Anti-Racist Social Work Practice
In the wake of the murder of George Floyd, the Black Lives Matter movement, and the rise of anti-Asian sentiment, many organizations and institutions have posted anti-racist statements on their websites. The statements typically condemn racism and describe the ways in which the organization is combatting racism and working toward allyship with communities of color. Walden University, the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), and regional NASW chapters have all issued statements.
But what might anti-racism look like for a single social worker? How would you convey your commitment to social justice and your professional beliefs and values? For this week’s second Discussion, you draft your own personal statement of anti-racist social work practice.
To Prepare
Review the Learning Resources on racism and on the principles of anti-racist practice and social justice.
Read and reflect on the sample anti-racist statements from educational institutions and organizations in the Learning Resources.
Sample Solution
With the rise of viral videos displaying police brutality and other racial injustices, people across the country are being forced to confront the reality of systemic racism and are committing to the work of dismantling white supremacy. Anti-racism is a process of actively identifying and combating racism. Anti-racism requires ongoing action. The goal is to become aware of racism in all its form and actively change the beliefs, behaviors and policies that perpetuate racist ideas and actions in individuals, institutions and systems in order to create an equal society. Using the social work micro-mezzo-macro framework, people can identify activities, behaviors and learning opportunities at each level of society that can be used to dismantle racism: individual growth, group interactions and large-scale systems or policies.
