and probably necessary – for teachers and others to understand what kids are experiencing.

In writing about white people, the author is familiar with common racial attitudes, and explains them in terms of a growth model even though many people get stuck somewhere along the way (the same of course can be said for black people): from not having to think about race, to blaming minorities for their situation, to white guilt, to hopefully speaking out against racism in a productive way. Her analysis of the reasons white people are afraid to speak out seems dated to me (suggesting that fear of ostracism from other white people is a major factor, while de-emphasizing fear of putting one’s foot in one’s mouth because white people aren’t taught to talk about race). But otherwise the book’s analysis of race relations feels contemporary.

The author’s conception of a positive white racial identity is also incomplete, though as a black person, this isn’t really her job. She believes (and I have doubts about this) that positive change requires white people having a strong, positive racial identity of their own: including whiteness as a major part of their self-conception without being racist. But as far as she gets in envisioning what that looks like is suggesting that white people look to other white people who have fought racism, and build anti-racist identities. The problem is that opposing racism is a social position, not an identity, and most people are not activists who build their lives around their opinions. Ultimately it’s for white people to determine what white identity looks like, though, so I can’t fault the author for failing to do so.

At any rate, this book is informative and the actual text is only just over 200 pages, so it’s worth a read if you’re interested in the subject. It isn't a book that inspired any strong reaction in me, but I feel a bit more knowledgeable for having read it. ...more

flag 9 likes · Like · see review

Dec 15, 2007 Saxon rated it really liked it

Recommends it for: you; the white american. and my dad..but that isnt going to happen

As an important and foundational addition to the conversation of race in America in the last 10 years, Tatum's "Why Are All the Black Kids..." is a balanced mix of research, theory, and personal experiences that is easy to read and extremely accessible.
Tatum not only attempts to answer the question of her book but also touches on race issues beyond the black/white paradigm. Overall, Tatum constantly emphasizes the need for constant dialogue amongst not only white Americans with minorities but am As an important and foundational addition to the conversation of race in America in the last 10 years, Tatum's "Why Are All the Black Kids..." is a balanced mix of research, theory, and personal experiences that is easy to read and extremely accessible.
Tatum not only attempts to answer the question of her book but also touches on race issues beyond the black/white paradigm. Overall, Tatum constantly emphasizes the need for constant dialogue amongst not only white Americans with minorities but amongst white Americans themselves on the subject of race.
In addition, Tatum spends a great deal of time dedicated to the development of individuals from birth all the way to college, giving detailed pointers on how to raise a "race-conscious" child. These sections almost work as a self-help book for parents and I would encourage any young/new parents to read Tatum's advice.
The only aspect of "Why are all the Black Kids..." that feels unbalanced in Tatum's assessment of racism is the issue of desegregation. The book is essentially an examination of the current state of racism and how it has come to develop and the outcomes that we must deal with today. In doing so Tatum often speaks of the need for a support and foundational group of like people for young teen minorities. These chapters almost seem as if Tatum is setting up an arguement that desegregation may be over emphasized in American schools. Unfortunately, she never really addresses or (perhaps recognizes)this issue fully. It is not until the post-script where it becomes apparent that Tatum does indeed support desegregation but thinks that within such an environment that it is important to allow and even establish communities where minorities can be surrounded by other minority individuals who possibly and probably share similar experiences. The post-script is probably the most passionate chapter of the book and I personally feel that the rest of the book could of been salted a bit with such personal reflections to better clarify some her thoughts and assessments.
Nevertheless, this book is highly recommended for people passionate about issues of race or just passively interested.
...more

flag 8 likes · Like · see review

Jun 02, 2011 Debs rated it liked it

Shelves: summer-reading, work-related

I had wanted to read this book since it came out in the late 1990s, because I had often wondered about this very question. I grew up in a Boston suburb that was part of the METCO program, a well-meaning but poorly executed way of integrating schools by bussing in African American students from Boston. I had some friends of color in high school, but thought of them as exceptions to the rule of the METCO kids, who I saw as an angry bunch who mainly kept to themselves AND always sat together in the I had wanted to read this book since it came out in the late 1990s, because I had often wondered about this very question. I grew up in a Boston suburb that was part of the METCO program, a well-meaning but poorly executed way of integrating schools by bussing in African American students from Boston. I had some friends of color in high school, but thought of them as exceptions to the rule of the METCO kids, who I saw as an angry bunch who mainly kept to themselves AND always sat together in the cafeteria.

