This 3-hour course uses a historical framework that will allow participants to understand the influence of racial prejudice. Social work is not exempt from the paradigms of anti-blackness, and its toxic teachings, which perpetuate a cycle of dehumanization. As practitioners, we find ourselves cycling the master's tools of silence and complacency in the face of black suffering. It is imperative that we understand how deeply rooted our perceptions of blackness are in this country, and how they affect our ability to serve those who are impacted directly by this system. This is a shift that is required on not only the macro and mezzo levels, but also at the micro level, in our daily interactions. In this conversation, we will be applying theories such as Critical Consciousness, Cultural Humility, and Critical Race Theory with the goal of employing what they teach us into clinical praxis.
About the Instructor
Joshua Ware, LMSW is a clinical social worker for Mental Health Services Corp at SUNY Downstate’s Family Health clinic and a specialist in anti-oppressive clinical practice for Children of Promise, NYC.
Mr. Ware’s expertise and curricula focus on dismantling the stigma of mental health care within the Black/Caribbean community to foster healing and self-love. Mr. Ware’s work primarily involves psychotherapy with adults who would not be able to afford therapy otherwise. He also participates in policy work within mezzo and macro practice around undoing the system of mass incarceration. Mr. Ware has developed the curriculum for a college-level course at Sing Sing Correctional Facility; he also co-created the Mass Incarceration Conversation Series (MICS) at the New York University Silver School of Social Work. Mr. Ware has presented his work around dismantling anti-blackness in social work with Children of Promise, NYC at the NASW-NYC Conference, as well as at the National Conference in Washington, DC.