Why do students segregate themselves in school?

Question

I go to a high school with over 4000 students. We are very diverse and we have students from all over the world. During classes and in the hallways, you see students of different races talking together and you can tell they are good friends.
However, you walk into our huge cafeteria, and toward the back are the whites, to one side are the asians, to another side are the hispanics, to one end are the blacks...and so forth.
Why do you think this is?

Some of you have given interesting answers, some of you keep saying that you don't do that. But the question was for your opinion, not whether or not you segregate yourself.
I'll let the people pick a best answer. Thanks for all who gave their opinion. :)

Answer 1

It's interesting that you ask, because I read a book in college for my psychology minor that addressed this and other related questions about race. Ironically enough, the book is called "'Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?' And Other Conversations About Race" by Beverly Daniel Tatum, Ph.D. It's a very insightful book that I recommend to anybody who's interested in race and race issues.

The short answer to this question is that many people of color feel more comfortable with others who are like them. To elaborate, the author has this to say (which in this particular section of the book focuses on Black adolescent development, but can presumably can be applied to all minority adolescents):

"One thing that happens [that causes racial grouping] is puberty. As children enter adolescence, they begin to explore the question of identity, asking "Who am I? Who can I be?" in ways they have not done before. For Black youth, asking "Who am I?" includes thinking about "Who am I ethnically and/or racially? What does it mean to be Black?"...

Why do Black youths, in particular, think about themselves in terms of race? Because that is how the rest of the world thinks of them. Our self-perceptions are shaped by the messages that we receive from those around us, and when young Black men and women enter adolescence, the racial content of those messages intensifies."

The author then goes on to describe how experiences with racism are part of the cause of this so-called self-segregation. She gives the following example and then proceeds to make her point:

"...a young Black woman attending a desegregated school to which she was bussed was encouraged by a teacher to attend the upcoming school dance. Most of the Black students did not live in the neighborhood and seldom attended the extracurricular activities. The young woman indicated that she wasn't planning to come. The well-intentioned teacher was persistent. Finally the teacher said, 'Oh come on, I know you people love to dance.'"

"...Imagine the young eighth-grade girl who experienced the teacher's use of "you people" and the dancing stereotype as a racial affront. Upset and struggling with adolescent embarrassment, she bumps into a White friend who can see that something is wrong. She explains. Her White friend responds, in an effort to make her feel better perhaps, and says, "Oh, Mr. Smith is such a nice guy, I'm sure he didn't mean it like that. Don't be so sensitive." Perhaps the White friend is right, and Mr. Smith didn't mean it, but imagine your own response when you are upset, perhaps with a spouse or partner. He or she asks what's wrong and you explain why you are offended. Your partner brushes off your complaint, attributing it to your being oversensitive. What happens to your emotional thermostat? It escalates. When feelings, rational or irrational, are invalidated, most people disengage. They not only choose to discontinue the conversation but are more likely to turn to someone who will understand their perspective.

...Not only are Black adolescents encountering racism and reflecting on their identity, but their White peers, even when they are not the perpetrators (and sometimes they are), are unprepared to respond in supportive ways. The Black students turn to each other for the much needed support they are not likely to find anywhere else."

Hope this answer helps. :)

Answer 2

This is a good question. There really isn't a definitive answer to this, but there is an open dialog about it. I suggest you read the book " Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? And Other Conversations About Race"
by Beverly Daniel Tatum, PHD. You can find it on amazon.com. I hope that I have helped.

The Equality Coalition of North Carolina
Equalitycoalitionnc.org

Answer 3

Oh wow do you go to a high school in nyc? I go to cardozo, and its similar except for my table which is more diverse. I admit that at first students tend to introduce themselves to people of their race, you look around and anyone sitting with a diverse group of friends was probably bold enough to break the ice like i did. And somehow in classes its more mixed, but when it comes to lunch, people sometimes feel more comfortable being with their own race, not so much me, i like being with many kinds of people.

Answer 4

I didn't do that when I was in High School...and I like people of all types of races/cultures. I hope this is really a troll question, if not don't hate white people as a whole because of some white people who are rude,racist,etc.

Answer 5

Most people in high school are still pretty insecure. They feel safer with their own "ethnicity" if you will, even if they don't actually like the people in their group.
Most well adapted kids will grow out of it in college or at work and meet and make friends with people of differing backgrounds.
Cheers.

Answer 6

my school is like that too
hallways people hang out with friends but lunch time there's this specific area where each ethnicity hangs out or something. i don't know really
but it's pretty sad :) i have lots of diverse friends and i think our school should be more open minded but then again. it's their life

Answer 7

It has to do with comfort. No one likes being conspicuous, so they avoid being the minority in certain given situations, be it about gender, race, personality, mode of dress, whatever--you tend to stick with people that seem more like you even if its superficial.

Answer 8

it was the same at my school. there were plenty of "groups" that had many people of different backgrounds and there were those that only wanted to associate with their own. it's just the way some people are. they like the group mentality.

Answer 9

I personally don't know but I think it's natural 'coz it can be observed everywhere where there are different races. Same story in Europe, Scandinavia, everywhere.

Answer 10

Because (some) kids often feel more comfortable with their own race/ethnicity.

I sit with everyone. I don't care.