When I applied to college, I decided on Oberlin, a school I had chosen because of its tremendous left-leaning sensibilities and its need blind admissions policy (now defunct - shame on you, Oberlin) and also because of its history at the forefront of civil rights: admitting people of color since its founding in 1833. But I found an extremely segregated campus on arrival. I hardly saw any people of color throughout my day-to-day existence at Oberlin. Going to college in the mid-1990s, at the height of political correctness, I thought that the best course of action was simply not to ask why. That my question might label me a racist or worse yet, an uninformed racist. I was told by my peers that I shouldn't enroll in African American studies classes, because there was always a long waiting list, and that if I wanted to learn about Black culture, I needed to educate myself and let the students of color have first crack at those classes. And, again, in my deep-seeded political correctness, tinged with guilt and fear, I knew only not to ask why.

When I went to Northwestern University to study American History on the graduate level, I was again surrounded by good meaning white folks like myself - and no people of color, save for my first year advisor (who soon left to go to NYU). I was also the only woman studying American history in my cohort. The rest of my peers, for the most part, were straight white men interested in studying race related issues of the 19th and 20th century. THAT I found totally bizarre.

At Northwestern, I did learn a great deal about the systematic inequities of our race-based society. I learned where and when different practices of institutionalized racism were founded in this country. I learned about "The Wages of Whiteness," how corporations and the government pit poor people against each other by devaluing African American culture and work ethic as a way to keep poor Whites and Blacks from working together against economic and political oppression. (I think my review of Warmth of Other Suns is a pretty good example of what I've learned...)

So, going in to Why are All the Black Kids..., I had the context for racism in this country and I had my own experiences to draw on. SO, why do all the Black kids sit together? I think Tatum provides a really good answer: Because racism is pervasive in America, and it's really hard to deal with, no matter who you are. All kids find groups of support, and it's easier to hang out with people who know where you're coming from.

One of the most recent forms that racism has taken in our culture is diabolical in its simplicity: liberals and conservatives alike celebrate the incredibly misguided notion that we are "beyond racism." That Martin Luther King Jr., Sesame Street and Affirmative Action have cauterized all the old wounds of slavery and inequality. That Barack Obama has ushered us in to a "post-racial" society. In other words, because people are allowed to sit anywhere on the bus and they're not rioting in the street, we're all color blind now. And so tales of overt racist behavior tend to shock White people, and tales of subtle racism are laughed off as people of color being overly sensitive or simple misunderstandings.

It's understandable to want to hang out with people who know the daily grind of racism rather than sit with people who don't. Tatum also does a fantastic job of discussing this same "phenomenon" in the corporate world - from the subtle yet measurable racist practices of hiring, to the every day effort it takes workers of color to change perceptions of fellow employees who may feel they were hired simply because they possess minority status.

Tatum talks about how racial identity is formed over a life time and how parents and teachers play a major role in creating a healthy and proud kid - one who understands that racism is a systematic form of inequality, but does not see himself as a victim or a perpetrator. She talks about how to be a change maker, about standing up and pointing out racist behavior when it occurs: stopping the silence. Although she wouldn't put it this way, Tatum like Paul Farmer does believe guilt is good WHEN it pushes you to do something about it.

