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Foru~ members discuss book, address racial issues
by Kristina Geerken staff writer
Why Are All of the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?
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This was not only the title of a book, but also an important question discussed during a forum sponsored by the Diversity Initiatives Council and the Book Discussion Committee.
The book, written by Beverly Daniel Tatum, Ph.D., addressed issues such as diversity awareness and what it means to be.a person of color.
Every year, the Brown Bag Book Discussion Committee reads approximately four books. After the completion of a book, they gather together to discuss the book and at times, consider the book to be added to the core reading list.
The discussion took place on Thursday, Oct. 21 at 12:30 p.m. in the Grace Hall Board Room. Shirley Dixon, Coordinator of Diversity Initiatives, led the discussion along with Dr. Joseph Romano, who opened the discussion. According to Dixon, the college should have training to better understand students of color. 'We should have training to deal with race issues. Now is the time for a change to have a better understanding of students of color," Dixon said.
According to Sister Mary Louise Sullivan, a history lecturer, identity is something of which to be proud. "We should recog~ identity and be proud to stand tall with that identity. As a Catholic college, we should heed that racism is a sin. We should do what we can to better society," Sullivan said. Topics such as "color-blindness" and ignorance were brought up. Linda Collier, assistant professor of criminal justice, thought that the book opened up a window of understanding and thinking. "We get a different perspective in the book-it reinforces identity, thinking and the environment," Collier said.
Sue Levine, an education teacher, felt that students majoring in education would find the book especially helpful. "I recommend this book to all education majors. They need to be informed of what students need. The book gives us things to think about and gives an understanding of what culturally different children are thinking and what they need from teachers," Levine said.
