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Throughout history, the sphere of social work has been shaped by
various contributors dedicated to achieving social equality and creating an
inclusive environment in which all people can feel accepted and valued. It is
essential to recognize the diversity of such professionals, which reflects the
multidimensional nature of the field. This essay will discuss the contributions
of three pioneers in social work from the standpoint of human rights, as well as
social, economic, and environmental justice.
The first pioneer played a significant role in increasing the public's awareness
of the opportunities associated with supporting social work. This person was
instrumental in developing the concept of casework and suggested how it could be
used to aid populations in need. Their contribution correlates to work in human
rights and social justice as they traveled to visit homes of populations in need
and worked to help them.
The second pioneer was a prolific social worker and writer who dedicated their
work to examining the economic, political, and attitudinal factors that form
social relationship systems and race relations. They were also the first to
analyze the historical influences that impacted the development of the
African-American family.
The third pioneer was a leader in the Civil Rights Movement who focused on Black
women's issues ranging from unemployment to family roles. They presided over a
national council for four decades and emphasized the importance of political
mobilization for women of color as they were excluded from engaging in political
affairs and could not participate at the same level as their white counterparts.
Their contribution was especially important due to the fostering of dialogue
between white and women of color and being a mediator in disputes during
meetings of leaders with varying philosophies.
The problem of economic inequality during the pandemic has significantly
affected people of color, and the perspective offered by the second pioneer
could be instrumental in addressing the issue. As suggested by this person,
people of color have been historically exposed to socioeconomic racism, which
resulted in the exclusion of the group from opportunities to become financially
independent and prosperous. This historical exclusion persists today as people
of color are more susceptible to the economic challenges caused by the pandemic.
Several pre-pandemic economic conditions, such as lower income levels, higher
unemployment, and greater levels of housing and food insecurity, have left black
families with fewer 'buffers' to absorb the financial shocks of the healthcare
crisis.
The second pioneer's approach to studying social, economic, and political
inequalities in the United States is essential in the described context because
this person did not share the disillusionment with social reform and action that
supposedly gave more freedom and equality of opportunities to people of color.
Instead, being faced with racism every day of their life, they encouraged people
of color to speak for themselves and defend their freedoms because no one except
them could do that. Therefore, if the social work profession was alive today,
this person would encourage people of color to speak loudly about the economic
barriers that have prevented them from surviving the pandemic without going into
debt or suffering from food insecurity.
It is notable that besides economic inequalities, people of color have also been
experiencing health barriers before the pandemic, including the high rates of
pre-existing conditions such as lung disease and hypertension. These conditions
have an adverse impact on mortality rates among Black Americans, with the
population being in the lead of the highest overall COVID-19 mortality rates.
This issue is important to consider because it points to decades of people of
color's abandonment in terms of providing effective and accessible health care
that could have reduced the impact of highly prevalent diseases. Such an issue
would have been highlighted by the second pioneer, who consistently emphasized
the socioeconomic roots of racism and the need to build collective forms of
resistance and self-help to build a sense of community and mutual support. |