So, the thinking and arguments behind the book are sound and interesting, and will make you think about times when you have seen racist behavior, when you have contributed to it, when you have been a victim of it. One of the most powerful stories she told had to do with asking people about their first memories of understanding racial differences:

The participants use such words as ANGER, CONFUSION, SURPRISE, SADNESS, EMBARASSMENT. Notice that this list does not include such words as JOY, EXCITEMENT, DELIGHT. (p.32)

Working on turning racism around by realizing differences are a joy and not a sadness is indeed a life long process, but I believe a tangible goal. That being said, I think you could read the first 3 chapters and the last and skip the rest, as it gets pretty repetitive. ...more

flag 7 likes · Like · see review

Aug 08, 2013 Leslie rated it did not like it

Shelves: reading-with-ld

This is just AWFUL. She attempts to redefine racism (if you're white, you're racist). Her racial identity theory may hit home (I'm biracial), but it is too narrow. Blacks do not have the monopoly on discrimination, identity issues, fitting in, etc. I'm tired of what is clearly and historically a *human* experience being claimed as a black experience. A rejection of education is not a result of discrimination, it's primarily a cultural choice. This "acting white" idea promotes a false dichotomy. ...more

flag 7 likes · Like · see review

Feb 06, 2015 Scott Rhee rated it it was amazing

Shelves: black-studies, nonfiction, psychology, sociology

The title of Beverly Daniel Tatum’s book, “Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?”, is a question that probably crosses the minds of most, if not all, people who observe a high school lunch period, but it often goes unasked at the risk of sounding “racially insensitive” or “racist”.

Tatum’s book helps to provide one theoretical answer to the question; an answer that is logical and intuitive but one that is, unfortunately, fraught with controversy. To some, Tatum’s book is a ...more

flag 6 likes · Like · see review

Jun 30, 2009 Kenghis Khan rated it liked it

All in all it was a worthy read. It articulated a lot of ideas I've been having about how white Americans just don't notice race. It also provided a plausible account about why black adolescents seek out the friendship of other blacks. Tatum also sought to provide concrete solutions.

But the book had some serious short-comings. For instance, Tatum's quantitative evidence for the persistence of racism is ambiguous. She sites a study that notes that black ethnicity or hispanic origin is the single All in all it was a worthy read. It articulated a lot of ideas I've been having about how white Americans just don't notice race. It also provided a plausible account about why black adolescents seek out the friendship of other blacks. Tatum also sought to provide concrete solutions.

But the book had some serious short-comings. For instance, Tatum's quantitative evidence for the persistence of racism is ambiguous. She sites a study that notes that black ethnicity or hispanic origin is the single greatest predictor of socio-economic well being. This is reasonable. Although we can agree that genetics is probably not part of the equation, Tatum pays mere lip service to other hypotheses such as cultural differences. Instead, she uses this to argue that it is evidence for systemic, institutionalized racism. I don't necessarily disagree with Tatum's conclusion, only that she fails to rule out other hypotheses. Another problematic case of discussing statistics is when Tatum gives a statistic that about 40 some percent of white college juniors say their social group involves members of other ethnicities. What is not said is to which ethnic groups these friends belong. Indeed, it is reasonable that in many college campuses in America (especially the elite schools on the East and West Coasts as well as the Midwest and New South), such cross-racial friendships that whites have are almost certainly Asians and perhaps Hispanics, but probably not blacks. And that is assuming the respondents are honest - as Tatum notes, whites frequently underestimate their own racism. A Honduran lab partner or Jewish student might qualify as a friend "from a different ethnic group". That she fails to analyze this statistic in greater depth, or quote a result of a rather vague study, at best suggests Tatum is, inspite of her efforts, naive about the extent of black-white segregation, and at worse is selectively using the empirical evidence. This makes her argument come across as highly selective.

Indeed, the author's selections of quotes by whites seem to belie her claim that whites, too, have a role in the anti-racist struggle. She seems to quote the most egregious, nonsensical diatrabe of white people short of interviewing a neo-Nazi.

