Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?: And Other Conversations About Race

B.D. Tatum has written one of the most phenomenal books on race that I have ever read. Not only is it accessible to anyone, regardless if you’re educated on race or just beginning, but as a person of color (POC), this book was also empowering. Helping to name feelings and situations that I don’t often engage in dialogue with others about, I felt seen and validated through the experiences and stories shared throughout the book. As a non-Black, lighter-skinned, biracial POC, I also learned of ways in which I can be a better ally to other POC communities. I highly recommend this book as it will change the way you see yourself and society.

Beverly is a fabulous writer and her book has the perfect balance of development and flow. I never skimmed or lost focus, because she provided insightful points and wasted no words. Even more, this book was a vehicle for self-awareness and action-planning.

Excellent book!! I have enjoyed reading it. I recommended it to all the college students in my church. In light of recent event in South Carolina, this book will help us try to understand why people think as they do. We would all be better off if we try to know and understand each other, why we act and do the things we do.

Very interesting. If you’re thinking about buying it, DO IT!

I got this book for my Learning Ecologies class in my Masters program. It is a poignant and eloquent read that is also approachable and digestible for readers. The author does an amazing job of expressing the psychology of racism without “other”-ing the audience. It is inclusive and a must-read for everyone.

I read this book with the aid of a class facilitator … five weeks was hardly enough time to examine all that was unearthed in each of us. The lessons and concepts that Dr. Tatum presents lay an amazing framework so that people of all races can understand why we still deal with racial discord in this country and how each of us can become part of an ongoing solution to break down the systemic, institutionalized racism that plagues our country. Read it if you dare to open your eyes.

Tatum clearly explains the process of self-awareness that youth of color go through as they assimilate into the wider society. In simple direct language, she shows how Black youth grow into their identity, not just as people but as people of color who are not reacted to the same way as Whites. As you watch any marginalized group in this country, you can see the same processes being followed by members of those groups as well. This is a must read for any teacher with students that don’t quite fit into the “norm” of society, meaning white, straight and middle class. Understanding is have the battle when teaching and this book will easily bring a greater understanding to teachers who are interested in truly knowing their students.

This book is in fantastic condition and I got it at such a great price. My bookstore charged five times as much for the same book and the quality of this one is basically like new!! When it comes down to it, buying used books off of amazon for college is the much better option, i saved a ton of hard earned cash!

I’ll be honest, I’ve only read a little over a third of the book so far. I wanted to quickly write my initial thoughts about it, though.It’s an outstanding text that causes one to really examine racism through a critical lens. At first, I was taken aback by Tatum’s definition of racism as being a systemic issue whereby all White people would be classified as racist in either an active or passive way. Reading further, though, it makes sense, especially to me, a White Southerner who lives among many active racists. Tatum beautifully articulates issues with racism using quite accessible language. This book is making me reflect on my own passive racism and how I don’t really do much to improve the situation.She also briefly covers other isms in the book including classism. I am from a poor family and dragged myself out in ways. I have to say that were I not a White, heterosexual male, I might not have been able to do this. I am sure I benefitted from passive racism and capitalized on affordances made possible by a dominant White society. In a way, though, I’ll always be seen as poor by some affluent members of the White class. This mirrors racism in our society to a degree.I don’t want to belabor things here. I’ll simply say that this is a book everyone should read. It can cause you to interrogate your own position in society and begin to see how the issue truly is a systemic issue governed by a successful White society.

I hardly ever write reviews and I’m not even finished with the book yet, but I had to come here and say that this book is amazing. If you are considering buying it, do it! I’m about a third of the way through, and I think the author does such a great job balancing the research side versus the practical understanding side. I appreciate the statistics as well as the personal stories from her teaching career. I also think she has a gift for explaining more complex ideas in ways her readers can understand. I am hooked. As a previous reviewer stated, this book may be more difficult for anyone who is just starting their journey to understanding racism, but everyone should read it. It doesn’t matter if you’re an educator or not.

When I first picked up this book, I didn’t know what to expect. The first 35 pages alone blew my mind… giving me new information, and confirming some things I’d been observing in society. If you interact with children in ANY way (parent, family member, social worker, teacher, coach, babysitter, nanny, pastor, etc.), I HIGHLY recommend you read this book. It not only talks about race/identity of young black people, but it also delves into the identities of Whites, Latins, Middle Eastern/North Africans, Asians, Native (American) Indians, Asian Indians, biracial children, and transracial adopted children (a family of adopting a child of a different race). I learned SO much!

Dr Tatum gives a thoughtful and insightful look at the racial challenges facing America. I really enjoyed the prologue which captured the 20 year span since the book was originally published. I found this book helpful for gaining a better understanding of racial-ethnic-cultural identify formation as well as some encouragement for actions needed to bridge America’s racial divide.

