2020 #15: Why are all the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? (Tatum)

 

Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?: And Other Conversations About Race by Beverly Daniel Tatum
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book is one that I will return to time and time again as a reference, but it is also just an outstanding read to understand race and how it operates in society. Dr. Tatum makes statistics resonate with profound impact in how those statistics translate to our daily lives and interactions. The revised edition with the extensive prologue is well worth reading. The different sections of the book explore not only definitions and statistics, but most importantly--contexts. Anyone who teaches (Kindergarten through college) should read this book. The sections on identity development and formation are absolutely key to creating an anti-racist context for teaching.

I found Chapter 10, "Embracing a Cross-Racial Dialogue" to be particularly potent. I've been struggling with how to negotiate the fear of fellow White people that I encounter regularly in many of the anti-racism initiatives in which I participate. Dr. Tatum suggested to a White woman who feared "anger and disdain from people of color" and thus kept silent: "that she needs to fight for herself, not for people of color." (332) This is key. Approval should not be the motivation for the work. Dr. Tatum makes clear that social justice is for ALL of us, not just for people of color. I also appreciated that she addresses the idea--one that I've heard MANY times--that somehow younger people have an "easier" time talking about racism. It is not EASIER. It may be, if anything, a sense of urgency that compels them to be more vocal.

There is so much nuance here as well--the section on multiracial identities is particularly helpful in really understanding the multiple levels in which race can operate within a person's identity. Dr. Tatum's work challenges White people to seek out and recognize the lived experience of people of color and to expand our social networks beyond our shared racial identities. Of all the books I've read this year, I think this is the one that is the most comprehensive (not that one can actually be completely comprehensive...) and is a must read for parents, teachers, and ANYONE who wants to have a better understanding of our social circumstances.