I chose to read Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum's "Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? And Other Conversations About Race" for the Book Review. Tatum's years of experience jump off the page, and her relatable examples of racially charged situations are explained with such ease and simplicity. In response to those who deny its existence, Tatum asserts that "if you are paying attention, the legacy of racism is not hard to see" and adding that "we are all affected by it". Racism is often seen as a problem for people of color, but Tatum details how we have all been negatively impacted by the effects of systemic racism.
One of the reasons racism is so pervasive in American culture is the silencing stigma, which prevents dialogue and harbors ignorance. As Tatum shows much of the ignorance and confusion surrounding race relations can be eliminated with cross-racial conversations. Unfortunately, the fear of using incorrect verbiage and being perceived as racist stunts most racial dialogue, especially among white people.
I am interested in focusing on her approach to teaching children about racial issues. As a future elementary school educator, the idea of teaching young kids about slavery is daunting. However, after reading Tatum's explanation to her young son I feel at ease. She focused on being truthful, yet also emphasized hope, strength, and the power of choice in a painful, despondent history. Highlighting the strength of the enslaved Africans, the resistance they put up against becoming slaves, the freedom they fought for and won, and the white allies that helped them achieve it; Tatum's retelling is a far cry from the white-washed history often told in American schools.
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