SOUTH ORANGE / MAPLEWOOD, NJ — In honor of the Community Coalition on Race’s 20th Anniversary, the CCR is bringing race relations expert Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum back to the community to revisit the topic about which she spoke to the community nearly 20 years ago. Tatum, a clinical psychologist, professor and recently retired president of Spelman College, is author of “Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?” and “Assimilation Blues: Black Families in a White Community.” She will lead the Conversations on Race forum on Wednesday, May 11, at 7:30 p.m.; location to be announced.
Tatum has led workshops for educators looking at issues of race and racial identities as they manifest themselves in schools and has led workshops and written extensively about racial identity development in teens and its impact in the classroom. In her writing, she argues that straight talk about race is essential and that racism affects everyone.
Tatum was one of the earliest and most popular speakers engaged by the coalition for Conversations on Race. Her writing had a natural tie to the integration efforts in our community and her appearance in the two towns resulted in a community gathering of hundreds of residents.
For nearly 20 years the CCR has engaged the community in discussions about how we face race, how we build relationships across racial and cultural barriers, and how our perceptions of race affect our day-to-day experience in our towns. Conversations on Race is an annual event that serves part of the Community Coalition on Race’s mission to provide residents with opportunities to engage in honest dialog between racial groups.