Moreover, although she acknowledges that bigotry exists in communities of color, she persists in painting people of color in the role of victim, empowered or not. This blindness, if it can be called that, extends to her other passages. She entirely neglects the fact that whites in majority-minority communities tend to be among the most virulent racists. No doubt her analysis would have been more interesting (and believable) had she analyzed how white students behave in schools that are overwhelmingly black. That a proposed scholar of identity development fails to explore, much less even mention, this rather under-studied demographic (whites who grow up in predominantly non-white neighborhood) makes one wonder about if the author is interested in identity development per se or in the experience of blacks in America.

Tatum's black-white focus is increasingly obsolete. Tatum suggests as much when she has a chapter on "racism beyond black and white." But here again Tatum rather unconvincingly tries to force the experience of other ethnic groups to align with the experience of blacks. For instance, she repeatedly emphasizes how Native Americans and Hispanics, like blacks, been forced to deal with the American mainstream. There is a kernel of truth to this view, but this analysis fails completely when she ignores it when it comes to Asian Americans, most of whom came, and continue to come, to America by choice.

Another problem with Tatum's analysis of "other races" is her disingenous conflation of (mostly East Asians) with Pacific Islanders. From issues as diverse as child mortality to college degrees, the two groups have starkly different demographics. That Taylor persists in lumping them in "Asian Pacific Americans" betrays, inspite of her cursory discussion, a superficial understanding of this group of Americans.

Perhaps no where else is Tatum's failure to go beyond the black-white divide more clearly illustrated than her cursory treatment of the experience of Americans of middle eastern descent. Arab Americans have a scant two paragraphs (in the context of being "Asian American"), whilst Jews are subsumed as white. Of course, in a book written before 2001 this is to some extent understandable. But in light of the fact that both groups have assimilated so well, Tatum's curosry treatment of them also suggests, once again, that Tatum projects her own experiences as a black American unfairly onto the experience of other groups. Tatum avoids examples of overwhelmingly successful assimilation (also experienced to a lesser degree by South Asian, white Hispanic, and Japanese Americans) like the plague throughout her book. Clearly this makes the work incredibly "black-centric".

As a multiracial person, I found Tatum's discussion of multi-racial families artificial. I am simply unconvinced she understands the complexity of the problem. For instance, only in passing is reference made to black children teasing mixed race children for their wavy hair or non-African features. Although I have repeated problems with her reference to the empirical literature throughout the book, by the time she gets around to discussing the empirical literature on the problems of mixed-race Americans, I am disinclined to trust her summary of the empirical literature that mixed-race children turn out generally fine. Worse, Tatum's focus on the offspring of black-white relationships is unjustified. Tatum herself should recognize the reason for this - namely, the one drop rule. As Barack Obama's experience illustrates, offspring of black-white couples are black first and foremost. As such, their experience with the sort of racism pervasive in society is only marginally different from that of lighter skinned blacks. A really interesting examination would have been the offspring of white-Asian, white-Pacific Islander, or white-Amerindians, because both groups have offspring that really are neither white nor Asian/Pacific/Amerindian. Disappointingly, and unsurprisingly, Tatum largely ignores such cases.

Finally, Tatum fails to confront the central reasons why racism persists - namely, class society. She does seem somewhat more cognizant of gender and sexual orientation issues. But perhaps because Tatum herself is an academic bureaucrat of middle-class extraction, she is blind to the central role of poverty and capitalism in perpetuating racism. Either that, or she is astute enough to understand that complaining about race is acceptable within bourgeois discoure, but complaining about capitalism is not. I suspect the latter is the case.

Indeed, the strength of one's argument is often tested only when confronted with the most direct, seemingly contrary evidence, not when abetted with the most friendly evidence. Regrettably, Tatum's important message about the persistence of institutionalized racism is muddled by her having chosen the latter course. ...more

flag 6 likes · Like · see review

May 13, 2013 Paige rated it it was amazing

I'm giving this one five stars, mostly because I think just about everyone should read it.

