Social Location
Speaking from a purely personal perspective, it would be better if all people in the world, specifically the world here in Canada, were completely willing to accept a person because they are a fellow human being. Unfortunately, that is not the case. Bias shows itself in the way that people view different religions, skin colors, and ethnicities. Somalia, and the Somali people, are viewed harshly by the people in this world because of the continual civil war that has raged in the country, and because the predominant religion in the that region is Muslim. The realization that it is difficult for people in this world, whether that be the government of Canada or the average citizen, to accept is that people are people no matter where they are from. My client wants to move his family from Somalia to the relative safety of Canada because he realizes that the stability of his adopted country will allow his children to get a valuable education, he and his wife to get good-paying jobs, and for the whole family to live without the fear of the schizophrenic reprisals offered by various warlords.
One of the main questions that coworkers had during the discussion after I had placed one of my male clients, at his insistence, with my white colleague Christopher was whether this exhibited racism. This is an interesting conundrum that has arisen despite the fact that I am black and my client is also. We were not pressured by white colleagues to make the switch, it is something that my client wanted. The client’s interest is in procuring the best possible chance for his family to leave Somalia and be sponsored to Canada. He believes that his family’s best chance lies in having a white worker act as his go-between. Of course, this does not matter as much as how the agency is perceived, or thinks they are perceived, by the outside world. The racism comment came not because we were thought to be racist, but because we were perpetuating a culture of racism. While this may be so, it seems that one must work in the best interests of the client within the system that exists. If the system is racist, then it must be presently manipulated to secure the family in Canada. This is how I know it to work from my own observations. This is what is true in my world. The system can be changed, through the continued education of those responsible, over time. But, for now, it is best to work within the system that has been created and not cause waves that may result in the client not being able to bring his family to a safe region.
Of course, there are other problems that people may see. I, being from Somalia, can better serve the client in all of his needs than a white colleague from Canada (Dean, 2001). I do believe that this is true. Research has proven that cultural competence is a difficult to acquire. One from the client’s culture has a better understanding of the individual and can better recommend helps to them (Dean, 2001). This is true, but it is also a moot point in light of the reason for the change. The client is not saying that I do not understand his situation. Actually, because I do understand his situation I am recommending that the change occur. Christopher does have a better understanding of the predominantly white church members who will be sponsoring the family. Therefore it does work. Christopher is not as much working the Somali client as the Canadian church members, of whose culture he is.
The argument that my other colleagues, and my supervisor, make that the client should not be handed over because of the hint of racism is valid. A white worker should be able to work with a Somali client, and, conversely, a Somali-native social worker should be able to work with the white members of a Canadian church (Heron, 2004). Precisely because I am a success story within the Somali community here in Canada, I should be the perfect person to speak for someone of my same culture and religion. Also, a white social worker could possibly show a Somali client the ways to succeed in a white majority Canada. It is the enlightenment and educational ability that we possess that should make it easier for us to quell the undercurrent of racism that exists in the society (Heron, 2004). However, this has not proven to be the case. In the long-term, people will probably change, but we are seeking to place clients right now.
Maybe there needs to be a shift in the way that social workers view making changes to subtly racist cultures (Gibson
Identity Difference and Social Location