Hi all,

Pardon the cross posting.   I thought it warranted in that sociologists as well as social workers would strive to make the world better by undoing racism.
The original message examined one  of the current methods used to undo racism and suggested it may at best
promote false consciousness regarding racism. Next I suggested that the use of evaluations such as grades that are based on invidious comparison
could provide a foundation for racism  as well as detract from the kind of learning required in a complex society. 

The medical issues are being examined by persons involved in medical coeducations and will be responded to separately.

The Fuller response raises questions about cultural competence/sensitivity and suggests that culture may be considered by some as a code word for race.
Also there may be a difference between cultural competence and cultural sensitivity.  Fuller also reports that on the LCSW exam prep examples were
all about white people's competence/sensitivity.

I have participated in several workshops using the cultural competence method to undo racism.  All have been very vague and gave little information
other than differential norms regarding eye contact.   I could find no part of these cultural competence sessions that would not have been satisfied by active listening..  Facilitating the
help seeker tell their own story.......this is also the basis for some of the changes in medical changes under the heading of bedside manor.  Instead there was the impression
that once a difference was recognized  the problem was solved.   This was reminiscent to being told is social work school that once you have a diagnosis out pops the treatment.

Below a social worker speaks

Del

Fuller, Theron K Mr IMCEN wrote:
Classification:  UNCLASSIFIED
Caveats: NONE

1. Call me old fashioned, but I much prefer to be operated on by a surgeon
from a medical school that gives grades than a graduate from a medical
school that has a policy of recognizing multiple forms of intelligence,
learning, and achievement. And I'll pick the racist surgeon who is the best
in the field over the racially sensitive surgeon who is 2,432 in the field
every time. All hearts are the same color. My eye surgeon had the patient
sensitivity of Atilla the Hun. But he was also President Reagan's
opthomologist.

2. Call me racist, but I don't see the racism in the observation that an
author didn't give the background of his/her (or her/his, for the gender
sensitive) knowledge/information. I'm sure you would find it significant
that I am a Southern White Good Ol' Boy if I wrote an article about the
racial sensitivity of American Indians. Or, if I was a Cherokee writing
about the culture and racial sensitivity of Hopis.

3. It seems to me that somehow all the responsibility for racial sensitivity
has been shifted to the practitioner/service provider.  Seems to me there is
an equal responsibility for the client/service recipient to be racially
sensitive as well.

4. Racial sensitivity does indeed seem to be about whites. In several ways.
When I was studying for my LCSW license three years ago all the examples
were about white practictioners being sensitive to the cultural differences
of minorities. There wasn't one example of one minority person being
sensitive to the cultural differences of other minorities.

5. What is the process by which folks like social workers have come to spend
so much time and effort on racism? At what point does it become
paternalistic and therefore racist?

-----Original Message-----
From: HUman Service Information Technology Applications
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] On Behalf Of Del Thomas Ph D
Sent: Friday, July 07, 2006 2:48 PM
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: request for advice

Hi all,

The theme of this years PA NASW annual conference is "undoing racism".
I am considering submitting a paper
with the following themes regarding despite our stated intentions our
failure to undo racism.  These discussions would take place in the context
that there is no biological basis for race.

1. On page 407 of the July 1997 edition of social work you will find an
exchange regarding the article published in the March 1996 edition
entitled.. Culturally Informed Practice.......
One of the author's replied.  While the reply was not responsive  the last
paragraph (below) is problematic.
"Thomas did not inform the reader of his own cultural background.
Therefore, we are left to wonder
if his perspective is rooted in personal experience as an American Indian or
if it comes from an other source"

I had several face to face as well as phone conversations with  NASW
leadership..... they all admitted that that paragraph should have not gotten
thru..... and something would be done....... I'm still waiting......it is
generally considered that doing something would require a printed
response...... something that went beyond an apology...as part of my paper
on undoing racism.... I would include the current response of SW when given
a 2nd chance to undo racism

2.  I have attended numerous NASW workshops on racism in each there was the
appearance that racism was all about white
people.   For example,  in one a person who claimed to be a person of
color was denied admission to that group because they
had a Ph D.   In several the concept of white (skin) privilege was
used.  This concept...... transforms discrimination into a matter of
privilege.

For example, not being followed in stores, not being stopped for DWB, being
able to chose your seat in the bus....... are all privileges.
Some of the same
techniques of neutralization or right are surfacing against gay rights.
And who after all can get excited about extending privileges.

3. A school without grades is like a society without racism.  despite the
knowledge of multiple intelligences and learning styles we use the form of
evaluation which discriminates and ranks.....grades instead of narrative
forms that would not ignore the diversity.  Tests and lecture halls the
basis for the grade..... eliminate all but a few of success/learning
products.. So we end up with the foundation for racism.....

Or what is the process we have come to label racism. or classism....

As Hughes claimed good people do dirty work.....

Comments?

Del

--------------------------------------------------
INFORMATION ABOUT HUSITA AND THE HUSITA LISTSERV To be removed from this
mailing list, send a command in the form:

signoff husita

to [EMAIL PROTECTED].

WARNING!!  Hitting reply sends your message not only to the sender, but to
all on the list.

Join HUSITA through Calling Cards at
http://husita.org/new/callingcards.htm to network with other members,
receive the Journal of Technology in Human Services at 20% off print or
$15 electronic version, download selected back issues, download the book
Human Services Technology, and receive a discount on HUSITA conference
registration

Keep the info on how to unsubscribe.  Thanks
Classification:  UNCLASSIFIED
Caveats: NONE

--------------------------------------------------
INFORMATION ABOUT HUSITA AND THE HUSITA LISTSERV
To be removed from this mailing list, send a command in the form:

signoff husita

to [EMAIL PROTECTED].

WARNING!!  Hitting reply sends your message not only to the sender, but
to all on the list.

Join HUSITA through Calling Cards at
http://husita.org/new/callingcards.htm to network with other members,
receive the Journal of Technology in Human Services at 20% off print or
$15 electronic version, download selected back issues, download the book
Human Services Technology, and receive a discount on HUSITA conference
 registration

Keep the info on how to unsubscribe.  Thanks

  

--~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Teaching Sociology" group.
To post to this group, send email to [email protected]
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/teachsoc
-~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---

Reply via email to