Assistant Professor Jenn Lilly, Ph.D., has published research which used a Critical Race Theory framework to explore Black social work students’ experiences of anti-Black racism in the learning environment of a predominantly white institution of social work.
The article, titled “A ‘Totally, Acceptably Racist Environment’: Examining Anti-Black Racism in a School of Social Work” was published in the Journal of Social Work Education.
“Social work education is considered an important venue for advancing the field’s commitment to anti-racism. This research employed collective autobiographical methods within a Critical Race Theory framework to explore Black social work students’ experiences of anti-Black racism in the learning environment of a Predominantly White Institution. Data was analyzed through a collaborative, inductive approach. Analysis revealed four interrelated themes: 1) racial microaggressions directed at Black students; 2) the perceived complicity of school administration in maintaining a racist environment; 3) the harm that an anti-Black racist learning environment caused to Black students; and 4) a relational approach to challenging anti-Black racism in the learning environment. Findings underscore the need for increased attention to racism in the implicit social work curriculum.”
