Examining Racism, Ethnicity, And Self-Identity In The US Through Sociology Essay.

Analysis and Significance

Discuss about the Sociology for Institutions and Employment.

By the definition of racism, Tatum means a variant of advantage that is premised on race and ethnicity. Tatum argues that the white people are not completely against the stated prejudice. However, they held the perspective that the racial advantage entails an easy access to better accommodation, institutions and employment (Gallagher, 2012).  Consequently, racism is a system that entails cultural attributes and institutional policies. It does not emphasize beliefs and practices of individuals. Tatum seeks to explain the concept of ‘blackness’ from the white perspective. His research operates at the interstices of two intervening questions, a) why do the black people consider themselves inferior? b) What is the main tenet of the racism history? Such situation is not normal in the American society. The writings of Tatum unravels that the ‘Blacks’ are often misconstrued and exploited. They witnessed severe repercussions in the society. The author formulated various phases such as childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. In these three distinct phases, the black people outline and form their self-identity. At the same time, she gave pragmatic suggestions that explain the influence of parents shaping the thoughts of children in the initial age (Gallagher 2012).   At the other end of the spectrum, Tatum moved on to the extreme angle. He held that whiteness influenced the scene. She went on to explain that American society consider the white people “the typical thing”. She argues that Whites should embrace their ‘whiteness’ and develop an effective and positive self-image that entails no inferiority. The whites should abolish the inner conflict and individual racism. At the same time, they should have the cognizance of the institutional and cultural racism.

Tatum opines that one should show willingness to examine elements of racial identity. She argues that the skin complexion is not the main criterion to determine the issues of racism. One has to understand the determinant of racism (McIntosh, 1998). Through this knowledge, the vicious cycle of racism would be apparent and the populace would tide over the crises (Gallagher 2012). Tatum deduces that it is not erroneous that the minority groups lived with their ethnic unit. The minorities could live with the ethnic units, in a sense they can achieve an effective self-esteem and empowerment. Minority groups, especially black students should go through a calibrated process of establishing and maintaining their racial identity. They can sustain their racial identity by shunning the negative clichés that affected the essence of the Africa-America society.  At the same time, the whites should understand that they have to work in unison with the Black people to battle against the existing injustices. The white skin color is not the determinant of survival and prosperity of the human civilization. It would break the fabric of the civilization, if the experts highlight the skin color.

The book is a mandatory reading for those, who do not believe the existence of racism in the United States. The book consists of some riveting arguments and illustrations of corporate racism that we have countenanced. Tatum emphasized the fact that the society should have a corporate disposition to maintain the presence of racism in the society. The matter of racism is administered in a systematic and corporate way. Therefore, one has to address the case of racism in a systematic and corporate way. The book unfurls a competitive introduction to those, who have no conception of the systematic and corporate racism that is pervasive in America. At the same time, the work of Tatum does not represent a critique of the White audience of America. However, it throws a gauntlet to the white populace (Rose, 1967). 

The Implication of Quotations

The book is a compulsory perusal for those who are operating in a multi-cultural set up. It deals with the element of racism. At the same time, it deliberates on the matter of ethnicity and conceptualization of self-identity and perception of racism. It emphasizes the issues of racism for both the major and minor ethnic groups. The book manifests a challenging concept that gives the reader a scope to understand the importance of racism in the recent perspective. At the same time, the author tries to address the questions in varied ways. She maintains the ‘racial identity’ of every individual and the ethnic groups.  The book, penned down by Tatum, profoundly influenced the passion and the research concerns of the concept (Singham, 1998).  

The book unfurls a titillating epithet “why are all the Black Kids sitting together in the cafeteria?” The title explains the racial presentiment that the book manifests from the beginning. It stirred an interesting situation that elucidates the precepts of the racial identity and ethnicity. Tatum opines that one should show willingness to examine elements of racial identity. She argues that the skin complexion is not the main criterion to determine the issues of racism. One has to understand the determinant of racism. Through this knowledge, the vicious cycle of racism would be apparent and the populace would tide over the crises. The writings of Tatum unravels that the ‘Blacks’ are often misconstrued and exploited. They witnessed severe repercussions in the society. The author formulated various phases such as childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. In these three distinct phases, the black people outline and form their self-identity.

