Is Social Work a Black Job?
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So, if you know me personally and we have been in conversation this week, you KNOW I could not wait to write about and share today’s blog: Is social work a Black job?
By now, many of us have seen or heard about the most recent presidential debate and/or seen the online social media memes and jokes. Full debate here- (click link for YouTube video)
But here was the part of the debate and comments about “Black jobs” that got my attention- (click for short YouTube video)
With 45 creating a sense of scarcity and stating that migrants are taking Black jobs and Hispanic jobs, he poses the risk that continues to contribute to in-fighting between ethnic groups. The point I want to address and get to today is the subtext, or underlying meaning of “Black jobs,” the jokes that have been made about it, and how it relates to the social work field.
In 2024, the image and face of social work has definitely been evolving. Since the introduction of newer social workers in various roles into the profession since the pandemic, there has been an increase in BIPOC social workers. Great improvement, but there is still so much to address. I have been in the field now for 8 years officially. I have seen and heard a lot and I will share some of that today.
Is social work a Black job? I made an instagram poll on my stories and I made a post. 67% said yes, 33% said no. Some were on the fence in their comments. Some said social work is changing.
About a week ago, I saw a news coverage post about the tragic loss of a colleague, Ms. Maria Coto (click link for full news article). As I sometimes do, I made some candid comments about my reaction to Ms. Coto’s untimely death via my instagram stories. How unfortunate it was for her to lose her life in the line of work as a social work professional! The assailant has been identified and is going through the legal process. Ms. Coto is deceased and can’t come back. Her family, her clients and colleagues are mourning her. I posted and said what I had to say, then I decided this would be the topic for today.
Is social work a Black job? Some of these jobs in this field sure do act like it! Today’s blog is passionate and you’re gonna hear everything I have to say. In a field where BIPOC front line workers (direct care professionals) are tasked to service our people, people who may look like us, we are the ones getting the assignments to go where they live. The first five years of my career was as a field-based social worker. This means I was providing therapy services in the home. Wherever my client lived or called home, that’s where I had to go to provide services. I’ve been to many types of homes, neighborhoods, and even facilities including shelters and hospitals. I, along with many other of my colleagues in this profession, have done this work and it is not for the weak of heart!
I am not here to litigate the death of Ms. Coto but it is an example of how much some social work and social service agencies rely on the goodness of our hearts, faith, and integrity to “meet our clients where they are.” Social Work 101, if you know you know. Doing a routine visit to the residence of your client should not lead to your harm or death. Ms. Coto was threatened and eventually killed after knocking on the wrong door. For my field social workers, how many of us have gotten an incomplete address? Or you get to the building and trying to find the unit number. Your client may or may not be answering their phone. And we have to figure it out, because “casework contact attempted” won’t be accepted. We need this visit. Leadership wants the numbers. If you don’t get the numbers, you have to go back out there. And there will be more questions and conversations about why the visit didn’t happen and what is required of you working here.
And you know what, yes, social work is a helping profession, but just because we help people doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be respected, valued, and compensated appropriately for what we do. We deserve to work safely!
I’m Black, so I am speaking about my Black experience today. Black and White colleagues get a different level of consideration for particular work assignments in this field, regardless of setting. I said what I said. While as a field social worker, we all had general precautions to take working outside in the community, it’s different for us. I’ve been to almost every hood (neighborhood) in Brooklyn. I also worked in Westchester County and got to see a lot there as well. Plotting out your visits based on time of day, safety, traffic conditions, having to make it to the office, trying to get home at a decent time…all things to consider. I also had to consider what to wear depending on the day: field day, office day, or both. On days where I would have to be in the field and the office, my attire looked different. I sometimes felt like I was dressing as an undercover cop trying to dress down for the day to blend in. No, I am not going into the field with a blazer, slacks, button up shirt, shoes, noticeable jewelry, two cell phones, a notebook, and a handbag on. One of my supervisors felt differently about this after asking me to stop wearing blue jeans. I cited the neighborhoods and buildings I had to be going to with a reputation for being rough, and her request would actually make me stick out like a sore thumb and possibly threaten my safety.
I knew that how I dressed and what I carried with me mattered. I’ve been spotted in the community in my line of work.
“I knew you was a caseworker, you had two phones on you.”
Or, coming out of a visit and being pressed (addressed) by someone on the block. He wanted to know the nature of my business “on his block” because “we don’t f*ck with BCW. Y’all come and take kids.” He then identified my car and told me he “just came home and didn’t want to go back.” I knew what that meant. I managed to de-escalate this situation and thankfully make it out safely.
These two interactions were with people who were not my clients. Some jobs don’t want to send additional supports out to do a joint visit. We get an agency cell phone and “call if the need arises.” Most administrators aren’t doing field work and may not know the ins and outs of what it takes to really be out there. Social workers often have to advocate for their needs, even in the work place. And sometimes simply saying, well this place seems dangerous, or I have concerns for xyz, without any “good reason” for management can be taken as a prejudiced statement and put back on the worker. They often take into consideration the presentation and behavior of your client if they are aggressive or things can get out of hand and may accommodate. But, sometimes, your client isn’t the threat or the only threat. Such as in the case of Ms. Coto, it was a stranger; not the person on her caseload.
I’ve been asked to accompany my White colleague to a visit where they expressed concern for the neighborhood and building. Management gave this directive due to expressed safety concerns. Why me? Because I would blend in? Because I am Black. This moment justified to me why I did what I did. Why I dressed down, why I locked all my stuff in my car, hid my two cell phones, and went to the corner store and got a snack and a juice before this visit. I needed people to think I was visiting family or a friend. I did not want to stick out or be threatened again. And here I am, Black woman, providing some perceived protection to my White colleague who would have otherwise declined doing the visit. And I am sure it would have gotten reassigned to a BIPOC clinician but the rationale would have been inequitable. We had to give this to you because you’re Black and it would be more comfortable for you to do this assignment than your White colleague. They’d never say that. But we know what it is. Comfortable for who? Oh, okay.
I probably need to make a part two because I can go on and on. Have you seen the Black jobs list? While comical, it sends a message. The subtext of 45’s comment on Black jobs is that Black jobs and Hispanic jobs are the grunt work people do, there’s barely any respect for, and mostly undesirable. Black jobs are the jobs some people do, but most people with means, access, and power won’t do, or delegate to others.
Is social work a Black job? According to social media, no. Social work didn’t make the list. In our workplaces, is there inequality or tasks more readily given to and expected of Black people? Yes.
If the field of social work’s agenda is to be about the business of social justice and equity, it’s not just outside; it needs to happen inside too.
Thank you for reading.
I would love to hear from you. Drop me a comment or email moniqueevanstherapy@gmail.com
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