一个黑人社工，365天

这个月软件下载庆祝黑人历史. As many know, Black History Month 每年2月庆祝28天. Seemingly, it is the shortest month of the twelve on the calendar therefore it is important for me to do my best given the time to do so, 分享我所珍视的两样东西, ----作为一名黑人和社会工作者, 因此成为了一名黑人社会工作者.

As I reflect on my preparation for becoming a social worker, I must admit I do not recall being taught about Black Pioneers in Social Work. Certainly, it was not listed in the textbooks, references, journals or articles. In sincerity, 当我真正了解到社会工作中的黑人先驱者时, it was by word of mouth from other Black Social Workers who would mention “the GREATS” as they would refer to them. The “GREATS” were those black social workers who laid the foundation for us as Social Workers not just Black Social Workers but for all who have chosen this profession to help others.

当我被要求为软件下载的 Master of Social Work (MSW)计划，我的第一个想法是写 Ida B. Wells他被称为现代社会工作的创始人. Wells was known for the work that she did in social justice and her advocacy that led to anti-lynching crusades in the United States in the 1890s. She also fought alongside many other women for woman’s rights. Ida B. 威尔斯也是the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Her work will always serve as a foundation for our profession.   

However, after careful reflection, I thought it best to write about a pioneer that is not often talked about outside of Louisiana but is one who should be in the history books. A pioneer in social work that I had the opportunity of knowing, learning from, 和在…面前, Millie M. Charles. 对于那些从未听说过迪恩·查尔斯的人, she was the founder and creator of the school of social work at Southern University in New Orleans. Dean Charles was a committed activist for social change and produced thousands of social scientists and inspired social workers to create a “more equitable” social and political New Orleans.

在种族隔离和种族隔离的年代, 查尔斯院长坚持她对公平的信念, equality, justice, and diversity, 早在DEI成为一种“东西”之前. She was a systems change advocate and a community based social worker who promoted social justice. Dean Millie Charles earned countless recognition and accolades throughout her years. She became a reviewer for the Council on Social Work Education, founder of the 全国黑人社会工作者协会 (NABSW) and was named as the social worker of the year by the 全国社会工作者协会 in 1975. In 2018, the school of social work building was named and dedicated in her honor. 它现在被称为米莉M. 查尔斯社会工作学院. This was magnificent and historic as she was still alive to witness this honor.  

On a more personal note, I am humbled to have had the opportunity to call her my Dean. She would walk the halls at Southern University at New Orleans and she would know us all by our names. She would always tell us to stay the course and reinforced that we knew who we were----Social Workers.  In times such as these as we continue to fight for social justice, equity and equality, 我经常想起她的话, 她的奋斗和坚持. It is one thing to read or write about history or herstory, but it is truly an honor to have witnessed it and to be personally taught by it. 这是因为院长米莉·M. Charles, one of the GREATS, that I am a Black Social Worker all 365 days.