Summer Reading Selection
2002

The Summer Reading Selection for 2002 is Why Are All The Black Kids Sitting Together In the Cafeteria?  And Other Conversations About Race by Beverly Daniel Tatum, PhD.

About the Book
Walk into any racially mixed high school and you will see Black youth seated together in the cafeteria. Of course, it's not just the Black kids sitting together—the White, Latino, Asian Pacific, and in some regions, American Indian youth, are clustered in their own groups, too. The same phenomenon can be observed in college dining halls, faculty lounges, and in corporate cafeterias.  What is going on here? Is this self-segregation a problem we should try to fix, or a coping strategy we should support? How can we get past our reluctance to talk about racial issues to even discuss it? And what about the other questions we and our children have about race?  Beverly Daniel Tatum is a renowned authority on the psychology of racism. 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 too soon. Tatum understands that the vocabulary of race is loaded and that embarrassment and awkwardness often stymie conversations about this subject; yet, she believes that these obstacles can and must be overcome if we are to bring about change.  In "Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?" And Other Conversations About Race, Dr. Tatum provides us with a new way of thinking and talking about race through the lens of racial identity. She explains that all of us have a racial identity and must strive to affirm it. For people of color, the development of a constructive racial identity requires being able to recognize and reject the bombardment of negative stereotypes and to embrace a history of resistance and empowerment rather than passive victimization. For Whites, the challenge is to engage in a process of racial identity development which leads to an awareness of White privilege and a determination to actively work against injustice—and this requires the strength to reject a system that awards them, and to reclaim the legacy of White allies. For many, this is uncharted territory. 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. Also included is a list of resources for further reading as well as a list of books for parents and teachers to recommend to children of all ages.Using real-life examples and the latest research, Tatum presents strong evidence that straight talk about our racial identities—whatever they may be—is essential if we are serious about facilitating communication across racial and ethnic divides. We have waited far too long to begin our conversations about race. This remarkable book, infused with great wisdom and humanity, tells us where to start.

About the Author
Beverly Daniel Tatum has been appointed president of Spelman College effective August 2002.  She was acting president and  professor at Mount Holyoke College and a psychologist in private practice. A renowned authority on the psychology of racism, she speaks nationally on the topic and has published numerous articles in journals including Harvard Educational Review and the Women's Studies Quarterly.
From http://www.perseusbooksgroup.com/

Beverly Daniel Tatum Ph.D. is a psychologist whose work is focused on racial identity development in adolescents and young adults. Tatum's book offers clear and accessible definitions of such terms as prejudice, racism, and anti-racism, and explains how our attitudes about race develop. She also explains and explores the positive role that "affinity groups" of people of similar racial or cultural backgrounds can play in combating racism. For students of color, she says, these groups can be a means of "connection and empowerment." For white students, they can become a tool for becoming conscious of racial privilege, and for developing an anti-racist consciousness. Ultimately, Tatum argues, only by becoming conscious of our own racial socialization can we begin to disrupt the "cycle of racism." As Tatum explained in an interview with Familyeducation.com: "Everyone pays a price for racism. Racism harms white people as well as people of color, particularly in terms of the rising tide of fear and violence that exist when people don't know how to cross racial boundaries."