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Social work education and interventions with Black African families are frequently impaired because of discrimination, racism and the structuring priorities of neoliberalism.
Rooted in rich and fascinating empirical work with practitioners and educators, this urgent, scholarly and accessible book emphasises that ‘Black Lives Matter’. Intent on nurturing more progressive and pluralistic practices in pedagogy and practice, the book is a timely and significant contribution seeking to remake social work approaches to issues of ‘race’, racism and social justice.
"This book invites an honest, respectful, and critical rumination on social work theory and practice with Black Africans in western countries…It seeks to fuse multiple perspectives and philosophies on the disempowerment of the Black African diaspora because of universalised European hierarchies of power within and beyond the social work profession. In short, it is a very important intellectual work. Indeed, it is…probably the only book of this kind currently available." Critical Social Policy
‘It is energising to see writers articulate how their positionality and political commitment influence their academic interests and writings…I am a Black American trained social worker who grew up in the state’s care with more than half a dozen social workers assigned to my case throughout my childhood. This book affected me and gave me hope because it provides theoretical tools for progressive educators and practitioners to promote a greater awareness of ‘social change’ within social work education and training’.
Antoine Rogers, Ethics and Social Welfare, 2023
‘This book, Social Work with the Black African Diaspora, is a welcome addition to the library of emerging African social work scholars in western societies. It is a well-overdue contribution to combatting age-long racial and political knowledge in social work. Although the book is focused on Ireland, its theoretical terrain has significant resonance for the profession, society and, most importantly, policymakers worldwide’.
Oluwagbemiga Oyinlola, Aotearoa New Zealand Social Work, 2023
Washington Marovatsanga works at the Atlantic Technological University in the Republic of Ireland. He is a qualified social worker and board member of the Irish Association of Social Workers.
Paul Michael Garrett works at the University of Galway in the Republic of Ireland. He is an elected member of the Royal Irish Academy.
1. Introduction
2. Keywords, concepts and terminology
3. Decolonising theory
4. Afrocentricity and its critics
5. Social Work in neoliberal, ‘multicultural’ Ireland
6. ‘When in Rome, you do as the Romans do’? Social work with the Black African diaspora
7. Conclusion