Appropriately Uncomfortable: A Conversation Among Three Colleagues About Structural Oppression Focusing on Racism and the Need for Action

Authors

  • Jemel Aguilar Southern Connecticut State University
  • Carmela Fusciello Smith Southern Connecticut State University
  • Stephen Monroe Tomczak Southern Connecticut State University

Keywords:

oppression, racism, social work faculty, higher education

Abstract

In this reflection, three social work colleagues discuss three different perspectives on one statement about racism. We detail our emotionally challenging conversations about racism, microaggressions, and the meaning of social justice in social work to build a different bond and sense of understanding. We delve into how we understand each other, our differing viewpoints on the murders of Black people in American society such as George Floyd, and our perspectives on social workers’ relationships to social justice, racism, and social change in the context of the 2020 turmoil.

Author Biographies

Carmela Fusciello Smith, Southern Connecticut State University

Carmela F. Smith, Ed.D. LCSW, Assistant Professor, Southern Connecticut State

Stephen Monroe Tomczak, Southern Connecticut State University

Ph.D., LMSW, Associate Professor

Downloads

Published

2021-09-30

How to Cite

Aguilar, J., Smith, C. F., & Tomczak, S. M. (2021). Appropriately Uncomfortable: A Conversation Among Three Colleagues About Structural Oppression Focusing on Racism and the Need for Action. Reflections: Narratives of Professional Helping, 27(2), 78–86. Retrieved from https://reflectionsnarrativesofprofessionalhelping.org/index.php/Reflections/article/view/1858

Issue

Section

General Submissions