Hello readers, and welcome back to my AP Language blog where I discuss Beverly Daniel Tatum, PhD.'s Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? This time, I'll be talking about Part III of the book, and how some of what she writes relates to more current events.
First, though, I'd like to start by addressing some things I said in "Part II". I wrote in that post mostly about the things of that section that I didn't agree with, and poked holes in what Tatum was trying to say. However, having had time to think about it more, and having reread my own post, I'd like to change my opinion a little. While I still don't necessarily agree about the degree to which children are concerned about race, and while I still think that most kids don't care, I admit that I was thinking from my White perspective, not Tatum's Black one. To clarify, she is Black, and therefore grew up a Black child, whereas I grew up a White child, and we obviously had very different experiences. So, while to me, her little chat with the other kid seemed silly and like nothing, to her it was likely a significant, eye-opening time in her life that made her more aware of her own race. And, now that I've thought about this more, I'm more aware of my own Whiteness and how it has sort of clouded my thinking. I just assumed that whatever I went through racially as a kid was like whatever any other kid went through, when in reality, every kid has different race-related experiences and deals with them differently. All in all, I've definitely been thinking more open-mindedly (I think I just made up that word?) about how my own race has affected my life thus far, evidently without me even realizing it.
So, on to Part III! In general, I liked this section because it was mostly about how people come to terms with race, what it means to be a certain race, and how to deal with realizations like that when you come to them. Tatum talked a lot about White people realizing what it really means to be White, and different ways to help yourself think more deeply about race.
The main reference to a more current event that I noted was a little blurb about the shooting of Philando Castile, a thirty-two year old man shot in 2016 by a police officer in Minnesota. Tatum writes,
I think that Tatum mentioning this specific event is really important because this is one of the more well-known instances of a White policeman shooting a Black person for, as is debated, "no reason". (I say this in quotation marks because I wasn't there for any of them, there are two sides to every story, and I'm sure that both the officers involved and the victims thought they were doing the right thing). But watching the video, seeing it on the news, reading about it, anything...it's all very shocking and makes you feel for the people even though you don't know them. It made me, personally, want to do something about it. As said by Jill Robbins, a "White female blogger" (190),
All in all, this section was a racially awakening one for me. Though I still disagree with some things Tatum has said, she has helped me open my eyes to my own Whiteness, and without reading this book it would've taken me much longer to realize the difference between me getting pulled over and a Black person getting pulled over (though that isn't the only lesson I learned in Part III, it was the one I spent most of my time pondering).
Thank you for reading, and stay tuned for "Part IV"!
First, though, I'd like to start by addressing some things I said in "Part II". I wrote in that post mostly about the things of that section that I didn't agree with, and poked holes in what Tatum was trying to say. However, having had time to think about it more, and having reread my own post, I'd like to change my opinion a little. While I still don't necessarily agree about the degree to which children are concerned about race, and while I still think that most kids don't care, I admit that I was thinking from my White perspective, not Tatum's Black one. To clarify, she is Black, and therefore grew up a Black child, whereas I grew up a White child, and we obviously had very different experiences. So, while to me, her little chat with the other kid seemed silly and like nothing, to her it was likely a significant, eye-opening time in her life that made her more aware of her own race. And, now that I've thought about this more, I'm more aware of my own Whiteness and how it has sort of clouded my thinking. I just assumed that whatever I went through racially as a kid was like whatever any other kid went through, when in reality, every kid has different race-related experiences and deals with them differently. All in all, I've definitely been thinking more open-mindedly (I think I just made up that word?) about how my own race has affected my life thus far, evidently without me even realizing it.
So, on to Part III! In general, I liked this section because it was mostly about how people come to terms with race, what it means to be a certain race, and how to deal with realizations like that when you come to them. Tatum talked a lot about White people realizing what it really means to be White, and different ways to help yourself think more deeply about race.
The main reference to a more current event that I noted was a little blurb about the shooting of Philando Castile, a thirty-two year old man shot in 2016 by a police officer in Minnesota. Tatum writes,
...disintegration may result from seeing racial incidents captured on video...of the shooting of Philando Castile...the visual image of Philando Castile slumped and bleeding in his car while his girlfriend tries to make sense of what just happened and her four-year-old daughter sits in the backseat is hard to explain away... (190).Tatum's description of the video is...accurate, to say the least. It's pretty disturbing to watch, not because it's graphic (although it is a little-it shows Castile bleeding), but because of how quick the policeman was to assume that Castile was reaching for his gun and decided to shoot him (more than once!) in front of his family. I mean, what? I know our society has been dealing with all kinds of sick things like this recently, but this particular one just really hits hard. Here's the link to the video, in case any of you want to watch it (WARNING: THERE ARE SOME SWEARS TOWARDS THE END OF THE VIDEO): Castile Shooting. In case you don't want to watch it, here's the gist of it: Castile is pulled over with his girlfriend and her young daughter in the car, and the officer explains to him that he has a taillight out. He asks for Castile's papers, and Castile tells the officer that he does have a firearm (because you are required in some states to let them know, and in general it's just nice to tell them). The officer repeatedly says, "Don't reach for it [the gun]". The next thing you see is the officer (Jeronimo Yanez) shoot rapidly into the car, and then it switches to the girlfriend's personal video (the first part was from the officer's dash cam). It shows her freaking out, trying to figure out what happened, and then she pans to her dying boyfriend, slumped in the seat and bleeding out through his bright white shirt. Back to the dash cam, the ambulance arrives, and Yanez hysterically tells the paramedics what happened (while uttering some cuss words-watch at your own risk!).