I was already familiar with many of the concepts and ideas put forth in this book (thanks, Tumblr), so I'm not sure how it would come across to people running into these issues for the very first time. I found Beverly Daniel Tatum's tone to be straightforward, friendly, and sensitive. The book was smoothly written, she doesn't often get bogged down, and she covers a lot of ground. I learned some new stuff, I'm giving this one five stars, mostly because I think just about everyone should read it.

I was already familiar with many of the concepts and ideas put forth in this book (thanks, Tumblr), so I'm not sure how it would come across to people running into these issues for the very first time. I found Beverly Daniel Tatum's tone to be straightforward, friendly, and sensitive. The book was smoothly written, she doesn't often get bogged down, and she covers a lot of ground. I learned some new stuff, and she lists resources where you can learn even more. I love "further reading," "recommended reading," and "resource" sections of books.

I can offer a couple criticisms/critiques. First, I don't know how helpful the development stage models were. I've already forgotten them. When I took a group discussion class, there were stage models to memorize and although I see that they do have some kind of limited use, I just didn't see a lot of value in learning about them. To the author's credit, they are not really a sticking point in the book. They are unobtrusive and even when she is illustrating them with examples and case studies, the "stage model" factor kind of melts into the background. Minor quibble. Second, although she cites a lot of sources, and although anyone with the awareness can see racism in mainstream American culture, one thing she could have done in the very beginning is drop some solid data on readers, a) for clarity's sake, and b) so people can't claim that "racism is over, these are just anecdotes." It would just make it a more solid argument to lead with that information. In the epilogue, which was written after the book was first published, she does mention where one can find the "statistical evidence," but I still think a better place for it is in the very front of the book.

I think one of this book's big strengths, though, is that a lot of (white) people will be able to read this book without feeling too triggered or defensive. When I was first introduced to some of these concepts, it was a rough ride, because unlike Ms. Tatum, not everyone is willing to hold your hand through it (and understandably so). I think when most white people see the anger of POCs, they feel threatened and as a result just disengage and become disconnected. But because this book isn't angry and is actually quite sensitive to white feelings, it shouldn't have that problem. It's accessible, interesting, and engaging. And I found it to be insightful and accurate. ...more

flag 5 likes · Like · see review

Apr 18, 2011 Lauren rated it did not like it

Shelves: 2011, race-culture

Ahistorical, psychologically reductivist piece of crap. I knew as soon as she claimed that Cleopatra was black that I wasn't going to like this book - she continuously fails to recognize race and other identities in the proper context, has a weak understanding of race as a social construct, and uses silly anecdotes to get across every point without citing relevant theory (or citing it properly, anyway - I cringed at her use of bell hooks). She tops it off by inserting a section called "beyond bl Ahistorical, psychologically reductivist piece of crap. I knew as soon as she claimed that Cleopatra was black that I wasn't going to like this book - she continuously fails to recognize race and other identities in the proper context, has a weak understanding of race as a social construct, and uses silly anecdotes to get across every point without citing relevant theory (or citing it properly, anyway - I cringed at her use of bell hooks). She tops it off by inserting a section called "beyond black and white" that lumps a bunch of "other" racial categories together and quickly breezes through a few important historical points for each group she discusses. When we get to the section on mixed race children, she comes out with this:

"Though theorists have attempted to develop stage-models to describe biracial identity development, there is no clear consensus about which model best accounts for the variation in experience among this population."

