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

"Required Reading" according to Emma. The book is required reading. Tatum vocalizes and provides explanations for the social phenomena that so often go unnoticed in U.S. society, such as why interracial friendships fade away once kids hit puberty, why white people are so afraid to talk about race, and obviously…why all the black kids are sitting together in the cafeteria.As a white woman, I never felt lost in this book. Tatum assumes almost no prior knowledge about race in the U.S., and walks the reader thro. Amazing Book, I'd reccommend this to any minority parent or teacher of predominately Black/Latino communities. Roberta Matos Amazing book, Tatum eloquently expresses important themes within Black and Other minority communities that give the context to behavioral patterns and susceptibilities. As a young biracial Latina woman, this helped me construct a firmer foundation to how I perceive myself and others within my demographic. Tatum touched on a broad spectrum of cause and effects, and did an amazing job in conveying conflicts that arise due to such cause and effects. Although I enjoyed this book, I. collectively we assert our advantage through access to better schools, housing Ilana Ruskay-kidd Beverly Daniel Tatum’s book, “Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?” provides insight into not only the question posed in the title, but also into the importance of creating dialogue about race. In the opening chapter, Tatum describes how from a young age, children are exposed to language, imagery, and behavior that teaches prejudice and contributes to the racist “smog” that we breathe in daily. She argues that although not

This book provides a road map for those who want to make the journey and better understand the racial dynamics of their daily lives.Tatum extends her ideas about racial identity development beyond the usual Black-White paradigm to embrace the unique circumstances of Latinos, American Indians, Asians, as well as biracial youth. She 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.” Parents of color are afraid of exposing their children to painful racial realities

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. 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. As Tatum sees it, blacks must secure a racial identity free of negative stereotypes. Anyone who's been to a high school or college has noted how students of the same race seem to stick together.