Book Review: Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in The Cafeteria? And Other Conversations About Race - Beverly Daniel Tatum
Image: school cafeteria, courtesy of CDC/Unsplash
Race is not an easy subject to broach. Early on in life, based on situational cues (e.g., parents speaking in hushed tones), children realize that it is best to avoid the subject altogether. Instead of learning how to navigate difficult conversations with respect and grace, these children grow up to be adults who are afraid of those who look different, which further perpetuates segregation and systemic racism. Over 60 years after the Civil Rights Movement, social justice advocates continue to ask how we can improve cross-racial relations to create a more equitable society. Enter the seminal work of Beverly Daniel Tatum, Ph.D.: Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? And Other Conversations About Race.
In September 2017, Tatum released the 20th anniversary edition of her book, replete with revisions and updates; this includes a new, 72-page prologue highlighting the changes that have happened in the United States in the last two decades, namely the elections of Barack Obama and Donald Trump as the 44th and 45th presidents, respectively. The original book was timely in 1997, as it educated Americans about race and racism. Looking at changes over the last 20 years, the US is growing increasingly diverse, with 7,261 people of color being added to the population daily and only 1,053 White people (p. 2). In 2014, primary schools had more children of color enrolled than White students. Tatum argues that while some progress has been made, there are many areas where we have regressed towards segregation, especially in neighborhoods, which in turn leads to segregated schools and a system of advantage that favors affluent Whites.
Tatum adeptly includes several perspectives as she tells the story of race and racism in America. As a social psychologist and president emerita of a predominantly Black women’s college, Tatum writes out of decades of experience teaching college courses, conferences, and seminars about the psychology of racism. Readers can find traces of their own story within the text, thus engaging more meaningfully with the material. Her expertise is evident, which forces readers to acknowledge the weight of her words.
The title of the book implies that individuals think it is negative when people of similar ethnic groups cluster together in social settings. However, Tatum develops an argument to the contrary; such grouping helps children and adolescents learn about their racial-ethnic-cultural (REC) identity and how it makes them unique. While infants are born “color-blind,” they grow aware of race during childhood and need to process their experiences with peers who will understand because they look alike and have experienced similar racially-charged incidents. This book walks readers through the stages of REC identity development with great detail for Black and White individuals. Readers in these REC groups can pinpoint exactly where they are on the continuum of identity development and anticipate the next stage as it comes. A superficial overview is also provided for historic events that contributed to REC identity for other groups, including Asian-Americans (e.g., those of Indian, Pakistani, Chinese, Japanese heritage), Mexican-Americans, and Native Americans. Tatum includes a final analysis of mixed-race individuals and children who were adopted into a family with a different REC identity. While unable to thoroughly detail the experiences of every single one of these groups, Tatum shares details that she perceives to be important in helping readers develop empathy in cross-cultural dialogue.
Tatum’s goal is for readers to “better understand themselves and other people and how we are all shaped by the inescapable racial milieu that still surrounds us and that, in some ways, has grown more opaque and seemingly more impenetrable” (p. 72). She effectively achieves this goal by systematically guiding readers through the definition of racism, the process of identity formation throughout the lifespan, and experiences of different REC groups over the last century. Tatum concludes by offering suggestions to readers for how they might break the silence surrounding cross-racial dialogue. By sharing her own concerns about the backlash she may receive from the publication of this book, Tatum gently nudges readers to dig deep inside to find the courage to speak up.
Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? is a worthy read for anyone in a position of leadership, both in the corporate world and in higher education. Leaders need to know how to dialogue about challenging topics, especially when it comes to diversity in the workplace. Affirmative action tends to have a negative connotation among White people who are not hired for a desired position. In fact, approximately half of all Whites, especially those without a college degree, believe that racism is as bad for Whites as it is for Blacks. Leaders must be able to defend their hiring choices and dismantle false perceptions about unfair treatment. Chapter Seven provides an overview of affirmative action and how organizations might best embrace hiring practices that onboard qualified candidates and bring the organization closer to diversity goals. This chapter is a highly insightful component that places the text in the broader context of society.
Likewise, it is imperative that higher education professionals are equipped to dialogue about issues related to race on college campuses. Young adulthood is another crucial phase in REC identity development, and it is the responsibility of educators “to help young White people engage in the kind of dialogue that precipitates . . . identity development” (p. 208). College is a time for self-exploration, and for many students, this might be the first time they think about personal power and privilege. Educators and administrators should be equipped to facilitate students’ processing related to these issues, and they will not be able to do so unless they have first processed what their own REC identity means.
For this reason, this book would serve as a useful common text for college students. Tatum spends a third of the book explaining identity formation throughout the lifespan with little of the technical jargon that would be found in a psychology textbook or classroom. The material is written in plain language yet delivers a powerful message that would best be processed with others. Students learn from one another and desperately need space to process their experiences with race. This book would be especially helpful for White students, as the text can help readers develop empathy for the experiences of people of color that shape how they interact with the world—and White people—around them.
We all hold biases that we may be unaware of. Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? brings to light some hidden beliefs and thought patterns. This book is a must-read for young adults, higher education professionals, and leaders in the corporate world. There is great potential for excellence when we learn to embrace diversity. In an era when people tend to fear “the other,” it is all the more important that we learn to recognize the uniqueness of each person’s REC identity and how that advances democracy, rather than hinders it. In turn, we have the burden of sharing that knowledge and educating those around us so that ignorance is no longer an excuse. Beverly Daniel Tatum began that conversation with her work, and it is our responsibility to continue it.