AS IF THAT'S NOT TRUE OF EVERY CATEGORY OF PEOPLE SHE HAS ALREADY USED PROBLEMATIC STAGE-MODELS TO DISCUSS. She relies far too heavily on psychology to explain everything else in the book--including the title question, “why are all the black kids sitting together in the cafeteria?” She focuses on the tendency of students to stick to their own because they wish to be understood, but provides the reader with no understanding of WHY race is a category of difference. No discussion of structural violence. Very little discussion of institutional racism. No understanding of identities outside race--made obvious when she conflates sex and gender in one chapter, making transphobic assumptions about boys who wish to grow up and become “Mommy.” The only thing she explains decently enough is the simple fact that RACISM AND WHITE PRIVILEGE STILL EXIST--an obvious point that’s been written about over and over again, in much more helpful ways.

My advice: stick to books about race and privilege that are written from anthropological and sociological perspectives. Psychological stage-models give absolutely no insight to the culture of racism and white privilege we live in. ...more

flag 5 likes · Like · see review

Aug 12, 2011 Shane Woolf added it

Thought provoking. Preachy and condescending. However, before giving this book a rating and a thorough review some thoughtful consideration (and maybe a re-read) is in order.

But I wonder, if I disagree with Tatum, am I a racist? If I agree, am I still a racist by way of my whiteness and white privilege? Can I be less racist by becoming more aware of my inherent racism? Or does that just make me more racist? Is it even possible for a white person to be UN-racist under Tatum's definition of terms ...more

flag 5 likes · Like · see review

Dec 30, 2008 Trish rated it it was ok

Shelves: 2009-read, non-fiction

I'm sure this is a great book for a college age white kid who grew up in a predominantly white area. There is a lot of stuff here that would be beneficial to those who have not yet been exposed to many racial conversations.

However, to a middle aged person living in a racially diverse city (Oakland), there was not much in this book for me. I am not the target audience. In Oakland, we talk about race, argue about race, and ignore race in turn. In my child's classroom there are: "American" white; ...more

flag 4 likes · Like · see review

Jun 05, 2011 Rae Hittinger rated it really liked it

I Really like this book. It was recommended to me at a District meeting about unpacking racism in the classroom. I find this book to be compelling, thought provoking, and an enjoyable read. With short chapters it is an excellent bedside reader. The author uses research as well as anecdotal evidence to discuss the process of racial identity development from childhood to adulthood among us folks in the US of A. She has a specific focus on the Black and White issue, but Tatum also embraces a broad ...more

flag 4 likes · Like · see review

Dec 04, 2016 Emily Philbin rated it really liked it

I've gone back to this book quite a few times, jumping through chapters, revisiting chapters, highlighting sections. I finally just sat and read it cover to cover so I can get the whole perspective. It has helped and will certainly continue to help me engage my students in conversations about race and privilege in my Silenced Voices class. It's also a good reminder for me that I am only scratching the surface...the student will have to work to continue the conversation in the future...but we hav ...more

flag 4 likes · Like · see review

Jun 23, 2017 Jenny rated it it was amazing

Shelves: nonfiction

Everyone should read this book

flag 3 likes · Like · see review

Apr 03, 2011 Rob rated it really liked it

Shelves: read-in-2011

The first portion of the book focuses on being Black, and coming to terms with what Dr. Tatum, and many others in the Black community, see as America's inherent racism.

This part of the book talks a lot about "White Privilege." If you don't know what that is, basically it's that feeling that society is designed to fit you, and that causes you to take a lot of things for granted, and to not be sensitive to other people's feelings.

My whole problem with Dr. Tatum's point of view is that it focuses o The first portion of the book focuses on being Black, and coming to terms with what Dr. Tatum, and many others in the Black community, see as America's inherent racism.

This part of the book talks a lot about "White Privilege." If you don't know what that is, basically it's that feeling that society is designed to fit you, and that causes you to take a lot of things for granted, and to not be sensitive to other people's feelings.

My whole problem with Dr. Tatum's point of view is that it focuses on the external - you become "black" not because of who you are, but because of how other people treat you, and that's a really bad way to get to self discovery and identity, in my opinion. You will always be defined as "other" that way, because you focus on hurts. I imagine that after doing this for long enough, that whole "self-fulfilling prophesy" thing kicks in.

