Cultural Racism

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses the concept of cultural racism and the reasons that it is so prevalent in society. The paper discusses a book called "Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting in the Back of the Cafeteria" by Beverley Tatum, in which she discusses many of these issues. It presents five stages of racial identity development: pre-encounter, encounter stage, immersion/emersion, internalization and internalization/commitment. The paper concludes that Tatum suggests that change is needed to improve the problem of cultural racism.

From the Paper:

"It is not easy talking to teachers who are white or of color about racism and prejudice. It is a sensitive subject that people are not used to talking about. All our lives we are told not to talk about differences, so we have to retrain ourselves. For example, when I was child and asked my parents about another child who was a different color than me, it was quickly passed over and not discussed. I don't think that most people are purposely racist. They are just unsure of how to proceed to discuss such a sensitive topic. Most of the white people I talk to either have not thought about their race and so don't feel anything or have thought about it and felt guilt and shame."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Connecticut Board of Education. Website retrieved March 29, 2006, http://www.csde.state.ct.us
• Interview with Beverly Daniel Tatum. Techniques. (1999) 72.4, 42-43.
• Tatum, Beverly. Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting in the Back of the Cafeteria New York: Basic Books, 1997.

More papers on Cultural Racism:

• Essay # 55778 : "Chicanos and Racism"
• Term Paper # 131880 : "Racism in the United States and Europe"
• Comparison Essay # 101755 : "Racism in the United States and Europe"

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