Summary of Beverly Daniel Tatum's Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?

Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book. Book Preview: #1 The legacy of racism is not hard to see. It begins early, with the exposure we receive from secondhand information about people who are different from us. #2 Omitted information can also lead to assumptions that may go unchallenged for a long time. For example, a White student who had never learned about any Black authors in her English classes was dismayed that she would have to teach about them. #3 Prejudice is a preconceived judgment or opinion, usually based on limited information. It is an integral part of our socialization, and it is not our fault. We need to take responsibility for our own behavior, and try to be more conscious of the stereotypes and messages that affect us. #4 Racism is not just prejudice, but a system of advantage based on race. It is not just a personal ideology, but a system that involves cultural messages and institutional policies and practices as well as the beliefs and actions of individuals.