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Social Work Macro-practice Collaborative Discussions

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Social Work Macro-practice Collaborative Discussions

In our teams discussion regarding "Two Towns of Jasper" documentary, it gave us an opportunity to

have a deep look at power, race and community in the aftermath of of James Byrd Jr.'s tragic

murder. All the members of the group highlighted their comprehension of the film and proposed

various community practice models and theories that can be used to address the existing issues. Jeni

emphasized that tensions between the Black and White populations are still fueled by Jasper's

historical history of racial inequity and segregation. She suggested utilizing Rothman's social

planning model to help the groups identify common ground, develop trust, and organize structured

conversation.

Kim’s post expanded on the value conflicts experienced by the Black community,

particularly regarding representation and accountability suggesting political and social action model

to empower marginalized groups and address systemic inequalities. Finally supported the discussion

by referencing theories such as social power theory and critical race theory to inform strategies for

tackling power imbalances and institutional racism. Patricia added on the discussion by highlighting

the differences the black community faces in representation and opportunities and ultimately

proposed community practice models that focuses on organizing communities that are functional

and promoting political and social action to address these systemic issues. Christy analyzed the

relationship dynamics between the Black and White communities, noting the resilience and support

networks within the Black community.

The discussions provided by Jeni, Kim, Patricia, and Christy offer a detailed view of

challenges that that were facing the town of Jasper, Texas, in the aftermath of James Byrd Jr.'s tragic

murder. After I read all the discussions, there is a notable recurring theme by all members which is

the profound racial division and injustices that continue to persist in the community despite all the

effort put trying to fit in, basically blending together, the Black and White communities in Jasper do

exist separately where there is very little interaction between them. Residents who are considered
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black often have a feeling of being ignored and sidelined and on the contrary, white residents

frequently dismiss racism where present and are always in opposition on initiatives that may be

aimed at addressing systematic inequalities. These interactions are a reflection of Jasper's past

segregation and highlight the importance of meaningful discussion and action in fostering healing

and reconciliation.

A beneficial approach to put into consideration is political and social action model. It’s about

making a change to the power dynamics and resources to make institutional changes to aid in

alleviating unfairness and promote social justice (Netting et al., 2017). Utilizing the theories of

politics, power, and change can likewise reveal the underlying forces at work in Jasper. For

example, critical race theory emphasizes how ubiquitous racism is inside institutions and processes,

whereas social power theory exposes the differences in power distribution between the Black and

White populations. For a considerable time, these communities have faced diversity but ultimately

they have continued to demonstrate how resilient they can be and the extent of solidarity. Also,

these communities gathered together and discussions tailored to addressing their concerns.

These issues can be addressed by using approaches like advocating for policy change,

organizing the community and capacity building initiatives. It is essential to have both stakeholders

from the black and white comminutes to come together to try and move Jasper towards

reconciliation, justice, and collective prosperity. With empathy, perseverance, and a dedication to

fairness and justice, Jasper can address its past of racial segregation and advance toward a more

diverse and peaceful future.

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References

Netting, F. E., Kettner, P. M., McMurtry, S. L., & Thomas, M. L. (2017). Social work macro

practice. A & B/Pearson.

PBS Video. (2002). Two Towns of Jasper. USA.