logo

48 pages 1 hour read

Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?: And Other Conversations About Race

Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 1997

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Book Brief

logo
Beverly Daniel Tatum

Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?

Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 1997
Book Details
Pages

320

Format

Book • Nonfiction

Theme
Publication Year

1997

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Roundup icon

Super Short Summary

First published in 1997, Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? by Beverly Daniel Tatum, a clinical psychologist, discusses race and racism in the United States from a psychological perspective, exploring racial identity development among various racial groups, the challenges they face, and the importance of having productive dialogues to combat racism. The book addresses police brutality, mass incarceration, segregation, microaggressions, hate crimes, and Islamophobia.

Informative

Challenging

Contemplative

Emotional

Inspirational

Reviews & Readership

4.8

7,606 ratings

95%

Loved it

3%

Mixed feelings

2%

Not a fan

Roundup icon

Review Roundup

Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? by Beverly Daniel Tatum offers an insightful analysis of racial identity development and self-segregation in schools. Praised for its clarity and depth, it effectively addresses systemic racism. Some critiques note it can be repetitive and academic in tone, yet it's widely regarded as an essential read on race relations.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria??

Readers interested in racial identity, social psychology, and education will find Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? by Beverly Daniel Tatum engaging. Fans of books like Robin DiAngelo's White Fragility or Ibram X. Kendi's How to Be an Antiracist will appreciate Tatum’s insightful analysis on the complexities of race and identity in America.

4.8

7,606 ratings

95%

Loved it

3%

Mixed feelings

2%

Not a fan

Character List

Beverly Daniel Tatum

A clinical psychologist and educator who explores racial identity development and racism in society, drawing on her personal experiences and her work with diverse students.

A diverse group of individuals whose narratives and experiences with racial identity and racism are shared to illustrate broader societal issues.

Two Black individuals whose upbringing and experiences as young boys in a predominantly White community are discussed by Tatum to provide personal insights into racial identity development.

Book Details
Pages

320

Format

Book • Nonfiction

Theme
Publication Year

1997

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Continue your reading experience

Subscribe now to unlock the rest of this Study Guide plus our full library, which features expert-written summaries and analyses of 8,000+ additional titles.