Race, racism and social work : contemporary issues and debates / edited by Michael Lavalette and Laura Penketh.

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

Without a doubt, structural and institutionalised racism is still present in Britain and Europe, a factor that social work education and training has been slow to acknowledge.

In this timely new book, Lavalette and Penketh reveal that racism towards Britain's minority ethnic groups has undergone a process of change. They affirm the importance of social work to address issues of 'race' and racism in education and training by presenting a critical review of a this demanding aspect of social work practice.

Original in its approach, and with diverse perspectives from key practitioners in the field, the authors examine contemporary anti-racism, including racism towards Eastern European migrants, Roma people and asylum seekers. It also considers the implications of contemporary racism for current practice.

This is essential reading for anyone academically or professionally interested in social work, and the developments in this field of study post 9/11.

Reviews provided by Syndetics

CHOICE Review

In this broad collection of perspectives on race and racism in social work, editors Lavalette and Penketh offer strong evidence of the importance of structural disadvantage in the experience of minority peoples. Throughout, the contributors mourn the demise of anti-racism approaches to social problems in social work, blaming neoliberal and postmodern movements while offering limited corrections. The current trend toward "the promotion / management of diversity," better known as cultural competence, is less politically challenging and more diluted than an anti-racism approach. "The once popular narrative that social problems were caused by the injustices of capitalism," they write, "has been corrected with the idea that all social problems are caused by outsiders and immigrants." Their recommendation is to recognize explicitly that social work is political, combating the far right's influence. Though not prescriptive, the book does offer ideas and arguments that can contribute to a more critical and reflective stance on race and racism and the beginning of more informed, sensitive, and anti-racist methods of social work practice. Strengths include an excellent glossary of terms and definitions, including such new ones as Islamophobia and xenoracism; one weakness may be its focus on issues in the UK. --Julie Cooper Altman, Adelphi University