Why Are All The Black Kids Sitting Together Essay

Race and racism continue to exist in our world, and with the assistance of white privilege it becomes increasingly difficult to find a solution. Beverly Daniel Tatum’s book, â€Å"Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?† provides an understanding of why race and racism continue to operate in our world. Tatum effectively answers the question she poses as the title of her book; moreover, I agree with her perception of Affirmative Action and the word racist, but I do not agree with the definition of racism in her book. I believe Tatum answers the question â€Å"Why are all the Black kids sitting together in the cafeteria?† not only through her description of William Cross’s Black racial identity model, but through James Marcia’s four identity statuses and Rosabeth Moss Kanter’s A Tale of O. Tatum follows up the question through Marcia’s four stages that an individual undergoes to discover their identity: diffuse, foreclosed, moratorium, and achieved (Tatum 53). Marcia’s identity statuses can be seen in more detail through Cross’s Model. Cross’s Model begins with a person developing self-awareness of the world’s perception about themselves. Consequently, the individual comes in contact with the preencounter stage. Hence, their instinct is to assimilate by rejecting who they are and accepting what the majority sees as acceptable. At least one event may cause the person to enter the encounter stage, in which they become aware of racism and how it impacts their life.Show MoreRelatedWhy Are All The Black Kids Sitting Together?962 Words   |  4 Pagesprofessional authors state as a fact. For example, you have Jonathan Kozol in â€Å"Still Separate, Still Unequal† state the differences between the white and the poor. Now you also Beverly Daniel Tatum where in â€Å"Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?† he describes how african american kids are seen differently so there treated differently. If we go into gender we have Deborah Tannen in â€Å"How Male and Female Students Use Language Differently† where gender matters because you will have slightRead MoreWhy Are All The Black Kids Sitting Together?897 Words   |  4 PagesEvery public school lunch room is filled with many tables, every day these tables are the perfect place for a student to find where they â€Å"belong†. Like Beverly Daniel Tatum states in â€Å"Why Are all the Black Kids Sitting Together in the C afeteria?†, part of the social groups forming in high schools goes to thank adolescents. Tatum writes, â€Å"As children enter adolescence, they begin to explore the question of identity, asking ‘Who am I?’ ‘Who can I be?’†(375). At this point in their life everyone beginsRead MoreWhy Are All The Black Kids Sitting Together Essay1293 Words   |  6 PagesIn her book â€Å"Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?† , Beverly Daniel Tatum, explores the identity of racial development in the United States. She analyzes the definition of racism as well as the development of racial identity. Along with these topics she in turn offers possible solutions to racial problems that plague us today. Tatum uses David Wellman’s definition of racism to set up the way racism is talked about in this book, however I mildly disagree with this definitionRead MoreWhy Are All Of The Black Kids Sitting Together?1170 Words   |  5 Pagesracism. The five sources I would use would be varying in subject, and the authors would come from different walks of life. {{{One book I would use in this course, would be a text that we have used this semester. This book being â€Å"Why Are All of the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?† by Beverly Tatum. It was a quick enough read, it made sense, and was easy to retain. This book had an emotional impact on me, and I have a feeling it would impact many students like the ones before me. }}}} *takeRead MoreWhy Are All The Black Kids Sitting Together?917 Words   |  4 Pagesopportunity is available for all peoples no matter the race. That opportunity is there for the taking. However, obstacles can prevent a student from seizing th at opportunity. You can see the obvious impact of race in the African-American community in regards to educational opportunities. Race hinders educational opportunity of African-Americans through the expectations of others and self-identity conflicts. Beverly Tatum s Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?and AnnRead MoreWhy Are All The Black Kids Sitting Together? Essay1909 Words   |  8 Pagesextensive as it really is. All the readings, videos, and lectures have directly related back to the purpose of the course. As a whole, I feel like this class has grown in knowledge not only about how racism affects people, but how to change and make a difference. This class has informed me a lot more about the unfortunately thriving acts of racism in the United States. While in this class we