Social Workers Join the Scholar Strike for Social Justice

FEATURE STORY

Social Workers Join the Scholar Strike for Racial Justice

BY DR. PATRINA DUHANEY, PHD, RSW; DR. LIZA LORENZETTI, PHD, RSW; DR. DAVID ESTE, PHD, RSW; AND DR. REGINE KING, PHD, RSW

SINCE THE MURDER OF George Floyd on May 25, 2020,the issue of anti-Black racism has garnered considerable attention across various sectors in Canada and the United States. The disproportionate and relentless police violence against Black and Indigenous people under scores a plethora of systemic policies and practices aimed at dehumanizing Black and Indigenous lives. While increased awareness and mobilization against anti-Black racism has become prominent over the past several months, ongoing distortions of justice continue to result in “countless Black lives cut short at the hands of police brutality, systemic racism, and white supremacy.” (*1)

In order to guide our work on addressing anti-Black racism, the Anti-Black Racism Task Force in the Faculty of Social Work at the University of Calgary recently adopted and modified a definition from the Government of Ontario (2020) and the Black Health Alliance (2018). Anti-Black racism is prejudice, attitudes, beliefs, stereotyping, and discrimination that is directed at people of African descent and is rooted in their unique history of enslavement and its legacy (*2). Anti-Black racism is enacted and reinforced in policies and practices rooted in Canadian institutions such as education, health, social and community services and the criminal justice system (*3). It is within this entrenched and historically imbued system that we joined the Scholars Strike Canada for Black and Indigenous Lives (*4).

Catalyzed by large-scale protests across the globe, including high profile protests and walk-outs by professional athletes in the NBA, WNBA, NHL and MLB, the Scholar Strike was initiated in the US by professors

Anthea Butler and Kevin Gannon. Shortly after their announcement, “co-organizers Beverly Bain, lecturer at the University of Toronto and Min Sook Lee, associate professor at OCAD University followed suit and organized a similar movement in Canada.”(*5)

Over 3,000 professors, instructors, counsellors and students signed their name in solidarity and support of the Scholar Strike (*6). The authors were among professors at the University of Calgary who not only signed our names in support of the Scholar Strike but paused our teaching and other administrative activities to attend the digital teach-ins from renowned activists and scholars. We have engaged in intentional dialogue with our students in being part of the movement by encouraging them to attend the teach-ins and focusing class time on this critical issue. Organizers of the Canadian Scholar Strike reported over 60,000 views on September 8th and 9th of the live-streamed public teach-ins. Recognizing the urgent need to continue organizing to eradicate racism, they plan to update the academic community of various actions, events and upcoming teach-ins through their newsletter and social media (*7).

A number of universities including the University of Calgary, the University of Alberta, and Mount Royal University issued statements in support of the Scholar Strike. President and Vice Chancellor Ed McCauley stated “The University of Calgary strongly condemns anti-Black racism, anti-Indigenous racism and racism in all forms. This is a defining issue of our times. Faculty and students may choose to participate in Sept. 9 and 10 events.” (*8)

Bill Flanagan, President and Vice-Chancellor of the inequities. Changing individual racist acts are merely a University of Alberta stated, “U of A supports all efforts tip of the iceberg; however, through critical reflexivity to draw attention to eliminating anti-Black racism, anti- and courageous and dedicated actions, social workers Indigenous racism, and racism in all forms.” (*9)

These recent declarations by academic leaders are overshadowed by assertions and posturing of local and reinforced in institutional policies and practices, systemic national leaders. In a recent press conference, Alberta Premier Jason Kenney referred to intersectionality as “a kooky academic theory” (*10) while Donald Trump persists in inflaming racial division and oppression by threatening to cancel diversity and anti-racism training which he refers to as a “sickness that cannot be allowed to continue.” (*11) Canadian author Desmond Cole problematizes these dominant assertions by highlighting the complexities of white supremacy as it “encourages the people it benefits to create their own parallel universe, their own set of facts and explanations about the existence of and prevalence of racism.” (*12) Concepts such as “whitelash” (*13) or “white rage” (*14, *15) also help frame the entrenchment of white supremacy as forms of backlash, hostile reactions or responses to individuals calling attention to racism against Black, Indigenous and racialized people.

In the midst of this ongoing turmoil, social workers have an ethical obligation to address systemic racism by collectively mobilizing to enact change. However, many social workers remain unaware of Black Canadian history and the prevalence of anti-Black racism in Canada. In fact, social work has been complicit in perpetuating racism and upholding institutional and systemic oppression. The implicit and explicit roles of dominance and oppression within the profession create the undercurrent of dissatisfaction and outrage.

This is a pivotal time to envision and act upon a narrative of emancipatory, anti-racist, and anti-colonial social work practice. On a micro or interpersonal level, social workers must collectively express social work’s core disciplinary values to help eradicate racism in all its forms by acknowledging the deleterious effects of racism, calling out racist behaviors, attitudes and actions. Social workers, in particular white social workers, must deepen their commitment to confront systemic white supremacy that continues to maintain socio-economic political inequities. Changing individual racist acts are merely a tip of the iceberg; however, through critical reflexivity and courageous and dedicated actions, social workers can become active participants in eliminating racism. Since overt and covert forms of racism are legitimized and reinforced in institutional policies and practices, systemic and institutional change are necessary to transform systems, policies and social norms that maintain white supremacy. Thus, social work programs must commit to teach and train all social workers about the histories of Black Canadians, white supremacy, anti-colonialism and anti-racist practices. Social work colleges and associations must review and update their core principles and values to explicitly identify the elimination of anti-Black racism as a key focus. They must also work collaboratively with Black lead organizations and movements that are striving for structural change.

Finally, it is vital that the social work profession recognize the burden that Black social workers carry in an effort to create equitable and inclusive spaces not only for themselves but their clients and communities. Necessary supports are needed for these social workers to effectively do their jobs.

Our current climate demands decisive and courageous actions. We implore social workers to centralize antiracism as a core value and practice.

DR. PATRINA DUHANEY is an Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Social Work, University of Calgary. As a researcher activist, she grapples with issues related to race, racism, victimization and criminalization.

DR. LIZA LORENZETTI is from Italian heritage, living in traditional territory of the Blackfoot and Treaty 7 Territory (Calgary, Canada). Her teaching and research are community-based and informed by 30 years of social work practice focused on violence prevention, anti-racism, and peace building.

DR. DAVID ESTE is a 3rd generation African Canadian who is a long-standing professor with the Faculty of Social work at the University of Calgary.

DR. REGINE UWIBEREYEHO KING is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Social Work at the University of Calgary.