Race and Social Policy: Confronting Our Discomfort

The election of President Barack Obama, our first U.S. black president, for many was accompanied by the hope of a postracial society. This hope was short lived. This growing racial tension was particularly prominent in the U.S. 2016 presidential election that magnified the racial, ethnic, and class divisions in our country. An ethical responsibility of social workers is to address social justice issues and work individually and collectively to address them. Although mindful that social policy and subsequent legislation do not always change the hearts of people, dialogue adds knowledge that in turn opens the opportunity for change. The introduction begins this important dialogue.