The anti-racist social worker : stories of activism by social care and allied health professionals / edited by Tanya Moore and Glory Simango.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Moore, Tanya, editor.

Simango, Glory, editor.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Anti-racism.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (xvii, 154 pages) : illustrations.

Place of Publication:

St Albans : Critical Publishing, [2021]

Summary:

This is the story of an anti-racist campaign staged by social workers and allied health professionals which encourages readers to consider their own possibilities for anti-racist action. The murder of George Floyd in May 2020 and subsequent expression of anger, frustration and grief at the continued existence of racism led to more sophisticated and honest conversations about racism and its impact. Social work also started to recognise its own problem with racist systems and its failure as a profession that strives for social justice to have addressed this in any meaningful way. The Anti-Racist Social Worker describe a successful campaign of anti-racist direct action that was staged by a small group of social workers and occupational therapists. The opening chapter tells the story of the campaign from the coming together of the campaign group to the concluding day of action. Subsequent chapters are written by campaign members at different stages of their career, from student social worker to Chief Social Worker for England. Each describes journeys to and stories of anti-racist activism. These stories are about either the writers’ experiences of racism and how this translated into action or their growing understanding of the impact of racism and subsequent decision to take personal action. Importantly, each chapter offers a personal case study and therefore a suggestion of individual anti-racist action that can be taken by social workers. The Anti-Racist Social Worker is a call for action told through individual stories. It shows how those in social care and allied health professions can contribute in a meaningful way to the creation of the change we need and encourages everyone to consider their own roles in dismantling racism.

Contents:

Cover

Half-title

Series information

Title page

Copyright information

Dedication

Social Workers Without Borders

Table of contents

Meet the storytellers

Foreword

Introduction

Chapter 1 Mentoring for Inclusion

Glory

Mentoring for Inclusion

Tanya

The mentoring relationship

Chapter 2 SWAction21

Establishing SWAction21

Anti-racism is a verb not a noun

Anti-racist action plan

Difficulties

The webinar

The final days of action

References

Chapter 3 The road to activism

What does student activism mean to you?

Diana

Omar

What prompted you to become student activists?

What were your first steps into taking direct action?

What sort of reaction did you find?

You are busy, studying to be social workers but also juggling busy lives outside of university. How do you fit activism into your schedule?

What are the highlights of your journey into activism?

What are the challenges of becoming student activists?

What sort of impact do you think your actions may have had?

What does self-care mean to you as activists? What would you say to others about looking after themselves while maintaining their role as activists?

What tips can you offer to students who are thinking about their own activism?

Chapter 4 Activism in academia

Simply existing

Nowhere to hide

If you're born Black, you're on fire

Black academic social work activism: a model for reparation

Chapter 5 Becoming an anti-racist ally

Non-racist or anti-racist?

Understanding my privilege

Anti-racist or non-racist?.

Moving from non-racist to anti-racist

Being uncomfortable

Silence is complicity

Silence is part of and contributing to the problem

Learning how to be an authentic ally

So, what are you going to do about it?

My pledge to anti-racist action

Suggestions for further reading

Chapter 6 Rewiring my racist brain: a life's work

My (brief) biography

Stories from my history

Calling for the imaginary search party - exposing the invisible

Mending the fruit machine - embodying anti-racism

Developing the internal working model of a superhero

Professional positioning: social work supervision and leadership

Learning to be curious, critical and courageous

My pledge

Chapter 7 Anti-racist action in practice: the Romani and Traveller perspective

Background

A journey back in time

Gypsy, Roma and Traveller

What's in a name?

Anti-racist activism in social work

A radical ambition?

Find out more

Conclusion

Chapter 8 'If not now, when?' On Jewishness and challenging anti-semitism

Anti-semitism as racism

Being Jewish

Responses to growing anti-semitism

Actions to challenge

Who are Jewish people?

Challenging anti-semitism

Intergenerational trauma and the need to look outwards

Learning from action

Resources

Chapter 9 Dialogues on race in communities of practice

What is a community of practice?

Why were communities of practice set up?

Why are communities of practice a good forum for discussions about race?

Our individual stories

Marie

Lydia

Our experiences of the community of practice

Motivations and expectations

The ethos of the group

What has it meant to us to be part of the community of practice?

Reference.

Chapter 10 Moving forward together: developing an anti-racist social work team

Before we start

Our story

The project

The detail

The process

Group charter

What didn't go well

What now?

Chapter 11 'Let's talk about race'

Race and racism in my life

Race and social work

The murder of George Floyd

The organisational response

My response to the organisation

'Let's talk about race'

Chapter 12 Creation of an anti-racist organisation in social care

Chi

Introduction to social care

A different culture

Co-chair of Diversity and Inclusion Board

Effective dialogue

Growth and confidence

Initiating conversation

Moving forward

Liz

How it was

How it is now

Early beginnings

Unwelcome catalysts

Leadership and why we are doing this

Developing our action plan: the steps we have taken

Workshops

Survey

Action

The future

Chapter 13 Journey to a workforce race equality standard

Chapter 14 It's not Black and White: a parallel journey to anti-racist action by two occupational therapists

Occupational therapy and direct action

Sherlyn

How it began

Catherine

Early assumptions

Starting to think differently

On the frontline

It's the conversations that count

Why anti-racist action?

My anti-racist actions

Proactive leadership

Direct action

A call to occupational therapists to take direct anti-racist action

Personal pledges

Talk about race

Allyship

Make space/give platform

Challenge

Broaden understanding

Listening

Strategic change

Sharing narratives

Index.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

1-04-037657-6

1-04-105740-7

1-04-037381-X

1-914171-43-8

1-914171-42-X

9781041057406

OCLC:

1272995946