EMBEDDING ANTI-RACIST PRACTICE IN SOCIAL WORK

Anneta Pinto Young, Deputy Chair of the Staff Race Advisory Group, and Cherelle Francis, Deputy Chair of BASW Black and Ethnic Minority Professionals Symposium, share their interest in ethnicity and diversity in social work, and their motivation to provide input on work around anti-racist practice in the sector.

In the last 10-20 years, it has felt like there has been a culture of silence around anti-racism, and even people with an activist background in antiracism have not felt safe to speak up and champion these causes.

A year ago, with the death of George Floyd, there was a wave of literature, videos, dialogues, and programmes geared towards anti-racism, and for the first time in years people felt that they could speak.

We both have expressed an interest in becoming involved in anti-racism work, but wondered where to start, given the myriad of information and activities that need to be tackled in this area.

Some of the things that we needed to consider relate to how we talk about racism, especially with people who are not from ethnic backgrounds, to avoid labelling people as being ‘racist.’

When thinking about it together, we realised there were some themes that we needed to have involved, around people’s understanding of race, power, privilege, and equality; thus creating our five areas of key learning:

1. TRAUMA FROM HISTORY

The need for an understanding of the historical context of race and how we got to where we are now. This spans from the post-colonial systems and the need for people to understand the legacies around slavery. Challenging the view that slavery happened a long time ago so black people need to ‘get over it.’

2. HAVING UNCOMFORTABLE CONVERSATIONS

There are things that we need to say that may feel like ‘ruffling feathers,’ and there are worries about being censored, and some concerns about making people feel uncomfortable. We need to become comfortable having regular uncomfortable conversations so that topics such as race and racism are normalised.

3. INSTITUTIONAL RACISM EXISTS

A focus on the structures and systems that exist, that are inherently racist, and the need to develop literature to deconstruct and dismantle these systems. This starts with conversations and discussions, in order to develop a better understanding and awareness.

For example, the government’s race report, which stated that the ‘UK is not institutionally racist,’ and the negative message this has sent to people working hard to support the anti-racism agenda was quite daunting, and felt like a slap in the face to anti-racism activism.

4. RACE IS A PRIORITY

There is often an idea that, when it comes to the topic of race, it is easy for other things to always take priority, and there is generally a worry about how to ensure that we do not lose momentum. Our response to this has been to put together a training programme as part of the core offer within our local authority, focusing on anti-racism, ethnicity, and diversity in Social Work.

5. CHANGE WILL COME

Some things will change in the here and now, but some changes will take time - maybe even years. If we start doing the basics now, then we can leave a better world for the next generation, and for generations to come. One final thought and question for reflection - what is your legacy and how do you want to be remembered as a person who created change? Let’s support the anti-racism agenda!