read much from Beverly Tatum’s book Why are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria. Tatum givesRead MoreAnalysis Of Beverly Tatum s Why Are All The Black Kids Sitting Together 1326 Words   |  6 PagesRacism is actually a topic that seems to be tabooed world-wide. In the first chapter of Beverly Tatum’s â€Å"Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria† she discusses racism and all of its components. In this chapter she discusses white privilege, active and passive racism, prejudice and much more. Beverly explains how racism is â€Å"a system of institutional policies and cultural messages that is advantageous to white people and disadvantageous to people of color†. This would explainRead More Analysis of Why are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria by Beverly Daniel Tatum1302 Words   |  6 PagesAnalysis of Why are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria by Beverly D aniel Tatum Why are all the black kids sitting together in the cafeteria; by Beverly Daniel Tatum Ph.D. is a book of many subjects, theories, ideas, as well as opinions that are discussed, challenged and criticized. Are we free from racism? Why, are all the black kids sitting together in the cafeteria? These questions I hope to answer for myself and for others. One of Beverly Tatums major topics ofRead MoreStill Separate, Still Unequal1648 Words   |  7 Pagesthe schools have mostly black and Hispanic students (348). The percentage of blacks and Mexicans students were higher than fifty percent. There was a teacher who was 65 years old who taught at a majority black school stated that Out of eighteen years, this is the first white student I have ever taught (348). Its not very common that white students attend underclass schools. Kozol stated that there is a school in New York City named Langston Hughes that has 99 percent black and Hispanic studentsRead MoreRacial Identity By Dr. Beverly Tatum1141 Words   |  5 PagesAuthor, Dr. Beverly Tatum a clinical psychologist whose main study of interest is Black children’s racial identity development wrote the text Why Are All the Black Kids sitting Together in the Cafeteria? After receiving a letter from a school principal in New Jersey applauding her on her reason of why, in racial ly mixed schools all over the country, Black kids were still sitting together in school cafeterias. In the text Tatum shares her thoughts about the development of racial identity faced by Why Are All The Black Kids Sitting Together Essay I came into this class not so naà ¯ve as some students may have been. I’ve grown up going to public schools, living in a diverse small town, and having interracial relationships in my family. Although I was informed on some forms of racism and the fact that racism does in fact still exist, I didn’t realize it was extensive as it really is. All the readings, videos, and lectures have directly related back to the purpose of the course. As a whole, I feel like this class has grown in knowledge not only about how racism affects people, but how to change and make a difference. This class has informed me a lot more about the unfortunately thriving acts of racism in the United States. While in this class we read much from Beverly Tatum’s book Why are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria. Tatum gives a great order of racial identity in this book that everyone can relate too, and can work their way through the different levels. I feel like I can personal ly relate to the sixth stage of racial identity – autonomy. This states that someone has positive feelings about oneself as white. During the earlier stages of racial identity one could begin to feel uncomfortable or guilty for being white. This can come from white privileged or being thought of as being â€Å"superior† due to race. During autonomy one can begin to form friendships/acquaintances more easily with those outside of their own race. Also, having positive encounters with other races makes one want to confrontShow MoreRelatedWhy Are All The Black Kids Sitting Together Essay1639 Words   |  7 PagesBeverly Daniel Tatum’s book, â€Å"Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?† provides an understanding of why race and racism continue to operate in our world. Tatum effectively answers the question she poses as the title of her book; moreover, I agree with her perception of Affirmative Action and the word racist, but I do not ag ree with the definition of racism in her book. I believe Tatum answers the question â€Å"Why are all the Black kids sitting together in the cafeteria?† not onlyRead MoreWhy Are All The Black Kids Sitting Together?962 Words   |  4 Pagesprofessional authors state as a fact. For example, you have Jonathan Kozol in â€Å"Still Separate, Still Unequal† state the differences between the white and the poor. Now you also Beverly Daniel Tatum where in â€Å"Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?