Dr. Tatum addresses people like me (raceless) in a very condescending manner, because we don't fit into her paradigm. To her, we are just ignoring reality and eventually we're going to get our comeuppance, and there won't be any black people to commiserate with.

I hope that we are advancing toward a country where "American" becomes a race, and we can all simply take our place inside of its great culture.

One thing I've noticed is that Dr. Tatum's responses to basic questions are ... off. When her child asks why they (she and he) are in America, if Africa is so great, Dr. Tatum starts in on slavery. To me, his question was "Mommy, why don't we move back to Africa where all the other black people are?" Why, indeed.

Another is when a white student stands up and asks "How would you feel if someone stood up and said 'all the white people should meet up'" and her response was "that would be a good idea." This dodges the point and allows her to be insensitive, condescending, and avoid answering the question - the question was how would it make you feel, not "is it a good idea?" The Dr. didn't answer the question, because she knows damn well it hurts to be excluded, no matter what race you are.

Still, as much as I think Dr. Tatum's views suck, I do think this book is a valuable resource to provoke thought and discussion. ...more

flag 3 likes · Like · see review

Mar 12, 2018 Mrs. Brim rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2017-2018-school-year, education-professional, psychology-philosophy-science

This has taken me a while to read but that time is needed to process and reflect on the information Tatum provides. I also have been pretty quiet on my updates about it, but it was truly a personal journey -- it left me vulnerable, scared, enraged, sad, and hopeful.

This should be required reading for Teacher Candidates and in Education Curriculum. It may be one of the most influential books I read in my career and lifetime. The updated, 20th century edition has expanded chapter on additional ra ...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Oct 12, 2014 Geoffrey Benn rated it it was amazing

Shelves: non-fiction, education

**This review was written for my college teaching blog, prospectiveprof.com**
"Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?" by Dr. Beverly Tatum is not a new book - it was first published in 1997. However, as the dust of Ferguson settles, it is clear that its subject - understanding racial identity in America - is still critically important. The book, which I strongly recommend to all Americans, looks at what it means to live in a racist society, discusses the idea of privilege, **This review was written for my college teaching blog, prospectiveprof.com**
"Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?" by Dr. Beverly Tatum is not a new book - it was first published in 1997. However, as the dust of Ferguson settles, it is clear that its subject - understanding racial identity in America - is still critically important. The book, which I strongly recommend to all Americans, looks at what it means to live in a racist society, discusses the idea of privilege, explores the process of racial identity development, and seeks to understand how racial identity impacts the way that people interact in our society. While much of the book focuses on development of racial identity in children, there is also significant discussion of the role of race on the college campus (Dr. Tatum is a professor and college administrator).
Dr. Tatum shows that students from minority groups face a variety of challenges on college campuses. They may be exposed to racist remarks from other students (or even faculty), may be one of only a few students from their racial group in many of their classes, and may have few role models from their racial group represented in the faculty and campus leadership. These challenges can conspire to make minority students feel like they don't belong at the institution or in a particular major, especially when those students first encounter challenging courses and suffer academic setbacks. To counter these feelings of isolation, Dr. Tatum advocates two measures - using affirmative action to increase representation of minorities in the faculty and encouraging mutual support groups for minority students.
I think that Dr. Tatum makes a strong case for using affirmative action policies to increase representation of minorities on the faculty. However, this leaves me with the question of what I, as a white male, can do (besides supporting these policies) to make sure that minority students in my classes feel that they have a place in science. I think that a good way to do this, which avoids activating stereotype threat, is to show pictures of the research groups whose papers I mention in class. Given the diversity of people involved in modern biological research, I think that this would be an easy way to dispel the idea that science is done primarily by old white men.
Dr. Tatum's second suggestion is to establish and support peer groups for minority students. The benefit of these groups is illustrated in the book by a program at a suburban Massachusetts middle school for Black students who are bussed in as part of a desegregation program. The students meet regularly as a group to discuss the challenges they faced and the racism they encountered. As a result of these meetings, students' grades increased and their outlook improved significantly. On a college campus, such groups can provide students with an outlet to discuss racist encounters and can also give students a much stronger sense of community and belonging, which is an important factor in college success. Instructors can support these groups by serving as advisors and by advertising them at the beginning of the semester (particularly those groups related to the class - i.e. in my biology class, I might advertise the Chicano and Latino Engineers and Scientists Society and other science or health-related groups*).
Overall, I found the book to be incredibly interesting, both as an aspiring educator, and as member of American society. Dr. Tatum confronts difficult topics in a way that is direct and challenging, but also approachable. I highly recommend it.
*You can learn more multicultural resources and groups at UC Davis here
...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Feb 10, 2018 Ian rated it it was amazing

