First of all, I need to preface this review with two things.
1) I purchased the old edition of this book, and it has since been updated with numerous important additions. I'll be purchasing the new version soon to catch up - and I recommend that you do the same.
2) I am a White woman attempting to educate myself on what other races experience in life, in the classroom, and in their own cultures. I am not perfect, or an expert. I will make mistakes. Please help educate me.

Beverly Daniel Tatum, Ph.D., is a professor of Psychology and Education and often taught classes about race throughout her career. Additionally, she has taken it upon herself to help educate the masses in regards to race.

Prompting her to write this book was the regularly asked question of "why are all the Black kids sitting together in the cafeteria?" Tatum realized that this question was rooted in misunderstandings, and oftentimes, in judgment, as well.

What she tries to convey to her readers is not only how the Black kids feel, and why they choose to sit together. But she also comes at this question from other angles - ranging from the teachers who observe this isolation, to the White students who question the reasoning behind either being left out of the group, or not being good enough to join the groups themselves.

Tatum takes the entire conversation a step further and introduces the conversation of the White female educator and how she is contributing to racism without realizing it.

This was my wake-up call. I am a White female educator.

Throughout various chapters, Tatum highlights how White female educators have a savior complex, where they feel that it is their job to save their Black students. But by doing this, they are assuming different elements of the life of their Black students. They are assuming that they come from bad neighborhoods, have less available to them, and are unable to have the same opportunities given to them as their White peers.

This is where I truly struggled. Because while I don't like to assume anything about any student, this is honestly what most White educators are taught about their Black students. But even beyond this, the concept that comes to mind for this is that of equality versus equity. And how Black students in certain areas might receive equality, because of their ancestors, heritage, and various hardships in their different cultures, they rarely receive equity. 

So, again, the assumptions give me pause. I want to provide all of my students with equity. I want to give them equal chances of reaching the same destination, but those who start further back in the race might need a larger head start. In my opinion, Tatum's argument isn't against equity, but against assuming that just because the student is Black, they must qualify for that head start.

Assumption is where we go wrong as educators. Trying to reach out to every student is difficult enough - and we are not mind readers. But we also cannot assume that because of the color of their skin, they have lived a hard life. It doesn't mean that their life has been easy, but it doesn't mean it has been difficult, either. 

Tatum works methodically to cover as much as she possibly can on the topic within a set amount of pages. She begins with a definition of racism and explains that because the term "racist" has received so much negative stigma, it is difficult to have an honest conversation with people about race in today's age.

For the majority of the book, Tatum takes on the challenge of not only honestly explaining the state of racism in the country and world today, but also examining what steps go into identity development, as well as what makes up one's identity in the first place.

She brings readers through understanding how a Black individual operates in a White society, and how a White individual operates in a White society, noting the different nuances and characteristics of safety and privilege.

Tatum brings it a few steps further by devoting a few chapters to multicultural identities, explaining that it isn't just a Black or White conversation.

She ends up ending the text with a call to action for her readers: the silence must end. It must be broken. People need to speak up. People need to educate themselves and others. People need to understand that the Black kids are sitting together because they feel understand, safe, and are able to develop a part of their identity that remains unformed without these connections. 

Tatum explains the necessity of seeing oneself in society.

For just one book, I cannot believe how much of my perception has been changed. I had already prided myself on being understanding - but there's no amount of empathy or understanding that can take place for a culture you do not belong to without the added assistance of education from those who truly understand.

I cannot recommend this book enough. I would purchase a copy for everyone I know, if I was able to afford it.