This book is a must have for everyone interested in education. Nice and easy reading for a life long learner.

Have absolutely loved this book! Research based and experience based, it is impossible to read this book without revising your thoughts on racism, it’s affect on society and individuals, and what to do about it. Everyone can benefit from this book if you open it with the intent to LISTEN.

I loved the history and knowledge that Beverly added in the book to explain why really we were in the revolutionary war. I learned something new and also loved the new information to know about what to teach my children in the future. I loved her resources and the book was such an easy read. I loved every detail of how she incorporated her material and history! Great read! I loved her writting!

Fast, prompt delivery. Book in excellent condition.

A must read for black people. Very informative and enlightening.

Though it’s been around for a decade, I find this book quite relevant for parents of Black or Multi-cultural kids. It’s a stark reminder that racism is still alive and well in every aspect of our society. With the election of Barack Obama as our first African American President, it seems that right-wings conservatives have become more mean spirited. They say and do things that I thought would never happen again in my life-time.The tragic death/murder of Trayvon Martin makes is very clear that Black and Multi-racial young men are targets. This book helps parents prepare them for staying alive in these difficult times.

An excellent resource. I use this with my students and they always get a lot from it. It breaks down race in a way that’s intellectually honest and accessible. I’d recommend this to anyone but especially to anyone who needs a primer on racism from an academic perspective.

My kids read this book, 20 years ago. Now it is my turn. As a white grandmother, I want to see all people treated equally. I am doing my best to educate myself on race relations.

Got to see the author in person and her message is just as relevant today as it was when she wrote this book!

I swear, this woman must have visited my High School cafeteria, because everything she writes hits home. I haven’t read this in a few years, but it still rings home to me. Whenever I see it, I give the same reaction that I would get when other people who read it saw me with the book- “Oh, you’re reading that!” It’s not just about the black kids sitting into the cafeteria, it goes well beyond that. The stories shared are excellent. I recommend this book to everyone and anyone.

As a college junior and future special educators of at risk students this book has greatly educated me on how to facilitate positive.psychological and.sociological growth in the classroom environment. Beverly Daniel Tatum is amazing and so humble– I want her to speak at my colleges graduation!!!

The book is required reading. Tatum vocalizes and provides explanations for the social phenomena that so often go unnoticed in U.S. society, such as why interracial friendships fade away once kids hit puberty, why white people are so afraid to talk about race, and obviously…why all the black kids are sitting together in the cafeteria.As a white woman, I never felt lost in this book. Tatum assumes almost no prior knowledge about race in the U.S., and walks the reader through clear explanations of how race and identity intertwine in the U.S. Though Tatum organizes her arguments to be understandable to just about anyone, I believe her analysis is helpful for just about anyone in the process of sorting out how race factors into her identity.My one criticism is that the book doesn’t devote much time to racial identity development for latinos, first people, and asian pacific americans. Tatum has clearly devoted most of her research to studying racial development among white and black people in the U.S., and I wish she were more explicit about this. The book is most helpful for white, black, and biracial (black+white) people in the U.S.

As the saying goes about learning all that you need to know in kindergarten – that doesn’t just apply to reading, writing, arithmetic, and social skills! The sad truth is that bias is taught and reinforced. This book tells a story and shares the research and data on race, racism, and systemic racism.

Great book from a psychologist perspective!

As a high school teacher in a school district that is multicultural, I found this book to be thought provoking. How we develop our identities is based on our experiences and those of us who are Caucasian have a different experience set than people of color. I grew up in a neighborhood where my family was one of just a very few Caucasian families around, but I still can’t say I had the same experiences as my friends. This book opened my eyes to some of my own biases and I am glad about that. Considering the ugly, scary tone that some people have openly taken in this country, especially in light of the election of our first African-American president, I think this book should be required reading for anyone who deals with people of different races in any capacity.

This is a book that all of America should be reading. Professor Tatum has dedicated her life to teaching others to understand a world they may not have had the chance to be a part of. Thank you!

Being a white female in America, I’ve never understood the psychological impact racism can have on ones health and lifestyles.This book opened doors to new ways I can help shed some more light on systemic racism. It’s also brought me to realize I need to help educate people (children differently than adults of course).Being a white female, I have a different perspective than a majority of those fighting for racial justice. I do feel it’s my obligation to use my unique perspective to help expand the educational understanding of racial injustice. Hoping to trigger another active person to push for further change.If that makes any sense! All I know, this book gave me tools and understanding behind racism, that I’ve never had before in my 37 years on earth.

Great book that defines the layers within one’s identities along with one’s racial identity development. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone interested in learning about racial identity and the answer to the question, Why are all the Black kids sitting together in the cafeteria?

This book is dense with info. I grew up not knowing or seeing many black people, and this book is helping me understand the issues black people face. It has affected how i will vote and has corrected my frame of thought on some things.

