Argument for Identity Exploration

Through the first half of the book, it has become very clear that identity is a central part of Beverly Daniel Tatum’s discussion of race and race relations. How people carry themselves and interact is usually central to their own identity, she argues, writing, “when we see strong, mutually respectful relationships between people of color and Whites, we are usually looking at the tangible results of both people’s identity processes” (208). An identity process is a long period of exploration of one’s race as it relates to one’s identity. This exploration can extend into culture and the impact of racism on the individual and the individual’s environment. While she writes that the process is not always linear, Tatum describes the identity process by breaking it down into four “statuses:” diffuse, foreclose, moratorium, and achieved (132).


Diffuse is “a state in which there has been little exploration or active consideration of a particular domain, and no psychological commitment” (132). For a person in this stage, their race has not become a definite part of their identity and they have not yet begun to consider the implications of their race. Foreclosed is “a state in which commitment has been made to particular roles or belief systems, often those selected by parents, without actively considering alternatives” (132). Exploration of race has begun but perhaps has been initiated by parents/guardians. Moratorium is “a state of active exploration of roles and beliefs in which no commitment has yet been made” (132). The person moves away from pre-defined concepts and begins to find their own meaning. Achieved is “a state of strong personal commitment to a particular dimension of identity following a period of high exploration” (132). A person in this stage will continue to explore their identity but has made a long-lasting commitment to their identity.


This all may sound very abstract and exhausting, but Tatum explains each piece of the racial identity development system with examples from real life, using stories from her own life and instances that she has witnessed along with facts and statistics. She quotes one young black man, who recounts some of the “phases” he went through. His first phase was, in middle school, “being cool, doing whatever was particularly cool for Black people at the time” (150). This shows the moratorium stage. He is exploring the racial aspect of his identity in a way encouraged by others; if not his parents, his peers. His second phase, in high school, was avoidance of all “stereotypically black things” because he felt that “being Black was basically all stereotypes” (150). This shows foreclosure. He rejected the definition of race put forth by his environment and attempted to find his own definition. His third and final phase was, in college, the realization that “being Black means a variety of things” (150). This shows that he has moved into achieved—a deeper understanding and commitment to his identity and will hopefully be followed by more discovery. This single example shows how the identity process can be seen in real life and has a positive impact on a person.


Additionally, Tatum shows why the exploration of such an identity and the support of a relatable peer group is so important. Racial discrimination, she writes, is found to be linked to “depressive symptoms, anxiety, lower academic motivation, and increased problem behavior” (142). The “black lunch table” understands this racial journey of discovery and also the racial discrimination other Blacks go through. White people can become defensive when black people form groups, sometimes labeling it “self-segregation.” Tatum explains that “ black students turn to each other for the much-needed support they are not likely to find anywhere else” (142). Throughout the book, Tatum goes over the multitudes of questions white people might have about racism and answers them with careful and practical explanations. Thanks to her life experience as a black woman, a psychologist, and her experience teaching workshops on race to white people, it seems Tatum has an answer to every question, even, “why are all the black kids sitting together?”