Why Are All The Black Kids Sitting Together?

African American students account for the larger majority of minorities in public schools in the United States. Most areas in the northern part of the United states and coastal areas are ethnically diverse. However, down south this is not the case. Students of color will experience a harder time in the education system. African American students meet the obstacle of educators who will not want them to succeed based on a preconceived thought. In fact, Caucasian teachers make up for 85% of all

In this scenario, saying that I were a sociologist designing a college course on Race and Ethnicity in college, I would have a variety of topics to start from and would really have to narrow it down. In this scenario, I am choosing to talk about systemic racism. The five sources I would use would be varying in subject, and the authors would come from different walks of life. {{{One book I would use in this course, would be a text that we have used this semester. This book being “Why Are All of the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?” by Beverly Tatum. It was a quick enough read, it made sense, and was easy to retain. This book had an emotional impact on me, and I have a feeling it would impact many students like the ones before

For some students, race is a central part of their identity. The struggles they face with it determines the achievements that they can present to the admissions officers. Despite the current ban on the usage of race in college admissions in Michigan, admissions officers should not ignore any part of a student’s unique circumstances, which may be related to one’s socioeconomic status, race, or both. In the article, “Still Separate, Still Unequal: America’s Educational Apartheid,” Kozol argues that the ongoing racial segregation and the lack of funding in schools consisting primarily of blacks and Hispanics are putting the poor and minority children at an disadvantage by not providing them a chance to have good teachers, classrooms, and other resources. While universities use scores to assess the academic ability of a student, minorities who attend schools segregated based on race or socioeconomic status may excel at what they are given, have the

America’s education system is one of the most respectable, reputable and sought after commodities in our society, but it is also the most overcrowded, discriminatory, and controversial system ever established. Most people yearn for a higher education because it 's what 's expected in this society in order to get ahead. It means a better job, more money, power, prestige and a sense of entitlement. But this system has let down the children that are supposed to benefit from it. Education discriminates against minorities, and poorer class students are not expected nor encouraged to attain a higher education. The education system is set up to ensure that every child get a basic

The fourth chapter of "Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?”is about the identity development in adolescence. It is said that when black children are growing up, they engage in many of the white culture’s beliefs and values as it is all around them. It is not until a little later where they begin to recognize the impact of racism. This can happen around the early stages of adulthood. It might even happen around the junior high age. Gender also comes into play around this time as well. A black girl wouldn't be acknowledged for her beauty in a white setting as she is not in the society's standard for beautiful. Since the black girls aren’t considered beautiful, they begin to feel devalued. The black youth are beginning

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.

Gregory, Perry and Rankin also explains that In 1907, African Americans infrequently had different choices for advanced education aside from a general (HBCU) .Furthermore, Gregory, Perry and Rankin states that In 2008, HBCUs are still transcendently African American and flourishing in light of the fact that these organizations are effectively teaching and graduating African-American understudies more so than ever before. According to Gregory, Perry, and Rankin Notwithstanding and now and again ignored, HBCUs are an imperative choice for secondary school African-American understudies look into attending more so today than any other secondary institution. Lastly, Gregory, Perry and Rankin explain how (HBCUs) secondary schools offer advantages minority understudies may some way or another not get if they were to attend a non HBCU; which is why minorities and African American understudies choose to attend HBCUs solely over the option of advantages offered at these HBCUs.

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.

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.

Walter Fields, a parent in the district, said his African American daughter was denied the opportunity in an advanced class, even when having the eligible grades and test scores. ‘“Now we arrive at the point—in 2014—where you can literally walk down a hallway in Columbia High School and look in a classroom and know whether it’s an upper-level class or a lower-level class based on the racial composition of the classroom,” Fields said.”’ ("Modern-Day Segregation in Public Schools - The Atlantic." 2014. 15 Mar. 2016) In many cases, cultural and racial minorities are denied equal academic opportunity. “... high-achieving African American students may be exposed to less rigorous curriculums, attend schools with fewer resources, and have teachers who expect less of them academically than they expect of similarly situated Caucasian students” ("Ethnic and Racial Minorities & Socioeconomic Status." 2010. 15 Mar. 2016) Stereotypes of race and culture, prevents many young minorities from reaching their academic potential. This kind of behavior can influence what our nation sees as ideal people of the workforce, which can ultimately lead to biases affecting the unemployment and poverty rates of

An individual’s race could affect their access to wealth, power, and prestige. Their race could limit or increase their access to education, housing and other valued resources. As an African American woman I feel my race plays apart in who I am today. Growing up I was limited to the information I needed to better myself in the educational setting, but my mother understood how education could change my life for the better. With my mother having an understanding of what was needed to make a change in your life as well as mine, she pushed for change in the school system in our community. Even though I was a part of the African American community, other African American women felt I did not belong. This is because my skin was lighter than the other African American females in my community.

Social inequality due to race is very real and it has a big affect on African Americans. The way that Blacks in society perceive each other,

Some schools make an attempt to make sure that people of other race are not discriminated against and have everything the same. “We must make sure that America’s public schools offer a quality education to every child from every background…. America’s long experience with the segregation we have put behind us and the racial discrimination we still struggle to overcome requires a special effort to make real the promise of equal opportunity for all” (Taylor). The schools that do this make racial discrimination hard to do. They are all treated the same and they have the same opportunities to do great things. People of different race want to do great thing in life, but they might not have the means to do it. “In higher education, people of color are not proportionately represented at staff, student, faculty, or administrative levels. Insufficient financial resources exacerbate these problems” (NASW). Since not all people can afford to the things that they want it will be noticed that they is going to be a difference in the number of people who represent a race. Everyone should have a chance at getting an education without worrying about what other people are thinking of them and how they are

There are many stereotypes circulating around the world about the many different races. However, these stereotypes could affect how someone performs and how much they will achieve throughout their life. In America, the race white and title of privileged are usually paired together. Being white is synonymous with being privileged, therefore, having an advantage towards other races regarding success, either with money or education. Also, other’s viewpoints on certain races could lead to having a disadvantage in succeeding. Other races are portrayed negatively on mass media which gives uninformed viewers a skewed viewpoint about other races. Many other countries have a different viewpoint about success. Success could be having a family, accumulating money, or having a certain job. There are stereotypes that have a positive connotation to them which could help that certain race or negatively affect them because they must live up to certain expectations. Stereotypes and race impact a student’s career, not only the student’s race, but as well as the race of their peers and teachers.