The book “Why Are All the Black kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria”, written by Beverly Daniel Tatum, attempts to address the racial identity issues present in society. She works beyond fear, denial, and anger to help gain a new understanding of what racism truly is and how it impacts all of society in a negative way. Through reading this book I have learned so much about the definitions of systematic racism and prejudice, my own racial identity, and the state of race relations in the society around me.
According to Tatum (1997), racism is not only an individual issue but also a systematic problem. She states that racism “is not only a personal ideology based on racial prejudice, but also a system involving cultural messages and institutional policies and practices as well as the beliefs and actions of an individual's” (p.7). Tatum acknowledges the fact that individuals can have prejudice thoughts and racist actions but also states that there is a bigger problem at hand. She compares this cultural systematic racism to smog in the air. Sometimes this smog can be blinding while other times it is so faint one can hardly see. However, no matter what everyone is breathing it in allowing it to affect their lives whether truly realizing it or not. (Tatum 1997, p.6). I believe this is so true in the society today. Racism is definitely larger than an individual issue but it is just easier to put the blame on one person than it is an entire society. For example in recent news the police brutality or the athletes taking a kneel to bring awareness to unfair treatment to minorities, is often highlighted. The individual actions of these events are shown on the news and discussed in classrooms. It is important to be aware of these occurrences but what often isn't mentioned is the underlying system problems occurring every day in the education system, housing, job opportunities and more. Not only is it easier to blame individuals for racism but it is also less challenging to fix an individual than an entire society. Growing up I was taught only about racism in history or individual acts of discrimination. Not being taught about system racism made it easy to be naive to the racism that is still very prevalent in society today. After learning about system racism I have noticed it throughout everyday life. Being able to see Tatum’s theory played out has made it even easier to agree with her definition of racism. System racism is something that effects everyone, I have noticed that even the most kind hearted people still have traces of this in their actions. For example a mother walking to the other side of the road with her baby because she sees an African American coming down the street, or students complaining about a scholarship they didn’t receive because they are a White male. Other examples include people recognizing that lower income homes are often provided to minority races. These underlying actions and assumptions are direct results of growing up in a society that is tainted by systematic racism. I also agree with Tatum's definition on prejudice which she describes as “a preconceived judgment or opinion, usually based on limited information” (Tatum 1997 p.5). I have always been taught that prejudice is …show more content…
The only time I ever had to think about it was when filling out applications I was “caucasian” or “Non- Hispanic”. I never really took time to consider how this affected my racial identity. As Tatum (1997) points out, “There is a lot of silence about race in white communities and as a consequence Whites tend to think of racial identity as something that other people have, not something that is salient for them.” (p. 94) This is something that really resonated with me because it is so true to my life. I grew up in a small rural town with very little diversity. Being White, I never questioned my race or even realized the role it played in my life. Tatum describes a participant in one of her various classes and workshops as a White women stumped by the question of ethnic background. Finally the women responded “I’m just normal”(p. 93). Now I realize how ignorant this thought process is, however for the first half of my life this is how I saw my “racial
According to Tatum (1997), racism is not only an individual issue but also a systematic problem. She states that racism “is not only a personal ideology based on racial prejudice, but also a system involving cultural messages and institutional policies and practices as well as the beliefs and actions of an individual's” (p.7). Tatum acknowledges the fact that individuals can have prejudice thoughts and racist actions but also states that there is a bigger problem at hand. She compares this cultural systematic racism to smog in the air. Sometimes this smog can be blinding while other times it is so faint one can hardly see. However, no matter what everyone is breathing it in allowing it to affect their lives whether truly realizing it or not. (Tatum 1997, p.6). I believe this is so true in the society today. Racism is definitely larger than an individual issue but it is just easier to put the blame on one person than it is an entire society. For example in recent news the police brutality or the athletes taking a kneel to bring awareness to unfair treatment to minorities, is often highlighted. The individual actions of these events are shown on the news and discussed in classrooms. It is important to be aware of these occurrences but what often isn't mentioned is the underlying system problems occurring every day in the education system, housing, job opportunities and more. Not only is it easier to blame individuals for racism but it is also less challenging to fix an individual than an entire society. Growing up I was taught only about racism in history or individual acts of discrimination. Not being taught about system racism made it easy to be naive to the racism that is still very prevalent in society today. After learning about system racism I have noticed it throughout everyday life. Being able to see Tatum’s theory played out has made it even easier to agree with her definition of racism. System racism is something that effects everyone, I have noticed that even the most kind hearted people still have traces of this in their actions. For example a mother walking to the other side of the road with her baby because she sees an African American coming down the street, or students complaining about a scholarship they didn’t receive because they are a White male. Other examples include people recognizing that lower income homes are often provided to minority races. These underlying actions and assumptions are direct results of growing up in a society that is tainted by systematic racism. I also agree with Tatum's definition on prejudice which she describes as “a preconceived judgment or opinion, usually based on limited information” (Tatum 1997 p.5). I have always been taught that prejudice is …show more content…
The only time I ever had to think about it was when filling out applications I was “caucasian” or “Non- Hispanic”. I never really took time to consider how this affected my racial identity. As Tatum (1997) points out, “There is a lot of silence about race in white communities and as a consequence Whites tend to think of racial identity as something that other people have, not something that is salient for them.” (p. 94) This is something that really resonated with me because it is so true to my life. I grew up in a small rural town with very little diversity. Being White, I never questioned my race or even realized the role it played in my life. Tatum describes a participant in one of her various classes and workshops as a White women stumped by the question of ethnic background. Finally the women responded “I’m just normal”(p. 93). Now I realize how ignorant this thought process is, however for the first half of my life this is how I saw my “racial