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

by Beverly Daniel Tatum, Ph.D.
Basic Books, 1999

I am a big fan of diversity work in organizations. I think it is important beyond organizational life, and if that doesn’t convince you, I am also clear that addressing diversity in organizations will directly impact the bottom line. When I talk to people about diversity work in organizations, however, I often get rolled eyes and heavy sighs. Given this common reaction, I conclude that there must be a lot of diversity work being done out there that is missing the mark. To make matters worse, I have probably personally delivered some of that work! I have hope, however, because (a) I know there is good work being done out there as well, and (b) I am beginning to see why some of that other diversity work fails. Beverly Daniel Tatum’s book was instrumental a key piece of my illumination, so that is why I put it on my recommended books list.

I think some diversity work fails because we are not yet ready for it. When I say “we,” I mostly mean white people. I know it’s a generalization (thus there are exceptions), but in my experience there are too many white people out there who do not yet see how racism really works in our society. They don’t see the privilege we white folks enjoy, and they don’t see the anger, frustration, and pain that racism continues to deliver to people of color in this country. Trying to address policies, recruitment, affirmative action, stereotypes, and other topics of diversity training without really understanding how racism operates today is frankly quite difficult.

Tatum’s book is particularly adept at clarifying these concepts (for white people and people of color alike). She is a psychologist who has researched how race affects identity development in youth in this country. Filled with first-hand descriptions from her students, among others, she helped me better understand what racism means today—not just the blatant racism of extremists, but the subtle (but just as powerful) racism that white people have such a hard time seeing.