Anti-Racism Resources
Stand Against Racism
Do the work for a more equitable society.
It's not just about identifying as anti-racist. While that's a good start, it's crucial to actively practice anti-racism to make a real difference. Part of that includes continual education about how to combat racism. This is especially important in your career as a social worker, where you can directly make an impact both through individuals’ lives and at an institutional level.
General Resources
At UW-Green Bay, we believe every one of us has the responsibility to stand up against racism and discrimination. In the social work field, we recognize that many of our clients frequently encounter racism in a variety of forms. In an effort to support education, social justice and equity for all, below are just some of our available resources for guidance and assistance.
Anti-Hate & Bigotry
The Southern Poverty Law Center is an advocacy organization dedicated to fighting hate and bigotry. In addition to a range of resources, their Learning for Justice program produces and distributes anti-bias materials.
Understanding Racism Matters
Mildred Joyner, incoming President of the National Association of Social Workers, speaks on racism for the Social Workers Against Solitary Confinement with Racism in America’s Human Stain: Black Lives Matter.
The Privilege Institute
The Privilege Institute works to provide strategies, programs and resources to empower those committed to issues of power, privilege, diversity and leadership.
Racism & Health
The American Public Health Association has compiled resources on health equity which includes materials on Racism and Health.
NASW: Racial Injustice
The National Association of Social Workers conducted a Facebook Live Juneteenth Town Hall addressing the Other Pandemic: Racial Injustice.
Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
Become a better advocate through UW-Green Bay’s Equity, Diversity & Inclusion resources for allies.
History of Psychology, Blackness and Racism: Working Bibliography
Tap into the body of academic research about how blackness has been treated historically in the United States. Bruce Thyer, Distinguished Research Professor at Florida State University College of Social Work, has created Working Bibliography on the History of Psychology, Blackness, and Racism. This bibliography documents (some of) the currently existing literature on blackness, race, and racism in the history of psychology. It is a work in progress. Currently, the bibliography exclusively covers secondary sources (historians’ accounts) only rather than primary ones.
Anti-Racism Resources for Social Workers
As a program, we'll be working with our students and collaborative partners to educate ourselves, provide resources, and develop initiatives to further these efforts. The following are articles describing how we, as social work professionals, can get involved and promote racial justice:
- Social Workers: Allies for Justice?
The New Social Worker, by Lakeya Cherry, DSW, MSSW - A Call to Action for Social Workers to Act Against Racism and White Supremacy Now
The New Social Worker, by Alan Dettlaff, PhD, MSW - Beyond Inclusion Initiatives, Towards Expansive Frameworks,
The New Social Worker, by J. Jay Miller, PhD, MSW, CSW - Black Lives Matter: Anti-Racism Resources for Social Workers and Therapists
SocialWork.Career, by Dorlee Michaeli, MBA, LCSW
Hear From An Expert
“In our current environment of civil unrest and talk about defunding the police, I often reflect on the continuous defunding of mental health, education and social work. What would things look like if we refunded those fields?”
Mykeerah Zazaru
Alderperson - District 4, City of Stevens Point
Citizen Appointee - Diversity Affairs and Inclusion Committee, Portage County
Charge to Create an Equitable Society
The UW-Green Bay Social Work Faculty endorse the following statement put forth in spring of 2020 by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) Diversity Center Director, Dr. Yolanda C. Padilla, and accept the charge to do more and better at creating an equitable society.
The Center for Diversity and Social & Economic Justice stands in solidarity in the call for justice and freedom from oppression by communities across the country in the wake of the more recent anti-Black racist killings involving Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, and far too many other African Americans. The events in recent weeks represent a long and painful history of systemic racism in the United States. The cumulative effects of incarceration, segregation, unemployment, and lack of access to quality education, housing, health care, and other basic human rights—although hidden from view for many—are palpable here.
As social work educators, let’s recommit to addressing the realities of systemic oppression and creating a community of learners. Let’s provide students with endless opportunities for critical thinking, keeping in mind that empathy can neither be forced nor achieved through debates—students need to discover it for themselves. Let’s give the communities with whom we work the dignity of drawing on their lived experiences so that our practice resonates with their lives. If we do this, we will always be on the right track.
Ask An Expert
All of our program faculty have experience in social work, so they too are committed to learning how to enact anti-racism. Take Professor Emily Jahnke, a graduate of our program with over 10 years of experience as a school social worker. If you have questions, seek support from your professors.