Author Honors African American Social Work Pioneers

Publications

By Paul R. Pace

Iris B. Carlton-LaNey, PhD, professor emerita at the University of North Carolina School of Social Work, is the editor of the NASW Press book “African American Leadership: An Empowerment Tradition in Social Welfare History.” She answers questions about the book.

What inspired this book?

I have three degrees in social work and learned little about these pioneers throughout my social work education. I heard endlessly about Jane Addams and Mary Richmond, and as an African American social work educator, I knew there had to have been counterparts in the African American community. I wanted to know who they were and realized early on that I had to take the initiative to find out on my own.

Why is it important to recognize African American social work pioneers?

These individual pioneers represented the spirit of self-help that permeates the African American community. They designed and developed individual and community social welfare programs that served their communities. Contemporary scholars and practitioners should know who came before them, the types of programs they established and implemented, and on whose shoulders they stand today.

Who can benefit from your book?

All social work faculty understand the importance of history to contemporary practice, and they will incorporate history to help students better understand, respect, acknowledge and build on culture.

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