Instructive for me as an elderly privileged white male serving as head of inclusivity/diversity committee of my village organization.

Great Purchase

A seminal work that I first read as an undergraduate back in the 1990’s. Much of the anecdotal information presented by Dr. Tatum remains relevant even today. Funny, I can remember a time in the 1990’s when the PC and the world wide web were heralded as the tools that were going to make the world a smaller place and bring us all together. In many respects, that adage has given way to truth while also shining a sometimes brighter light on the many ways in which we (as human beings, Americans, persons of faith, etc.) may always engage in a process of self-segregation. This book delves most aptly into all the psychological and sociological reasons why this behavior remains important. I’ve recently given a copy to my nephew who is an active duty enlisted member of the US military as he struggles to come to terms with some of the experiences he has had as an African-American millennial.

I purchased this book after taking a master’s level cultural diversity class. The book covered most of the same material as the text for the class. It was good to have a different perspective, and her discussion of personal life experiences with her own son gave me inspiration for having discussions with my son regarding discrimination, and racism. I wish I could have been taught these things in grade school and read the book in junior high. I think this would be a great book for junior high students to read guided by their teacher with a lot of class discussion.

Book arrived quickly and in pristine condition. Price was decent for the quality because the book looked brand new. I will buy more books from them.

Amazing! Well written. Thought provoking and impactful… specially for those working with kids. Bought it for class… but really enjoyed reading it.

Excellent book and very easy to read on Kindle.

Beverly Daniel Tatum’s book, “Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?” provides insight into not only the question posed in the title, but also into the importance of creating dialogue about race. In the opening chapter, Tatum describes how from a young age, children are exposed to language, imagery, and behavior that teaches prejudice and contributes to the racist “smog” that we breathe in daily. She argues that although not all white people are overtly prejudice, collectively we assert our advantage through access to better schools, housing, jobs, and other opportunities. She explains that racism refers to the system based on this advantage, not simply an individual’s views on racism. Racism permeates the corporate, legal, educational, and commercial world. By describing the shaping of black and white identity throughout each phase of life, childhood, adolescence, and adulthood, Tatum is effective in demonstrating the impact of racism on how we view ourselves and those around us. Her book is a call for action and discussion about privilege. Tatum argues that we should engage in both cross-racial and intra-racial dialogue because each has its own benefits and is constructive in its own way. Overall, I’d highly recommend this book if you want to learn more about the importance of creating meaningful conversation about race. I think her book is a must-read if you work with kids or have kids of your own because it is children who are really shaped by the way they see the topic of race discussed or avoided.

Considering the impact this book has had, it needs no plaudits from me to add to its history of success. Let me just say that I found much of interest in Dr. Tatum’s book. Her introduction to this 20th anniversary addition (not to mention the events in the years since) reminds us of why her research is important (and stronger, I think, than what is found in Caste, for example).As a teacher, I was especially struck by her tracing the changing needs of people of color as they move through a predominantly white system. For example, the need for even students who appear to have found a place in that system to seek out others of color as they get older. (Thus, the title of the book.) It’s something those of us who are immersed in a culture that already reflects us find easy to forget—that others will have a need to engage with those whose experiences more closely mirror their own.I could go on, but I will resist the temptation. I learned a lot from this book and I encourage others to read it.

I’m a White woman who made it a personal project to read a LOT of books on race and culture. Going on seven years now. Basically, they were all good in one way or another and I’ve learned so much. This book is one of the best, in my humble opinion. Tatum does a masterful job of combing research with story, personal experience with teaching experience, insight, emotion and intellectual challenge. Read it if you want to understand the many facets of race, racism and equity in this culture.

An excellent perspective for someone eager to understand race identity, how it develops, and how it affects people of color. Understanding is the first step for change. I bought this for my teenage sons, but I read it first. The edition has been updated, and the message is unfortunately very much on point.

I’m not even finished reading and this book has blown me away. Every educator needs to read this book, it is so important.

I wish I would have read this book when I first started teaching 19 years ago. Dr. Tatum is brilliant, so clearly explaining identity development and the importance of peers, mentors, and teachers with shared experiences and understanding. Each chapter left me breathless and impatiently waiting to learn more. I recommend accompanying the text with the audiobook read by Dr. Tatum herself. This is truly a must read for any adult in contact with youth and anyone with a passion for advocacy and social justice. It is especially important for White educators of racially and ethnically diverse students. She brilliantly weaves history and developmental psychology to provide a comprehensive understanding of how adults can facilitate healthy identity development for all children. I am a more compassionate and effective educator after reading this book and am deeply grateful for Dr. Tatum’s work.

The book was a very interesting read. Although many of the things I had guessed. To have someone who had verified it was all the more enlightening. The book enunciates the climate within our society today. We as black Americans need recognize what is going on around us and take a stand.