Why are all the black kids sitting together in the cafeteria?

Why are all the black kids sitting together in the cafeteria? By: Beverly Daniel Tatum

Beverly Daniel Tatum • -Scholar, teacher, author, administrator and race relations expert • -President of Spelman College, turned it around • -Professor of psychology, department chair, Dean • -Earned her BA in Psychology, MA and PhD in Clinical Psychology and MA in Religious Studies • -Clinical psychologist who focuses on white families in black communities, racial identities of teens and the role of race within the classroom, and it shows in this book.

Summary • Starts the book off by saying racism is "a system of advantages," and talks about how each and every one of us is affected by it • -Describes in detail how identity is shaped, and insists black students deal with stereotypes through forcing high academic standards or sitting together in the cafeteria • -Makes it clear that its important to teach kids about race despite the reasoning behind it in which most think it will create a problem where one doesn't exist.

Summary Cont. • Tatum uses metaphors that generally make no logical sense, for example: She uses the Lion King and says that Whoopi Goldberg’s voice is used as a hyena’s voice to reinforce that black people are to be viewed as evil. • What she fails to realize is that Mufasa, the king of lions, is voiced by James Earl Jones, also a black person.

Summary cont. • Overall, this book is targeted at white people. • It is Tatum’s belief that whether we (whites) know it or not, we are the only race to completely benefit from our skin color. • This book is filled with racist ideas that do nothing but create a problem where there is not one.

Racism in the Classroom • How can we prevent this in our own classrooms? • Teach lessons on equality • Learn about successful people of many different races • More group work • Blue eye/ Green eye • Allows students to see how it feels to be discriminated against • Multicultural Days • Learn about different cultures • Different foods, dances, languages, etc.

Racism in the Classroom • Are some age groups more prone to racism? • What were you raised to believe? • Early Childhood Teachers • Responsible for promoting equality at an early age • Kids learn moral values at a young age • Middle Level or Secondary Teachers • By this time they have developed their opinions • Responsible for keeping racism out of the class and limiting the amount of influence from outside of the classroom

Generation The “old” generation The “new” generation • New ideas formed throughout generations • Race is a difference that is embraced • We don’t see race as something that is “bad” • Dated ideas about race • Passed on from parents and grandparents • View race as something different in a bad way

“I think this marks a truly profound shift in the way Americans, particularly African-Americans, think about race and about their heritage ” - C. Matthew Snipp • We have a more mixed race population • 4.2 million children are multiracial • A 50% increase just since 2000

Does Location Matter? • Dominant Race/ Ethnicity/ Gender • Minority will always feel overpowered • Even if issues above are not a problem • United States Locations • California- higher Hispanic population • South-higher African American population • North East- higher Caucasian population

Does Location Matter? • Urban vs. Suburban • Urban • Waiting For Superman • Known for having worst education systems, lack of resources, minorities in classes have a disadvantage because of their race, when really its just their location they live in • Suburban • Better education systems, majorities vs. minorities in classes

Racism • How many have you felt disadvantaged because of your race? • We take our rights for granted sometimes, Tatum discusses this in depth in a few of the chapters • Tying it into an Ethical Issue present in today’s culture: • Trayvon Martin Case: so many times situations such as these are “brushed under the rug” because the victim is black • Our country says we embody equality and justice—but do we actually uphold them? • Tatum shows the other side of things to give her readers a differing perspective from the norm

Racism continued • “One of the consequences of racism in our society is that those who oppose racism are often marginalized, and as a result, their stories are not readily accessed. Yet having access to these stories makes a difference to those Whites who are looking for ways to be agents of change. White people who are doing this work need to make their stories known to serve as guides for others.” • You would think that racism is slowly decreasing (my high school was not exactly diverse) but then big cases like Trayvon happen and it just goes to show how it is still present in our culture

Why are all the black kids sitting together in the cafeteria?