Post #5

  Blog post #5

Defining Racism Can We Talk ? by Beverly Daniel Tatum  

Argument 

This author Tatum argues that there are still individuals that think racism is of the past. She also argues that by defining racism we can have more productive conversations about racial issues and work towards repairing racial inequalities. She emphasizes that acknowledging racism as a system is crucial for creating a more equitable society. She talks about how important it is to engage in open and honest conversations about race, both in personal and educational settings, to promote understanding.

In the text Tatum talks about how the legacy of racism is not hard to see and we are all affected by it. She highlights the importance of understanding racism as a system of advantage and disadvantage based on race. She talks about that in the context of the United States the System operates to the advantages of whites and Disadvantages of people of color. How many of her White students do not feel powerful. How for some their response would be “I’m not really prejudiced, and I have no power, so racism has nothing to do with me” If they are really honest most White people can see that there are advantages to being white. There was a quote and it  said “However all white people benefit from racism intentionally or unintentionally, but they do not benefit equally.” most don't do it intentionally but it just happens and they benefit whether they want to or not. Disadvantages and benefits may differ from factors like status, age, and gender.

 The author also talks about how the impact of racism begins early. Some are even affected in preschool where we are exposed to misinformations about people that are different from us. She makes an argument about how most of the stereotypes we make don't come from what we have been told, but from what we have not been told. “People of color are equally targeted by racism”.  They will have disadvantages in categories of race, and gender and another will have a disadvantage or advantage in a different category. Tatum emphasizes that racism limits opportunities for people of color in various aspects of life, including education, employment, and housing. The stress, anxiety, and feelings of not being as good as someone else  that racism can generate in people of color.