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Literary Analysis Tatum

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English

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Cuyamaca College

Course

ENG 120

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07Nagbal

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Theme analysis: Why Are All The Black Kids Sitting Together

Introduction

Racism is a social ill that has deeply been rooted in society for ages. It is a question of

grave concern, and how society approaches it will determine how individuals relate with one

another. This is the main theme that Beverly Daniel Tatum illustrates in Why Are All The Black

Kids Sitting Together. Tatum approaches the issue at a different level focusing her research on

the impact of racism on children. Racism has often been associated with adults, and there is very

little detail about the issue, which highlights the involvement of children. Tatum identifies this

gap since parents would rather not bring the issue to their children since they are likely to forego

the color-blind innocence and become more color-conscious. Through a non-academic

communication style, Tatum documents the best approach that parents can employ in informing

their children about racism by explaining approaches to responding to children through different

stages of their lives.

Book summary

Why Are All The Black Kids Sitting Together takes the discussion of racism to a new

height by updating the current state of racism, examining the misconception of racism in

America, and explains the actualization of identity among young African Americans. The book

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is an exclusive parental guide for communicating with their children about racism through a

series of productive conversations to present an outlook of systematic racism and its negative

impact on every American.

Theme analysis

Critics and activists have different perceptions of racism. The common thing about these

perceptions is that they all involve color-conscious sentiments about a particular group. Tatum’s

perception of racism is “a system of advantage based on race” (Tatum). Her definition breaks

down a broader topic into a simple, easy-to-master statement by encompassing oppression and

society. From this definition, readers believe that the book bears a simplistic communication that

they can understand and employ its teachings while dealing with their children. The primary aim

of the book is to dispel the notion that prejudice is the primary element defining what race is.

The book is meant for a regular parent irrespective of their literacy level. Understanding racism

from Tatum’s point of view enables readers to not focus on the internalization of racism

sentiments and policies through prejudice.

From her definitions of racism and prejudice, Tatum provides two distinctive traits of

people of color. First, they are prejudiced, and two, they are not racist mainly since they are on

the negative side of the advantage system. On the other hand, Whites are on the opposite side of

the system, although they do not consider the benefits of being on this side. Tatum says:

“In my view, reserving the term racist only for behaviors committed by Whites in the

context of a White-dominated society is a way of acknowledging the ever-present power

differential afforded Whites by the culture and institutions that make up the system of

advantage and continue to reinforce notions of White superiority” (Tatum).

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Surname 1 Name of student Name of Instructor Course Date Theme analysis: Why Are All The Black Kids Sitting Together Introduction Racism is a social ill that has deeply been rooted in society for ages. It is a question of grave concern, and how society approaches it will determine how individuals relate with one another. This is the main theme that Beverly Daniel Tatum illustrates in Why Are All The Black Kids Sitting Together. Tatum approaches the issue at a different level focusing her research on the impact of racism on children. Racism has often been associated with adults, and there is very little detail about the issue, which highlights the involvement of children. Tatum identifies this gap since parents would rather not bring the issue to their children since they are likely to forego the color-blind innocence and become more color-conscious. Through a non-academic communication style, Tatum documents the best approach that parents can employ in informing their children about racism by explaining approaches to responding to children through different stages of their lives. Book summary Why Are All The Black Kids Sitting Together takes the discussion of racism to a new height by updating the current state of racism, examining the misconception of racism in America, and explains the actualization of identity among young African Americans. The book Surname 2 is an exclusive parental guide for communicating with their children about racism through a series of productive ...
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Tags: racism Black Kids Beverly Daniel Tatum actualization of identity parental guide