Sam Strives For 55 - Week Eighteen

Here is week 18 of Sam's reading journey, the metrics and first week can be found here

Why Are All The Black Kids Sitting Together In The Cafeteria? by Beverly Daniel Tatum

1. Intrigue 
   1. Anyone who wants further insight into how division by _____ social category starts and stays in current day society needs to read this book. 
   2. It is on all of us to understand the different perspectives of those around us. This book cannot hurt, only help. 
2. Writing style: 
   1. Plain and easy to read. THe organization of this book is wonderful. 
   2. Juicy quotes:
      1. “It is important to understand that the system of advantage is perpetuated when we do not acknowledge its existence.” 
      2. “For many people of color, learning to break the silence is a survival issue. To remain silent would be to disconnect from her own experience, to swallow and internalize her own oppression.The cost of silence is too high.”
3. Flow of Storytelling:
   1. Each chapter is so succinct, and to the point. There’s no real room for confusion if you are at all familiar with sociology. 
   2. However this book does not escape the curse of most work like it. It bogs down in places where research has to be heavily explained. While exceptionally important, this book doesn’t navigate the tricky waters of research that flows with ease. 
4. Re-readability 
   1. Yes. Please do. We should all be up to date with this. 
5. TESS 
   1. Does not qualify.

Final rating: Final Rating: ★★★★

​J. Sam Williams is an illustrious black-tailed hawk, longing to eat as many vegan mice as possible. In his human form, he is a High School English Teacher in the San Francisco Bay Area, where he lives with his wife, one dog and two cats. A somewhat retired breakdancing teacher, he is now a co-host on the Alohomora Podcast! He has been published on Lunch Ticket, immix: a journal for justice, Mugglenet, and a slew of small sports journalism publications. You can find him on twitter @Jabbernator.