Why Are All The Black Kids Sitting Together In The Cafeteria Chapter Summary

In 1971, William E. Cross, Jr., Ph.D., a Black psychologist and prominent researcher (specializing in Black psychology) developed a framework for assessing how black Americans come to understand what it means to be Black. Dr. Cross introduced his ideologies as the “Nigrescence Model of Racial Identity Development“. He asserts that every black American must undergo a series of identity stages to develop a healthy and balanced understanding of the Black experience and become well-rounded in our global society. This model encompasses five stages of identity development, which Dr. Cross emphasizes, must be performed in order to successfully accomplish this goal.

Similarly to hooks, Walker tells his life story through his eyes, the point of view of an African-American male. Walker gives anecdotes that inform us of key themes in his upbringing. From a young age Walker saw humanity divided by color. Seemingly unable to let go of past racism in society, Walker’s girlfriend claimed that he was “the first person she has ever known who has taught

Staples successfully begins by not only admitting the possible faults in his practiced race but also by understanding the perspective of the one who fear them. Black males being opened to more violence because of the environment they're raised in are labeled to be more likely to cause harm or committing crime towards women but Staples asks why that issue changes the outlook of

John Howard Griffin, the author and main character of “Black Like Me”, is a middle-aged white man who is living in Mansfield, Texas in 1959. Deeply devoted to the finding justice for racism and frustrated by his inability as a white man to understand the black experience, Griffin decides to take stand: he decides to change the color of his skin and temporarily become a black man. After securing the support of his wife and of George Levitan, the editor of a black-oriented magazine called Sepia which will fund Griffin 's experience in return for an article about it, Griffin sets out for New Orleans to begin his life as a black man. He finds a contact in the black community, a soft-spoken, articulate shoe-shiner named Sterling Williams, Eventually, Griffin looks in the mirror and sees a black man looking back. He briefly panics, feeling that he has lost his identity, and then he sets out to explore the black community.

Author, Dr. Beverly Tatum a clinical psychologist whose main study of interest is Black children’s racial identity development wrote the text Why Are All the Black Kids sitting Together in the Cafeteria? After receiving a letter from a school principal in New Jersey applauding her on her reason of why, in racially mixed schools all over the country, Black kids were still sitting together in school cafeterias. In the text Tatum shares her thoughts about the development of racial identity faced by the African American population and how it is interrelated to racism at the turn of the twentieth century while highlighting the Black-White relation in childhood and adolescence age group. The book entails controversy in that, Dr. Tatum understanding of racism is centered heavily on race. Tatum’s explanation of racism suggest that Blacks cannot be racist based on the fact their racial bigotry do not stand or rest on a structure of advantage.

In “The ‘Black Table’ is Still There,” Lawrence Otis Graham elaborates on racial segregation that has been present throughout the years at a middle school in a predominately white community that he attended year ago. Although it has been decades since he has attended the school, contrary to his beliefs, the school still has a “black table” present. The “black table” was described as the table where it was all blacks; however, there were tables in which others of the same race or culture sat together but it was not frowned upon. The passage explained the racial stereotypes that were dreadfully encountered during the lunch period. He was expected to mesh with people of his similar complexion solely because of the melanin in his skin.

To engage a large audience, Staples appeals to readers with his use to two different points of views throughout the essay: societal views and black views. Staples tries to connect with the readers by giving examples of unconscious thoughts that run through the minds of most people when in the same situation as the “white women.” In his opening sentence, Staples calls the women a “victim.” In her own eyes, she herself was “victim” due to the influence of generalized stereotypes presented in our culture. She becomes quick to judge based on Staples appearance: his skin tone. Because of his color, his every action becomes nothing but threats and anxiety on the women. “She casted a back worried glance. To her, the youngish black- broad six feet two inches with a beard and billowing hair, both hands shoved into the pockets of a

Analysis of Why are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria by Beverly Daniel Tatum

I believe Tatum answers the question “Why are all the Black kids sitting together in the cafeteria?” not only through her description of William Cross’s Black racial identity model, but through James Marcia’s four identity statuses and Rosabeth Moss Kanter’s A Tale of O. Tatum follows up the question through Marcia’s four stages that an individual undergoes to discover their identity: diffuse, foreclosed, moratorium, and achieved (Tatum 53). Marcia’s identity statuses can be seen in more detail through Cross’s Model. Cross’s Model begins with a person developing self-awareness of the world’s perception about themselves. Consequently, the individual comes in contact with the preencounter stage. Hence, their instinct is to assimilate by rejecting who they are and accepting what the majority sees as acceptable. At least one event may cause the person to enter the encounter stage, in which they become aware of racism and how it impacts their life.

Beverly Tatum incorporates the concept of White privilege into her writing to address the fundamental issues surrounding racism. In "Defining Racism," a chapter in Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria, Tatum defines racism as “a system of advantage based on race” (P.6) In an accurate and inoffensive way she illustrates racism and extends it beyond the individual, placing blame on the greater American social structure. Throughout the development of her definition she places great emphasis on the fact that racism, like sexism, is something exhibited by the dominant group (whites/men) upon the subordinate group (people of color/women). She does this to demonstrate the structured aspect of racism as an institutional norm and not necessarily something that is actively practiced by individuals. This approach is less offensive to whites and creates a context for self awareness

In her book “Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?” , Beverly Daniel Tatum, explores the identity of racial development in the United States. She analyzes the definition of racism as well as the development of racial identity. Along with these topics she in turn offers possible solutions to racial problems that plague us today.

For starters, Tatum goes in chronological order from when he started out as a teacher to where he is at now with his career. Tatum looks back on his first year as a teacher for the Chicago public school system. He, further goes on to reflect about his passion for creating a positive atmosphere for his students. Furthermore, Tatum, reflects on the gang violence that was occurring around, not just him but his students. In addition, Tatum writes about his third year as a teacher and how there was finally going to be change. And that change was the Chicago School Reform

In the passage “Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?” talked about how “our self-perceptions are shaped by the messages that we receive from those around us.” I agree with this because whether today or in the old day, this happen to everyone. An example of this was when I was talking to one of my friends about a certain school he thinks has the best sports team especially in track and cross country for high school level. But i told him that my old high school is better since it is one of the top school for academics and always in the good standings in CSF especially all the girls’ sports. Anyway my point is since my friend and I went to different school districts of 20 miles from each other, we have different perceptions

The kids on a sports team or some after school activities tend to stick together. There reason again is quite clear, they all are apart of something, they all share a common interest. Graham also realize that this was not only with just the black kids, but with everyone else too: “there were at least two tables of athletes, an Italian table, a Jewish girls’ table, a Jewish boys’ table (where I usually sat), a table of kids who wee into heavy metal music and smoking pot, a table of middle-class Irish kids” (367).

It may not always be easy for you to find your identity. In the movie Finding Forrester, Jamal, a young African American teen that lives in the Bronx, discovered what it was like to be challenged with challenges he would not have expected. Jamal was dared by his friends to break into an old man’s apartment. The old man always watched the boys play basketball. While Jamal was in his apartment the old man found him and Jamal dashed out and forgot his school bag. The old man went through his bag and corrected his papers then gave it back to Jamal. The old man and Jamal grew and developed a strong relationship. People can be influenced on what shapes their identity.