Many of us waited with growing excitement for the publication of the 20th-anniversary edition of Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum’s best seller, “Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria and Other Conversations About Race.”
Considered path-breaking when first published in 1997, Tatum’s book ignited in-depth discussions about race nationwide.
Encouraged by readers, fans, academics, and those desperate for more clarity on race relations in America, Tatum has updated her remarkable book with new research, current examples and more insights. The 20th-anniversary edition was published last week and it is already receiving rave reviews. The response to the new book is consistent: we need Tatum’s voice, wisdom and guidance now more than ever.
The publication of the revised version of Tatum’s landmark book has inspired me to think back on the 14 years that I had the privilege of traveling with Beverly — crisscrossing this country many times — co-leading dismantling racism workshops in schools, colleges, houses of worship, community centers and nonprofit organizations. Working for an organization I founded called Communitas Inc., Beverly and I spent untold hours with groups large and small confronting what many have called “America’s original sin.”
The publication of Tatum’s book has made me reflect on what has changed in the last 20 years in terms of race relations in this country and what has stayed the same. Beverly reports that as she travels and speaks nationwide, she is asked repeatedly: “Are things getting better?” I have been churning recently trying to answer the same question.
I am not the expert on race relations that she is. But over the years I have talked with literally thousands of white people about race and racism. One clear divide in these conversations is whether a white person thinks of her/himself as a victim or a perpetrator of racism.
Those terms, which we used in the 1980s, are now outdated and frowned upon. The current language is “targeted” and “dominate.” But I use “victim” and “perpetrator” here because I continue to be amazed by the number of white people who believe they suffer from anti-white discrimination.
Our society has constructed innumerable ways to help white people not see our privilege. White people are schooled to believe that we live in a meritocracy — that America has reached a level playing field when it comes to race, and that people actually get what they deserve. Because racism is wily and can mutate, much of the unearned advantages that white people receive daily is hidden from us. But systemic racism — the advantages bestowed upon white people relentlessly, invisibly, and chronically — saturate our personal lives, our political system, and all institutions in America.
America was founded by white, land-owning men — and every institution created in this country has subtle or overt advantages for white people built into the system.
What remains a stumbling block as this country lurches toward equity and hopes to embrace justice is that many white people erroneously believe that racism is some kind of surprising anomaly that erupts suddenly — showing its ugly face in schools, on campuses, in places of employment and in houses of worship.
Many white people do not realize that the opposite is true. Due to our nation’s history and the long shelf-life of systematic discrimination, racism is present in most settings unless it is removed — through conscious work on the part of teachers, community leaders, people of faith, elected officials and everyday folks.
Shocked by the discovery of racist graffiti, racial profiling, or job discrimination based on race, white people seem to think that our institutions are neutral and non-racist until some racist act becomes evident. Hard, consistent, focused, and dedicated work confronting racism is the only way to uncover the racism that is part of the DNA of the social, political and economic systems in this country. Dedicated work, over time, will move us toward equity and fairness.
White people can help break the cycle of oppression by being bold, articulate, and relentlessly confronting the misinformation, missing history, stereotypes, fake news, and falsehoods perpetrated all around us.
There is no place for passivity in the country today. White people must be vigilant and persistent anti-racists. Tatum reminds us that there is no such thing as a passive anti-racist. Unless we are visible and vocal, the problem continues. Beverly is also quick to say that people of color do not expect white folks to be perfect allies. Being consistent, bold, and faithfully doing our best is sufficient.
With affirmative action under attack, the resegregation of our public schools, the empowerment of white supremacist groups, not to mention the relentless rants about the discrimination that white people face spouted on talk radio, it is clear that we are living through a very painful time as the gains made on issues of race under the Obama administration are mocked and dismantled.
Thankfully, Tatum’s book helps us take a big leap forward in our ongoing journey to understand how racism operates in this country, how we can interrupt the cycle of racism, and why and how we must cling to hope.
The good news is the same as the bad news. The good news is that in confronting and dismantling racism in this country, we have come a long way. The bad news is we still have a long way to go to reach a place of justice, equity, and fairness.
But, with Tatum’s help, we are informed and ready to move forward on our journey. The struggle continues.
Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum will read from her new book and discuss race issues in America at 7 p.m. Oct. 18 at Edwards Church in Northampton.
Rev. Dr. Andrea Ayvazian is a pastor in the United Church of Christ, and the founder and director of the movement-building school, the Sojourner Truth School for Social Change Leadership (www.truthschool.org). She writes a monthly column on the intersection of faith, culture and politics and can be reached at opinion@gazettenet.com.