Today I had a class about centering justice and anti-racism in social work practice. The thing about social work is it’s a values-based profession. Many professions have underlying values, but social work has its own very specific code of ethics that outlines what each of us is committing to as we enter this field.
We commit to seeing the inherent dignity of every human being. We commit to acting for social justice. And we also commit to the importance of human relationships.
So here I am, trying to connect with any and all of you who are willing to listen and connect back.
Many of you know that I have some perfectionistic tendencies, so of course I want to hurry up and master being a social justice advocate and expert on anti-racism. And that’s just unrealistic. The reality is that it’s a nonlinear process. I’m a novice, and also I’m learning. And the learning is uncomfortable.
I’m confronted with the privilege I hold in the world. I’ve had access to health care, choices of quality education, a loving family with parents in respected professions, stable housing, and most people in leadership positions, movies, T.V, and even books I read look like me.
And I’m learning how my privilege stems from my country’s history impacts on all the systems we’ve made and policies we’ve written, the good and the bad. And now I have to hold space for the discomfort and tensions that come with accepting how my position in society affects other people, especially people who have been ‘othered’ by society, that my privilege and power are not the global majority or even national majority.
In my class, I’m listening to the stories of other people who hold different identities than me. People from different class, race, ethnic, and religious backgrounds who haven’t had all the same privileges and powers as me. These are people I respect and am getting to know and care about.
And it made me think, maybe the greatest disconnect in our society is that we classify people as worthy of our time or not by how similar or different their ideologies are. We push away anyone different and we hold tight to people who offer familiarity and validation of our ideals.
But what we need in a hurting, broken world where people are suffering in poverty, racism, sexism, fear, guilt, shame, and a million other things is connection. Maybe we need to sit with our discomfort long enough to connect with people who see things differently, not to change their minds or to change our minds, but to remember that we’re all people and all worthy of being here, of being heard. And we’re going to say the wrong things. Maybe even hurtful things. But the healing comes when we can have an open dialogue and offer repair for the sake of relationship over being right.
So I’m here, if anyone wants to connect. I’m here to dig into the tough stuff and hold space for difference and tension, for my own gaps. If you’re here with me, let me know, and let’s chat. Because things can’t stay the way they are. We need change. And it starts with us.
