"Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?" -- the title of Spelman College President Beverly Daniel Tatum's critically acclaimed book -- was one of the many questions discussed during last night's Dialogues on Race event.
Entitled "Presidents' Perspectives on Integration in Higher Education," the event sought to shed light on racial dynamics both on and off college campuses.
Tatum -- who describes herself as an "integration baby" -- and University President Judith Rodin shared their thoughts with a diverse audience of over 170 students and faculty under the moderation of Graduate School of Education Dean Susan Fuhrman.
"It's my view that we have not had a serious [discussion] on race in America," Rodin said. "These [discussions] provoke fear ... . Silence is easy."
Nonetheless, both speakers stressed that communication is imperative.
"It is very important to sustain dialogue in order to see progress," Tatum said.
Tatum, while acknowledging the progress made since the 1954 U.S. Supreme Court Brown v. Board of Education decision, remained "cognizant of the fact that there's still a lot to do."
The "ABCs" -- affirming identity, building community and cultivating leadership -- was one framework that Tatum proposed to approach racial dynamics.
"It's not possible to build community without opportunities to affirm identity," Tatum said. "If we think of our campus as a collage of photographs where some people find themselves [routinely] missing ... some people don't want to pose for the picture because they don't know if they'll be in the result."
Panel members agreed that efforts to enhance understanding between various racial groups should be continued. However, Tatum added that good intentions must also be accompanied by increaed education efforts on the subject.
The expertise of both presidents in the field of psychology was evident throughout the discussion.
Elaborating on the psychological rationale for stereotypes, Rodin noted the "importance of real [human] contact to overcome the psychological utility of compartmentalizing."
"It's not my job to make you feel safe intellectually because then I'm failing you," Rodin asserted.
The topic of integrating courses on racial dynamics into the curriculum was also broached.
"The question is not whether we have courses [on cultural narratives] but whether we make them required," Rodin said.
Such a requirement would be a significant step, according to Rodin. She remained uncertain, however, if it was the best approach.
Calling on her past experience, Tatum noted students' "active avoidance of the requirement" as diminishing the value of such classes.
In what seemed to be an implicit appeal to the student body, Rodin said that the University lacked a supporting organization similar to Penn's Allies but with a focus on racial -- instead of sexual -- identity and understanding.
Many attendees found the experience worthwhile.
"I think the talk was wonderful and on point," African-American Resource Center staff assistant Afi Heywood said. "I particularly [enjoyed hearing] Dr. Tatum express the ABCs, and I think that's something we can all take to our various organizations."
The Dialogues on Race concept as a whole was also applauded by attendees.
"I thought it was a good initiative for the University," Engineering senior Rudolph Broomes said. "And [the speakers] really seemed to be progressive in dealing with the issue of race on campus."
Rodin saw the discussion as part of an ongoing process.
"It's not the solution," Rodin said. "It's not the beginning ... . [Similar discussions and initiatives are] going to be the way Penn helps itself confront the issue of race both in Penn and in the broader community."
"I'm very proud of us confronting this at Penn," Rodin continued. "It isn't easy."
This event was part of the University's semester-long series focusing on diversity.
