Social Work Lecture Feb. 25th

Social Welfare System Development

• Discussion begins with the Progressive Era and the establishment of settlement houses.

• Early calls were made for government intervention to address social issues.

• Previous groundwork was laid for the social welfare system, particularly in the post-World War II context (1940s-1970s).

• Focus on social movements in this time period: civil rights, gender equality, labor rights, and social justice advocacy.

Social Movements from 1940s to 1970s

• Emerging Social Issues Post-WWII:

  • Attention was drawn to inequities in society, notably affecting African Americans.

  • Organized movements at both national and local levels utilized negotiations, protests, and demonstrations.

  • This era aligns with the core social work belief in fundamental human rights for all individuals.

Voting Rights

• 15th Amendment (1870):

  • Established the right to vote without racial discrimination, although states maintained control over voting regulations.

• Jim Crow Laws:

  • Enforced racial segregation in the South from the 1870s to the 1960s, suppressing African American voting.

  • Example: Mississippi had a mere 6.3% voter turnout from African Americans in 1965.

  • Local laws included poll taxes, literacy testing, and grandfather clauses, further disenfranchising black voters.

Significant Amendments and Acts

• Nineteenth Amendment (1920): Granted women the right to vote but failed to eliminate discriminatory state laws hampering voting access for minorities.

• Voting Rights Act (1965):

  • Aimed to prohibit discriminatory practices in voting across all states.

  • Came in response to continuous barriers imposed by states that prevented equitable voting rights.

• Shelby County vs. Holder (2013):

  • Ruling that lifted pre-clearance requirements for states with histories of racial discrimination in voting.

  • Led to the passing of stricter voting laws in 25 states, disproportionately affecting underserved communities.

Women's Suffrage Movement

• Key Figures:

  • Susan B. Anthony: Activist in the suffrage movement and anti-slavery, focused on organizing efforts.

  • Elizabeth Cady Stanton: Collaborated with Anthony on writing and agenda setting, wrote the Declaration of Sentiments.

  • Ida B. Wells: African American journalist and civil rights advocate, active in exposing lynching and fighting for suffrage.

  • Anna Julia Cooper: Educator and activist advocating for inclusion of women of color in feminist movements.

The Role of Black Women in Suffrage

• Ida B. Wells:

  • Pioneered anti-lynching campaigns, also instrumental in organizing suffrage clubs.

  • Faced adversities including losing her family and overcoming societal prejudices.

  • Co-founder of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).

• Membership in Organizations:

  • Early African American women's groups were founded to mobilize voters and advocate for political rights.

Civil Rights Act of 1875 and Plessy v. Ferguson

• Civil Rights Act (1875):

  • Prohibited racial discrimination in public accommodations but was undermined by segregation laws upheld in Plessy v. Ferguson (1896), which established 'separate but equal' standards.

• Brown v. Board of Education (1954):

  • Challenged and deemed segregation unconstitutional, prompting further civil rights action.

Civil Rights Movement Developments

• Resistance and advocacy following desegregation decisions led to continued activism in the 1960s onwards.

• Key events included the Montgomery bus boycott, the Little Rock Nine's integration, and Martin Luther King Jr.'s leadership.

The Role of Whitney Young

• Whitney Young:

  • Co-founder of the National Urban League, advocated for increased job opportunities for black Americans.

  • Emphasized collaboration across communities and governmental bodies to address civil rights.

  • Known for entering dialogue with political leaders, making civil rights issues part of national conversation.

National Association of Black Social Workers (NABSW)

• Founded in 1968 to advocate for increased representation of black social workers and address racial justice within the profession.

• Emerged from frustrations with the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) not addressing urban crises adequately.

Modern Social Movements and Historical Context

• Need for social work professionals to grasp historical context and legacy of social movements to understand present inequalities.

• Debate within the profession regarding reform versus abolition of oppressive systems (e.g., criminal justice, child welfare).

• Importance of understanding global social issues and how they intersect with local practices in social work.