Chapter Activities for Racial Justice

At this painful historical time, social workers statewide strongly condemn the May 25 murder of African American George Floyd by Minneapolis police officers. We urge Virginians to unite for healing that enables collaboration and a recommitment to genuine progress toward racial equality.

As we watch our brothers and sisters murdered, the only thing I can respond with is enough.

Enough killing. Enough violence. Enough racism and xenophobia, police brutality and enough with the school to prison pipeline. Enough with the thoughts and prayers. Enough with the advocacy that ends with a Facebook post or tweet. But also, are we doing enough? Are you?

We chose social work instead of another helping profession because of our professional value of social justice. Racial justice should be at the heart of social work practice. Racism is America's defining social problem. By not acknowledging and addressing this, social workers are ignoring their ethical obligation.

Now is the time to let our voices be heard, we cannot sit idly by as acts of racism, hatred, violence, and murder are repeatedly targeted toward black and brown people in our society. Silence is not an option and expressions of outrage and dismay are not enough.

The coronavirus pandemic swept through communities of color like a thief in the night, stealing parents, grandparents, children and siblings, leaving grief, trauma, and economic and educational instability.

We continue to see black death and violence at the hands of white racists — Amhaud Aubrey, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd and Sha’Teina Grady El. Again and again, we have had to worry about our safety in the midst of it all. We wonder if we would be safe in our homes, on a jog, at the park — or would some well-intentioned and highly aware white racist decide today would be our last day on Earth? 

As social workers committed to justice and enhancing human well-being, we cannot sit idly by as acts of racism, hatred, violence, and murder are repeatedly targeted toward black and brown people in our society. Silence is not an option and expressions of outrage and dismay are not enough.

While recent events seem to indicate an increase in racism, we all know that it is ever present and must be fought continuously. The recent killings by police of Ahmaud Aubrey (GA) Breonna Taylor (KY), George Floyd (MN) and Tony McDade point to how imbedded racism is in American society and culture and how it can end in tragedy and loss of life.

The need to really confront racial justice head-on in our country has been front and center with recent incidents where unarmed Black people have been killed by law enforcement, including Breonna Taylor in Louisville, KY, or been racially profiled, such as the case of birdwatcher Christian Cooper in Central Park.

Social workers are a profession called to action, it is rooted in our education, our Code of Ethics and ingrained in who we are. We are called to fight for social justice, and we do so, daily.

Around the country, NASW chapters intensify the call to end racism, share action plans.