Good evening!
To start off, I'd like to say thank you to all those who have commented on my posts. I really appreciate all your respectful feedback, especially on a touchy subject like this. But sadly, this is my last blog post.
Throughout the book, author Beverly Daniel Tatum addresses institutional racism, racial prejudice, racial identity development, but most importantly, the steps we can take to truly shed a light on racism. The revolving question she raises is, "how can we sustain ourselves in the long haul?" or in other words, what steps can we take to make our future less racist? From what I've read, the best way to ending racism for the future is to not only address the problem of racism and to focus on achieving racial identity.
Addressing the problem of racism, or as Tatum puts it, "breaking the silence," is crucial when trying to solve this untouchable subject. Talking about race is easy, but talking about racism is where the improvement needs to be. Silence leads to unchallenged racism, "the loss of human potential, lowered productivity, and a rising tide of fear and violence in our society" (page 337). One of the best ways to solve this is to organize racial groups and meetings. Addressing racial concerns with people of the same race (assuming they experience similar problems) is proven to be refreshing and makes people much more comfortable with tackling the sensitive topic of racism. For example, white support groups offer the "space to speak with honesty and candor rarely possible in racially-mixed groups" (page 205). Addressing racism leads to this "breaking of silence" that prevents fear and violence, resulting in topics regarding racism to be challenged. Although society's eyebrow raises when a group of white people come together to talk about racism, it's proven that no matter your race, same-race discussions can be liberating and are extremely important for the achievement of reaching one's full racial identity.
Working on achieving racial identity is one of the most, if not the most important thing an individual can do to help solve an even more racist future. Racial identity is the cultural, mental, and physical acceptance of one's race or ethnicity; you understand what your race or ethnicity is, and you feel comfortable expressing it. When an individual achieves racial identity, it not only clears a new and open cultural path for them but helps bridge races together in society. For example, Tatum talks about this "borderland" of racial identity. In simple terms, it's the scarce land of achieved racial identity for Whites. Tatum states that it may be hard for Whites to picture this full form of racial identity, but when people like Becky Thompson experience it, "it is also liberating, opening doors to new communities, creating possibilities for more authentic connections with people of color, and, in the process, strengthening the coalitions necessary for genuine social change" (page 208). However, one doesn't have to have achieved racial identity to have a true impact on social change. For instance, Tatum states that when a White person is working on their racial identity process, they will have a much more advanced understanding of racism and they will understand and have respect for people of color who deal with identity struggles.
In order to "sustain ourselves in the long run," we not only have to focus on coming together as a community but doing what we can individually to improve ourselves. Addressing racism in a much more common manner and developing one's racial identity are only some of the things we can do to help our future. We're the only ones who can control our future's society, and taking steps like these will open new doors to personal liberation and link people of all different races and ethnicities.
This book had me very impatient at first. At the start, I never expected any of Tatum's claims to have evidence. But as I read, I realized that this book was extremely refreshing. I still have my personal beliefs on this topic, but it was really nice to see different sides of the story. If I were to tell my readers anything to think about when picking up this book, it would be to be patient and open your mind. You don't have to believe everything the author says (I sure didn't), but just like any other book you read, the wait sometimes pays off. And with this book, you're guaranteed to learn something.
Thanks for reading!
Throughout the book, author Beverly Daniel Tatum addresses institutional racism, racial prejudice, racial identity development, but most importantly, the steps we can take to truly shed a light on racism. The revolving question she raises is, "how can we sustain ourselves in the long haul?" or in other words, what steps can we take to make our future less racist? From what I've read, the best way to ending racism for the future is to not only address the problem of racism and to focus on achieving racial identity.
Addressing the problem of racism, or as Tatum puts it, "breaking the silence," is crucial when trying to solve this untouchable subject. Talking about race is easy, but talking about racism is where the improvement needs to be. Silence leads to unchallenged racism, "the loss of human potential, lowered productivity, and a rising tide of fear and violence in our society" (page 337). One of the best ways to solve this is to organize racial groups and meetings. Addressing racial concerns with people of the same race (assuming they experience similar problems) is proven to be refreshing and makes people much more comfortable with tackling the sensitive topic of racism. For example, white support groups offer the "space to speak with honesty and candor rarely possible in racially-mixed groups" (page 205). Addressing racism leads to this "breaking of silence" that prevents fear and violence, resulting in topics regarding racism to be challenged. Although society's eyebrow raises when a group of white people come together to talk about racism, it's proven that no matter your race, same-race discussions can be liberating and are extremely important for the achievement of reaching one's full racial identity.
Working on achieving racial identity is one of the most, if not the most important thing an individual can do to help solve an even more racist future. Racial identity is the cultural, mental, and physical acceptance of one's race or ethnicity; you understand what your race or ethnicity is, and you feel comfortable expressing it. When an individual achieves racial identity, it not only clears a new and open cultural path for them but helps bridge races together in society. For example, Tatum talks about this "borderland" of racial identity. In simple terms, it's the scarce land of achieved racial identity for Whites. Tatum states that it may be hard for Whites to picture this full form of racial identity, but when people like Becky Thompson experience it, "it is also liberating, opening doors to new communities, creating possibilities for more authentic connections with people of color, and, in the process, strengthening the coalitions necessary for genuine social change" (page 208). However, one doesn't have to have achieved racial identity to have a true impact on social change. For instance, Tatum states that when a White person is working on their racial identity process, they will have a much more advanced understanding of racism and they will understand and have respect for people of color who deal with identity struggles.
In order to "sustain ourselves in the long run," we not only have to focus on coming together as a community but doing what we can individually to improve ourselves. Addressing racism in a much more common manner and developing one's racial identity are only some of the things we can do to help our future. We're the only ones who can control our future's society, and taking steps like these will open new doors to personal liberation and link people of all different races and ethnicities.
This book had me very impatient at first. At the start, I never expected any of Tatum's claims to have evidence. But as I read, I realized that this book was extremely refreshing. I still have my personal beliefs on this topic, but it was really nice to see different sides of the story. If I were to tell my readers anything to think about when picking up this book, it would be to be patient and open your mind. You don't have to believe everything the author says (I sure didn't), but just like any other book you read, the wait sometimes pays off. And with this book, you're guaranteed to learn something.
Thanks for reading!
Hi Gabe! I like how you outline and summarize Tatum's final points at the end of her book and how you explain the personal steps that she encourages her readers to take in order to "break the silence." I also like how you address that "no matter your race, same-race discussions can be liberating and are extremely important for the achievement of reaching one's full racial identity." I think you tie everything together really well and the fact that you ended the post with a message to future readers of this book was smart. Nice job!
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