Breaking Barriers: The Unspoken Pioneers of Social Work History- a Social Work Student Led Racial Equity Intervention

Social Work educators have used a multitude of strategies to teach students about diversity and to advance human rights and social, economic, and environmental justice in the social work classroom. These strategies include cultural competency, cultural sensitivity, anti-oppression, the multicultural approach, and critical race theory. Each approach has its strengths and limitations. CSWE has revised their 2022 EPAS to reflect anti-racist and anti-oppressive practices in social work and social work education. Thus, this is a critical time for social work educators to assess the effectiveness of their teaching strategies around race and racism. Furthermore, the sociocultural environment of social work programs is changing. There is more diversity in our classrooms regarding race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and ability. In addition, there are more first-generation students. Social work educators must re-evaluate what and how they are teaching to effectively engage and support all the social work students in their classroom.

This roundtable discussion will include a critical analysis of the ways in which racism is perpetuated within the social work profession beginning with what is taught about the history of social work. Panelist #1 will begin the roundtable discussion by presenting the lived experiences of social workers of color and reflecting on the mission of social work as a vehicle to promote social justice and empower disenfranchised populations that lack equitable representation in the literature. Panelist #2 will look behind the curtain and unveil the troubling legacy of racism within social work education. Utilizing concepts from Narrative Theory and Critical Race Theory, the panelist will engage in a critical analysis of Social Work history, identifying the stories and narratives that are told and the ones that are not told. This analysis will cultivate mindset shifts and strategies that enable participants to engage in Social Work practice that fully embodies the core values of the profession. Panelist #3 will examine the NASW Code of Ethics and Anti-Racist Pedagogical Practices as it relates to teaching the history of social work. A primary focus will be on engagement and inviting student participation around courageous conversations in the social work classroom. Finally, panelist #3 will introduce an innovative, student led assignment presenting the historical understanding and contributions of Social Workers of color that are not normally portrayed in textbooks or the media. This is an important social justice issue as we look at the significance of these neglected contributions of Social Workers of color. Our goal is to inspire conversation that will promote a thoughtful analysis about the perpetuation of racism in social work education. Ultimately, we hope this discussion will be a catalyst for more research and training in anti-racist pedagogy for social work educators and how the latter will benefit social work student’s long term in practice and as future scholars.s discussion will be a catalyst for more research and training in anti-racist pedagogy for social work educators and how the latter will benefit social work student’s long term in practice and as future scholars.