Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?

And Other Conversations About Race

By: Beverly Daniel Tatum

Narrated by: Beverly Daniel Tatum

Length: 13 hrs and 27 mins

Publisher's Summary

The classic, best-selling book on the psychology of racism - now fully revised and updated.  

Walk into any racially mixed high school and you will see Black, White, and Latino youth clustered in their own groups. Is this self-segregation a problem to address or a coping strategy? Beverly Daniel Tatum, a renowned authority on the psychology of racism, argues that straight talk about our racial identities is essential if we are serious about enabling communication across racial and ethnic divides. These topics have only become more urgent as the national conversation about race is increasingly acrimonious. This fully revised edition is essential listening for anyone seeking to understand the dynamics of race in America. 

©2017 Beverly Tatum (P)2017 Hachette Audio

Critic Reviews

"An unusually sensitive work about the racial barriers that still divide us in so many areas of life." (Jonathan Kozol)

Scholarly and thoughtful, but misses the mark

I started reading this book, albeit with some trepidation, because I was interested in the question asked. I say with trepidation, because, as I white person, I am used to being automatically judged negatively as a "member of the dominant class" by people of color. To her credit, Professor Tatum does her best not to be judgmental and paints a clear, convincing, and even touching picture of how difficult it is for kids of color to grow up and establish their sense of identity in a white-dominated culture. After reading the book, I do understand much better why all the black kids sit together in the cafeteria.

The problem is that the author misses the main point of how blacks and whites can hope to end systemic racism. It is surprising that as a psychologist she so completely misunderstands white reaction to black self-segregation. The overriding theme of the book is that if only everyone could be educated as to the reasons for systemic racism and if we could only have open, fearless dialogs about race, then we can solve many of the problems. Any psychologist should know, however, that that is asking a lot of human beings, especially adolescent ones. She should know that the response to rejection, regardless of skin color, is pain, followed by anger. She does mention that when whites are engaged in conversations on race that they often get angry and shut down. Yes, that is the reaction of someone, with every intention of being part of the solution, feels attacked and told that they are part of the problem, simply because of their skin color. Few whites can consider that that attitude is not racist.

Postulating that the solution is for everyone to get educated on racial identities is not realistic. When a 8-year-old white kid wants to be friends with a black kid in school but is told by the black kid's parents that they don't want him around, the reaction is pain, not, "oh, I think I should go read a book". Ok, let the black kids sit together because it's good for them, but make sure they are also required to mix with the white kids so they can be exposed to each other's culture. At least you can do this in middle school, if not later. Otherwise, you are reinforcing cultural stereotypes in the hippocampi of the white kids that will affect them for the rest of their lives and perpetuate unconscious, or perhaps conscious, bias. Why is it so hard to understand that solving systemic racism is not just about one side being responsible for understanding the other?

A magnificent tool for life.

It touched on Native Americans, a group so easily forgotten by many. It gave a historical context which made it easier to understand today's social issues and it gave the tools talk about those issues and how to work together to keep moving foward.

Truth today

Tough to listen to, but the truth is always in season. Learned so very much. well reasoned

Amazing!!

I had read parts of the original but the twentieth anniversary addition was particularly powerful. Me and my wife are look at fostering and there is a good chance that kids place with us will have a different race than our selves, this book was incredible helpful tool, preparing us to promote a positive racial identity for kids coming into our home irrespective of their race

Outstanding! A must read for all races!

I found this to be a very enlightening, enriching and educational book. As a white person I struggle with what my role is in dismantling systemic racism. This book has iopened my heart and mind to what's possible and how I can be a part of it.

I wish they made an abridged version

Too much of the same. A few worthwhile points amidst a pile of dry and boring facts and anecdotes.
It's not a book about psychology or perhaps it's targeting the masses, so it is not going deep.

very good discussion about race

This was so good! This teaches how to talk to your kids about race and makes you feel much more confident about talking about race. I agreed with everything and loved the tone of the author.

Eye-opening and so insightful and educational. Everyone needs to read this book.

I’m embarrassed by how much material in this book was new to me. It should be required reading for everyone. High quality and extremely educational and, sadly for me, very eye-opening.

My review

I did not like the one sided political slant that led up to the book. I felt it was decisive and it made me question all the stats that were used because stats can be used to back anything in a very one sided way. I almost did not continue listening because so much hate filled politics. But I listen while I walk or bike so I kept listening. The actual book is excellent and will help me very much to be a better high school math teacher. john

Opening eyes and hearts. Thank you.

Thank you. This book was suggested as one of several for White Americans to read, “instead of asking Black Americans about race.” As I’ve come to realize how White privilege and supremacy affect my fellow Americans, I’m embarrassed that it’s taken me so long. While books like this feel difficult and weighty, they’re so important to read with an open mind. Thank you Beverly for helping me understand with a compassionate but firm narrative. I wish this book was required for us all.