The significance of African-centered social work for social work practice

Abstract

In order to respond to concomitant factors that impact members of the extensive African Diasporic community, African-centered theory/Afrocentricity warrants elevation in the social work literature and scientific inquiry. In preparing for this special journal issue, the editors recognized the dearth of scholarship advancing this critical perspective in social work. This special issue provides information on both philosophical and conceptual thinking about African-centered social work to respond to the current challenges facing these communities. The only academic social work entity entirely devoted to furthering African-centered pedagogy is the Academy for African-centered Social Work of the National Association of Black Social Workers. A primary goal of the Academy is to expand the influence and institutionalization of African-centered social work practice, education, and research. This special issue launches another intercommunicative and inter-educational medium of approaches of this theory to the broader social work community. This introduction provides an overview of African-centered social work, discusses its empirical base, and projects the importance of further examination in the academic literature and practice community.

KEYWORDS:

• African American social welfare history
• African-centered research
• Afrocentric practice
• Afrocentric social work
• Black Perspective in social work
• mutual aid