† he describes how african american kids are seen differently so there treated differently. If we go into gender we have Deborah Tannen in â€Å"How Male and Female Students Use Language Differently† where gender matters because you will have slightRead MoreWhy Are All The Black Kids Sitting Together?897 Words   |  4 PagesEvery public school lunch room is filled with many tables, every day these tables are the perfect place for a student to find where they â€Å"belong†. Like Bever ly Daniel Tatum states in â€Å"Why Are all the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?†, part of the social groups forming in high schools goes to thank adolescents. Tatum writes, â€Å"As children enter adolescence, they begin to explore the question of identity, asking ‘Who am I?’ ‘Who can I be?’†(375). At this point in their life everyone beginsRead MoreWhy Are All The Black Kids Sitting Together Essay1293 Words   |  6 PagesIn her book â€Å"Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?† , Beverly Daniel Tatum, explores the identity of racial development in the United States. She analyzes the definition of racism as well as the development of racial identity. Along with these topics she in turn offers possible solutions to racial problems that plague us today. Tatum uses David Wellman’s definition of racism to set up the way racism is talked about in this book, however I mildly disagree with this definitionRead MoreWhy Are All Of The Black Kids Sitting Together?1170 Words   |  5 Pagesracism. The five sources I would use would be varying in subject, and the authors would come from different walks of life. {{{One book I would use in this course, would be a text that we have used this semester. This book being â€Å"Why Are All of the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?† by Beverly Tatum. It was a quick enough read, it made sense, and was easy to retain. This book had an emotional impact on me, and I have a feeling it would impact many students like the ones before me. }}}} *takeRead MoreWhy Are All The Black Kids Sitting Together?917 Words   |  4 Pagesopportunity is available for all peoples no matter the race. That opportunity is there for the taking. However, obstacles can prevent a student from seizing th at opportunity. You can see the obvious impact of race in the African-American community in regards to educational opportunities. Race hinders educational opportunity of African-Americans through the expectations of others and self-identity conflicts. Beverly Tatum s Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?and AnnRead MoreAnalysis Of Beverly Tatum s Why Are All The Black Kids Sitting Together 1326 Words   |  6 PagesRacism is actually a topic that seems to be tabooed world-wide. In the first chapter of Beverly Tatum’s â€Å"Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria† she discusses racism and all of its components. In this chapter she discusses white privilege, active and passive racism, prejudice and much more. Beverly explains how racism is â€Å"a system of institutional policies and cultural messages that is advantageous to white people and disadvantageous to people of color†. This would explainRead More Analysis of Why are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria by Beverly Daniel Tatum1302 Words   |  6 PagesAnalysis of Why are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria by Beverly Daniel Tatum Why are all the black kids sitting together in the cafeteria; by Beverly Daniel Tatum Ph.D. is a book of many subjects, theories, ideas, as well as opinions that are discussed, challenged and criticized. Are we free from racism? Why, are all the black kids sitting together in the cafeteria? These questions I hope to answer for myself and for others. One of Beverly Tatums major topics ofRead MoreStill Separate, Still Unequal1648 Words   |  7 Pagesthe schools have mostly black and Hispanic students (348). The percentage of blacks and Mexicans students were higher than fifty percent. There was a teacher who was 65 years old who taught at a majority black school stated that Out of eighteen years, this is the first white student I have ever taught (348). Its not very common that white students attend underclass schools. Kozol stated that there is a school in New York City named Langston Hughes that has 99 percent black and Hispanic studentsRead MoreRacial Identity By Dr. Beverly Tatum1141 Words   |  5 PagesAuthor, Dr. Beverly Tatum a clinical psychologist whose main study of interest is Black children’s racial identity development wrote the text Why Are All the Black Kids sitting Together in the Cafeteria? After receiving a letter from a school principal in New Jersey applauding her on her reason of why, in racial ly mixed schools all over the country, Black kids were still sitting together in school cafeterias. In the text Tatum shares her thoughts about the development of racial identity faced by