Tatum begins with defining racism as “a system of advantage based on race” and how we are all impacted in some way by racism—deprivation or privilege. She explains that race and ethnic categories are social constructions, which were originally used for social oppression.

Through story and revealing conversations between parents and children, she goes on to describe the complexity of how one’s identity is shaped. Tatum further reveals some of the realities that influence Black identity development in adolescence and the coping strategies students embrace (e.g., sitting together in the cafeteria, pursuing high academic achievement, etc.) in order to deal with stereotypes, omissions and distortions that lead to prejudice.

Tatum says that healthy White identity development involves two major developmental tasks—“abandonment of individual racism and the recognition of and opposition to institutional and cultural racism” which occur over six stages: contact, disintegration, reintegration, pseudo-independent, immersion/emersion, and autonomy” (pp 94-95).

She further explains how Affirmative action both hurt and helped those it was targeted for: White women, and men and women of color.

Tatum gives succinct, historical data that raises critical issues for Latino, American Indian, Asian Pacific American and multiracial identity development.

Finally, she encourages and provides resources so the reader can further enter into healthy, cross-racial dialogue and education.

Purchase "Why Are All The Black Kids Sitting Together In The Cafeteria?"

1997 Beverly Daniel Tatum, Ph.D.