Breaking the Silence

This is an awesome video to watch for some reason the talk does pull up as a youtube video, but this link will follow it. The book addressing the anxiety of talking about race. It is interesting looking at her book in contrast to Konzol's book. Watching both speak, it appears to be a world of difference. She gears her talks on conversation. I don't want to harpened to much on how much I didn't like Kozol, but his book seems to a cry for action. However, the use of divisive language (especially partisan division) in many ways seems to be a form of prejudiced itself. As an Ivy League graduate Kozol seems to have this extreme desire to distance himself from the stereotype he is criticizing. In contrast Tatum, honesty about the the questions of races allows the reader to feel comfortable and MOTIVATED to talk about race.
CSPAN book talk



The title of Tatum's book calls into question if we are able to talk about race. It is an interesting question to pose to a group of graduating college students. Forcing us to acknowledge racism and the role race plays in our daily lives. In a "diversity" friendly town like Asheville; the number of times I have heard in my 'diversity' intensive class the phase "I just don't see color." I wish I could have pulled out Tatum's book at the time. The phase always rubs me the wrong way; of course you don't see race...typically (when i have heard it )this phrase comes from a white individual. Being multi-ethnic, I am constantly being asked what I am...the majority of the times it is just curiosity or a desire to understand me. Now studying Chicana art and feminism (whew not a phrase you just through around at the bar) I am learning and beginning to understand the role race plays in my life. I guess you could say I am in the immersion stage on the cusp of internalization. Tatum's book connected very much with me, especially the section on Identity Development in Multiracial Families.

Tatum's definition of racism defines it as a system of advantage. Tatum admits defining racism as a term less connected to human emotion and more to the power and a system makes many uncomfortable. Forcing the white majority to acknowledge a place of "white privilege." With the question of why are all the black kids sitting together, Tatum forces the reader to first looking at their position and white privilege. Following her definition of racism, it would appear to me that in a limited class setting (being completely honest) talking about racism would primarily revolve around the question if this idea of "white privilege" still holds true. The majority of the class could only speak to case where racism was observed not experienced. I can see how this could be challenging to accept. Tatum's definition of racism places the conflict on white privilege as much as prejudice. In the end Tatum concludes that all the black kids are sitting together to as a stance against all thing white, however, though the comradeship is positive there are negatives to this coping strategy. (I also like what Tatum said about race as a circular experience that changes in non linear ways). Tatum feels like the best way to approach racism is to acknowledge and most importantly begin a dialogue about race.