I think that Tatum mentioning this specific event is really important because this is one of the more well-known instances of a White policeman shooting a Black person for, as is debated, "no reason". (I say this in quotation marks because I wasn't there for any of them, there are two sides to every story, and I'm sure that both the officers involved and the victims thought they were doing the right thing). But watching the video, seeing it on the news, reading about it, anything...it's all very shocking and makes you feel for the people even though you don't know them. It made me, personally, want to do something about it. As said by Jill Robbins, a "White female blogger" (190),
If I look into my rearview mirror and see flashing red lights, I'm not afraid. I'll probably have an "oh [crap]" moment but I have zero fear that I'll be harmed or even harassed by a police officer...I don't know what it's like to be hunted or profiled. And that right there is white privilege. It's the knowledge that being a victim of police brutality is probably never going to happen to me...A man I don't know who died two days before his 33rd birthday [Castile] has had such a profound impact on me. I don't know if walking away less tunnel-visioned here in my white, suburban bubble means anything to anyone else but it means something to me. (190).I don't think I could put my own thoughts into words any better than Robbins did. I obviously didn't know Mr. Castile either, but seeing that on the news and watching that video had a huge impact on my thoughts and just how privileged I am. Allow me to add a petite anecdote about the first (and only!) time I got pulled over, before I even had my license. I was driving with my mom the day before my sixteenth birthday, and I was going down a hill in a forty mph zone. I ended up hitting forty-seven mph, and I got pulled over. When the officer got to my window, he was so sweet once he saw that I was a kid. He asked how old I was, and if I had my license yet-to which my mom quickly replied, "Tomorrow's her sixteenth birthday, sir!"-and then to see my mom's papers. After doing whatever they do when they take your stuff back to their cars, he came back and all he said was, "Drive safe, and happy birthday." He winked at me and walked back to his car, and that was it. And I was scared out of my mind, I can't even imagine constantly thinking while driving that not only could I be pulled over, but I could also be harassed or even shot! I simply can't wrap my mind around what that must be like.
All in all, this section was a racially awakening one for me. Though I still disagree with some things Tatum has said, she has helped me open my eyes to my own Whiteness, and without reading this book it would've taken me much longer to realize the difference between me getting pulled over and a Black person getting pulled over (though that isn't the only lesson I learned in Part III, it was the one I spent most of my time pondering).
Thank you for reading, and stay tuned for "Part IV"!
Hello Porter,
ReplyDeleteIt is very interesting to see that your opinions have changed after reflecting on the book more, I definitely believe that reflects deeper thinking. As someone who has become a little judgemental about some of the arguments that Tatum makes in this book, I would like to thank you for the reminder that she has had very different life experiences and so her opinions and beliefs are not wrong, but different. For one of the key passages you have, it is written by a White woman and her experience with the police. Why do you think Tatum chose to include that passage?
Hi Lily,
DeleteThank you! I think she chose to include the White woman's blog post to show how effective an event like that is for not only the Black community, but for everyone. I also think it is an example of how there are antiracist Whites who try and take a stand, like Tatum talked about earlier in the section.
Side note-if you remember your previous comment on a post of mine, you asked me if I thought she'd address the smog thing again...Well, I don't know if you noticed, but she did! You called it!
Hi Porter,
ReplyDeleteI thought this blog post was really thoughtful and well-written. I really liked how you shared an anecdote of your own. It served as a great comparison of how cops treat people differently. I've never been pulled over by a cop (yet) but just the thought of it intimidates me. As you said, I can't imagine constantly fearing cops.
When I read your anecdote, it reminded me of something I read in The Hate You Give by Angie Thomas. In the book, the main character Starr, a black girl, is given the "cop talk" by her dad, "'Starr, you do whatever they tell you to do," he said. "Keep your hands visible. Don't make any sudden moves. Only speak when they speak to you'". I think this really illustrates the different experiences black people have with cops. It's disappointing to think that because of someone's race they have to act differently in front of cops.
One more thing, I looked up the word open-mindedly and according to the Oxford dictionary and Merriam-Webster dictionary, it is a word!
Maxine Asmussen
Maxine,
DeleteThank you! I also read The Hate U Give, and I was thinking about that when I wrote this post. Glad you caught that!
Hi Porter!
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed your blog. I really loved how you went back to your previous blog, thought about it once again, and told us your changed opinion. I think it is really easy to think from a perspective where we stand, personally, as each person but even for me too, I think recently, I've been trying to understand why certain people would act in a certain way due to their race.
Also, I really loved reading your anecdote. It definitely helped me to visualize the comparison you were trying to make and in a way, I think it is upsetting to see how different people are treated differently, even when they are pulled over. Your blog certainly catches draws my attention and I could not stop reading it!!
Excited to see what this book has for you for the last few chapters!
Great post, Porter. You've incorporated your own voice and style, while still reflecting on the book and its content.
ReplyDelete