"Did you get placed with all white ladies in your group?": reflections on co-creating an anti-racist social work (virtual) classroom. Issue 1 (2nd January 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lerner, Justin Evan
• Is Part Of: Social work with groups. Volume 45:Issue 1(2022)
• Page Start: 46
• Page End: 60
• Publication Date: 2022-01-02
• Subjects: Anti-racist -- race caucuses -- group work -- social justice -- social work classroom -- white fragility; Social group work -- Periodicals; 361.405
• DOI: 10.1080/01609513.2021.1952498
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0160-9513

Abstract

ABSTRACT: As a white social work instructor and therapist committed to anti-racist practice, I reflect on my experiences teaching group work virtually during a pandemic. I provide an example of how I inadvertently perpetuated white supremacy through a mistake I made in creating groups that isolated students of color. I discuss how I addressed this mistake with the class and worked with the students to co-create an anti-racist and anti-oppressive classroom setting through our group process. I offer strategies for how I will continue to deepen group processes centered in anti-racist practices, such as building trust through transparency, acknowledging mistakes, including opportunities for race caucuses, and creating continual optional check-ins with students of color in order to maximize and center their learning in my courses.