“White” or Wrong: Reflections on the Impact of Unyielding Whiteness on the Overall Well-Being of Black Practitioners

Authors

  • Shelton Young University of Illinois at Chicago
  • Tyreasa Washington Child Trends; University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Keywords:

race, gaslighting, racial battle fatigue

Abstract

Practicing while Black is similar to driving while Black; what should be routine becomes a minefield and every day is filled with uncertainties. For Black practitioners, navigating unyielding Whiteness in the professional environment is not only costly but also often continuously compromises Black practitioners’ well-being. This paper reflects Young’s experiences as a Black male licensed clinical social worker and the challenges encountered in navigating a practice environment led by White female clinicians during the convergence of the COVID-19 pandemic and the emergence of the Black Lives Matter movement, demanding an end to ongoing police brutality and racial injustice against Black people. We provide recommendations for both Black practitioners and organizations committed to providing working environments that affirm and ensure racial justice. 

Author Biographies

Shelton Young, University of Illinois at Chicago

Shelton Young, MSW, LCSW (he/him) is PhD Student, Jane Addams College of Social Work, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL (syoung49@uic.edu, @sheltonyounglcsw).

Tyreasa Washington, Child Trends; University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Tyreasa Washington, PhD, LCSW (she/her) is Senior Program Area Director and Distinguished Senior Scholar, Child Trends, Bethesda, MD and Professor, Department of Social Work, School of Health and Human Services, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, NC (twashington@childtrends.org).

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Published

2024-11-05

How to Cite

Young, S., & Washington, T. (2024). “White” or Wrong: Reflections on the Impact of Unyielding Whiteness on the Overall Well-Being of Black Practitioners . Reflections: Narratives of Professional Helping, 30(`4), 11–20. Retrieved from https://reflectionsnarrativesofprofessionalhelping.org/index.php/Reflections/article/view/1927

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