At the same time, she gave pragmatic suggestions that explain the influence of parents shaping the thoughts of children in the initial age.  The book shows that the people of color learn from their beginning the characteristics of a certain group. They should understand that they are deemed as people belonging to a certain group. For an instance, people of whites maintain the respective legacy of the community (Tatum, 2005).

The main thrust of the book is to understand the dynamic of the white and color people relations. The adults of varied categories, both white and color, show their reluctance about the matter of racism. They could not clarify the doubts of their children, as far as the racial identity is concerned. They think that this matter would spawn a obnoxious feeling in children. The parents do not want to create color consciousness among their children. The matter of racism is acerbic and brutally sentiment. Through the research and educational parameters, she aims to give answers to the questions that the world posited. The author clarifies the doubts regarding the racial premise, through the heated discourse. She maintains that racism is not a prejudice alone. It is conceived as a stated opinion that influences the sentiment of the populace.

Racism is the focal point of the book. A system entails cultural codes and institutional practices rampant in a society. Many scholars believe that racism is a queer mix of prejudice and power. The scholars claim that if prejudice is combined with power, then it gains an easy access to social, cultural and economic resources. The tool of decision-making might lead to the conceptualization of racist policies and practices (Tatum, 2005).

Inner Core and its Relevance

Dr. Tatum opines that the definition of “racism” involves a mechanism of advantage that is based on race. The writing of Tatum spawns an uneasy feeling for those who have comprehended the myth that racism is a variant of prejudice. The book has amazingly busted the myth. The book supported the new definition that postulates the idea of “white privilege” and power. The book gives a new insight to the concept of racism and racial identity.

Tatum deduces that it is not erroneous that the minority groups lived with their ethnic unit. The minorities could live within the ethnic units, in a sense they aim to achieve an effective self-esteem and empowerment. Minority groups, especially black students should go through a calibrated process of establishing and maintaining their racial identity. They can sustain their racial identity by shunning the negative clichés that affected the essence of the Africa-America Society. At the same time, the whites should understand that they have to work in unison with the Black people to battle against the existing injustices. The white skin color is not the determinant of survival and prosperity of the human civilization. It would break the fabric of the civilization, if the experts highlight the skin color (Tatum, 2005). 

The book is a mandatory reading for those, who do not believe the existence of racism in the United States. The book consists of some riveting arguments and illustrations of corporate racism that we have countenanced. Tatum emphasized the fact that the society should have a corporate disposition to maintain the presence of racism in the society. The matter of racism is administered in a systematic and corporate way. Therefore, one has to address the case of racism in a systematic and corporate way. The book unfurls a competitive introduction to those, who have no conception of the systematic and corporate racism that is pervasive in America. At the same time, the work of Tatum does not represent a critique of the White audience of America. However, it throws a gauntlet to the white populace (Sethi, 2007).

Conclusion

The book is a compulsory perusal for those who are operating in a multi-cultural set up. It deals with the element of racism. At the same time, it deliberates on the matter of ethnicity and conceptualization of self-identity and perception of racism. It emphasizes the issues of racism for both the major and minor ethnic groups. The book manifests a challenging concept that gives the reader a scope to understand the importance of racism in the recent perspective. At the same time, the author tries to address the questions in varied ways. She maintains the ‘racial identity’ of every individual and the ethnic groups.  The book, penned down by Tatum, profoundly influenced the passion and the research concerns of the concept. 

Reference

Ferber, A. L. (2001). What white supremacists taught a Jewish scholar about identity. Race, class,   and gender: An anthology, 115.

Gallagher, C. A. (2012). Rethinking the color line: Readings in race and ethnicity. McGraw-Hill.

Jacques, M. (2003). The global hierarchy of race. The Guardian, 20(09), 2003.                              

McIntosh, P. (1998). White privilege. Race, class and gender: An anthology,, 94-105.

Rose, A. M. (1967). The power structure: Political process in American society (Vol. 194). Oxford University Press.

Sethi, R. C. (2007). Smells like racism. Race, class, and gender in the United States, 143-152.

Singham, M. (1998). The canary in the mine. Phi Delta Kappan, 80(1), 8.

Tatum, B. D. (2005). Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?. A Psychologist Explains the Development of Racial Identity.