The classic, New York Times-bestselling book on the psychology of racism that shows us how to talk about race in America.
Walk into any racially mixed high school and you will see Black, White, and Latino youth clustered in their own groups. Is this self-segregation a problem to address or a coping strategy? How can we get past our reluctance to discuss racial issues?
Beverly Daniel Tatum, a renowned authority on the psychology of racism, argues that straight talk about our racial identities is essential if we are serious about communicating across racial and ethnic divides and pursuing antiracism. These topics have only become more urgent as the national conversation about race is increasingly acrimonious. This fully revised edition is essential reading for anyone seeking to understand dynamics of race and racial inequality in America.
Beverly Daniel Tatum, PhD, is president emerita of Spelman College and in 2014 received the Award for Outstanding Lifetime Contribution to Psychology, the highest honor presented by the American Psychological Association. She lives in Atlanta, Georgia.
Table of Contents
Introduction 1999
ix
Introduction 1997
xiii
Part I
A Definition of Terms
1
Defining Racism "Can we talk?"
3
2
The Complexity of Identity "Who am I?"
18
Part II
Understanding Blackness in a White Context
3
The Early Years "Is my skin brown because I drink chocolate milk?"
31
4
Identity Development in Adolescence "Why are all the Black kids sitting Together in the cafeteria?"
52
5
Racial Identity in Adulthood "Still a work in progress..."
75
Part III
Understanding Whiteness in a White Context
6
The Development of White Identity "I'm not ethnic, I'm just normal."
93
7
White Identity and Affirmative Action "I'm in favor of affirmative action except when it comes to my jobs."
114
Part IV
Beyond Black and White
8
Critical Issues in Latino, American Indian, and Asian Pacific American Identity Development "There's more than just Black and White, you know."
131
9
Identity Development in Multiracial Families "But don't the children suffer?"
167
Part V
Breaking the Silence
10
Embracing a Cross-Racial Dialogue "We were struggling for the words."