Amazing read looking at racism, racial development & identity. Book is written really well, also includes a discussion guide and an amazing list of additional resources. Highly recommend this to everyone, especially all my White folks out there.

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Aug 27, 2012 Donna Davis rated it it was amazing

Shelves: black-rights, education, reviewed, sociology

This is a wonderful volume, both for teachers and parents of Black youth. It's not a bad read for everyone else either. For those who have felt uneasy watching African-American students group together (this is written for a US audience, but I suspect the principles apply in almost every developed nation with any sizable dark-skinned and disenfranchised population), take heart. It's good for them to do that, at least for awhile.

I am retired now, but I can recall uneasily wondering, at first, whet ...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Jun 10, 2018 Kelsey Edwards rated it it was amazing

WOWWWWW. This book is FANTASTIC. I’m so happy I got the updated version from the library because her comments on current events were solid. She is an incredible writer with many important things to say and I would love to see her speak in person- I’m sure it would be just as articulate and inspiring.

I especially loved reading the chapter about multiracial/ethnically ambiguous people. It was great she had interviewed/shared journals from this group- I’m always on the lookout for thoughts from pe ...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Aug 25, 2007 Candice rated it it was amazing

Recommends it for: everyone

When I read "Cry the Beloved Country" years ago, a line stuck out - "I have one great fear in my heart, that one day when they are turned to loving, they will find we are turned to hating." It is such a sad reflection on race relations, but it's also a view that is justifiable in light of all the horrible things that have been said and done to people of color.

Beverly Daniel Tatum has a more optimistic view of what is possible in this country. We need to talk, but it won't be easy. Both people of ...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Jun 30, 2011 Karen rated it really liked it

Shelves: nonfiction, social-work

This book presents the basics of race relations in the United States and racial identity development. While I tend to prefer meatier books in terms of research, the anecdotal evidence and case studies are powerful. Tatum has written a well-researched, unapologetic book that explains the realities of living as a member of a minority group in the United States. While the book is largely centered on Black-White relations, she also points out that most people are both victims of oppression and benef ...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Dec 14, 2011 Sarah Clark rated it really liked it

Shelves: education, professional, non-fiction-adult

I have no idea if this book is dated, but I found that it was, surprisingly, a page turner. This book is fast to read in part because of the engaging writing and content, in part because it prompts you to ask yourself questions and consider scenarios, and in part because it is written in short sections and subsections. This book focuses on continuing issues of race and privilege in the US, but it also allowed me to consider all sorts of assumptions I need to question. The biggest takeaway is tha ...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Aug 08, 2010 Karen rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I am currently taking a graduate course on the psychology of race. I was feeling a bit overwhelmed and angry about some of the journal articles we were reading. Then I found this book. Ms. Tatum delivers the same information in a way that is not offensive to anyone, even if you don't agree with everything she says. I highly recommend this book for anyone who is interested in racial identity development or interracial understanding.

flag 2 likes · Like · see review