Race, Self-identity and Social Work

Abstract

SUMMARY Many people seem to accept, as self-evident, the notion that black children harbour unfavourable cognitions about themselves and their racial group, and that they would rather be white. The present study investigated the prevalence of this notion amongst social work students, and also the extent of the influence of this view on professional practice. The study involved 102 postgraduate social work students at two British Universities in separate regions of the country. The respondents responded individually to three randomly distributed vignettes, which were identical except for the racial/ethnic origin of the principal characters: a white child, a child of 'mixed-race' parentage and a black child. The respondents were required to assess the causes of the children's behaviour, as well as their social and psychological needs. The results were analysed according to the number of respondents who mentioned particular causes of the children's behaviour and particular courses of action to meet their needs. The analyses revealed significant differences between the respondents' perception and interpretations of the children's behaviour. The analyses also revealed that the children were differenti ally treated according to their race or ethnic origin. The results are discussed in the light of assumptions about black self-concept, mainly derived from the social science literature. The implications of the findings for the social work profession, individual practitioners, and their black clients are also highlighted.