2/8 Reading Assignment: Tatum, "Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?

This was an interesting essay. The author talks about the reasons why students of middle and high school age tend to group with kids of their own race. She discusses the importance Racial Identity Development may have in this process.

Basically she noted a shift from interracial elementary school days where kids of different races seem to socialize without regard to race. At around the 5th or 6th grade, children start to develop role models, lifestyles and images that are more closely aligned to their own culture group. Unfortunately, its also about this time that the child is likely to experience an event or events that forces the child to become aware of the impact racism may have upon them. In fact the grouping of children withing their own race may just be a reaction to the impact of racism. That being in a group of their "peers" may be a conscious effort to increase the child's comfort level or coping mechanism against perceived racism. .

I thought the essay was very well stated. It made me more aware of what children might be subject to in addition to all of the other social, moral and pubescent thinks kids are bombarded with daily.