Homework 1: Social Work Identities Journal
All of the generalist courses have a journal homework assignment: Social Work Identities. In the Community Theory and Practice course, the focus will be on race and racism. We are asking you to assess your awareness and insights for yourself. Based on the conversations in the classroom, asynchronous activities, and your readings for class, reflect on how race interacts with other aspects of identity (age, religion, gender, sexual identity expression, sexual orientation, class/SES, abilities). In addition, we will ask you to reflect on the ways race impacts engaging, assessing, and intervening with communities.
Write 3-5 double spaced, typewritten pages for your journal entry. Please use the headings provided below to structure your entry – focus on answering the bulleted questions. Your journal entry should be structured as follows:
1. Social Work Reflection: Each of us has a relationship to power that shifts depending on the communities and contexts in which we are operating. This relationship affects what behaviors we see as normal, what knowledge we see as valid, and more.
How do others describe your racial identity, and is it different from how you see yourself?
2. Racism in America: Reflect on how you have seen race and racism create privilege or oppression, and how it interacts with other aspects of identity. Consider ways that different races are treated differentially in the United States (and your country of origin if it is not the United States). Reflect on racism in the United States and globally; and how relationships and group dynamics in both direct and community practice are impacted by racism and microaggressions. One of the key points made by Tatum (2013) is: “Prejudice is one of the
inescapable consequences of living in a racist societythe cultural images and messages that affirm the assumed superiority of Whites and the assumed inferiority of people of color is like smog in the air.” Looking more at systems, Lawrence, et. al. write, “Many of the contours of opportunity for individuals and groups in the United States are defined-or “structured”-by race and racism. The term structural racism refers to a system in which linked public policies, institutional practices, cultural representations, and other norms often reinforce the perpetuation of racial group inequity. It identifies dimensions of our history and culture that have allowed privileges associated with whiteness” and disadvantages associated with “color” to endure and adapt over time.”
Which one of these quotes and their critique of racism resonates more for you at this point in time?
From your experience how do you see relationship dynamics (i.e. Tatum) and structures and systems (i.e. Lawrence et al.) reinforce a dehumanizing approach, even among well-intentioned individuals?
3. Race and Community Theory and Practice: What insights do you have about how race may impact engaging, assessing, and intervening with communities, both positively and negatively. Consider the possibilities of how shared racial identity may potentially positively and negatively impact these processes; and how different racial identities may potentially positively and negatively impact these processes.
Reflect on and describe the impact that your perceived racial identity and position has on your experience of the community you are interacting with in your assessment assignment. What role do privilege and racial oppression play and how have they been addressed?
What alternative methods might a social worker use to prevent this from happening?
How do you deal with clients attitudes about race that may be different from your own?
