Utilizing the critical race theory framework, this article shares the emergent data from a larger study of new mothers that provided a composite counterstory of racism and plans to address racism with their children. Interviews of 12 African American women who were receiving Medicaid for pregnant women and delivered in a Southeastern hospital revealed that race and racism were underlying the variety of other topics discussed. Critical race theory provides a way of understanding their experiences and management of racism. Shared in the findings are applications to social work practice and education to address the racism that is experienced by African American women and their children.
CohenS. (2021, January4). Critical race theory and social work (No. 37). Doin’ The Work: Frontline Stories of Social Change. https://dointhework.podbean.com/
6.
CookD.DixsonA. (2013). Writing critical race theory and method: A composite counterstory on the experiences of black teachers in New Orleans post-Katrina. International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Education, 26(10), 1238–1258. https://doi.org/10.1080/09518398.2012.731531
7.
CrenshawK. (1989). Demarginalizing the intersection of race and sex: A Black feminist critique of antidiscrimination doctrine, feminist theory and antiracist politics. University of Chicago Legal Forum, 1(8), 139–167. http://chicagounbound.uchicago.edu/uclf/vol1989/iss1/8
8.
CreweS. (2021). Critical race theory: Uncomfortable but necessary tool for change agents. Journal of Social Work Education, 57(3), 416–418. https://doi.org/10.1080/10437797.2021.1945396
9.
DelgadoR.StefancicJ. (2001). Critical race theory: An introduction. New York University.
10.
DominelliL. (2018). Anti-racist social work (4th ed.). Palgrave.
11.
DwyerS.BuckleJ. (2009). The space between: On being an insider-outsider in qualitative research. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 8(1), 54–63. https://doi.org/10.1177/160940690900800105
12.
FlickU. (Ed.). (2014). The SAGE handbook of qualitative data analysis. SAGE.
13.
GayleN. (2011). Black women’s experiences of spirituality as a form of resistance and activism. Canadian Women’s Studies, 29(1/2), 107–120.
HallmonA.AnazaE.SandovalA.FernandezM. (2021). Black mothers’ recreational choices for their children: A critical race theory story. Annals of Leisure Research, 24(5), 552–566. https://doi.org/10.1080/11745398.2020.1769487
HarrisA.Amutah-OnukaghaN. (2019). Under the radar: Strategies used by Black mothers to prepare their sons for potential police interactions. Journal of Black Psychology, 45(6–7), 439–453. https://doi.org/10.1177/0095798419887069
18.
HaskettM. E.HallJ.K.FinsterH. P.OwensC.BuccelliA. R. (2022). “It brought my family more together”: Mixed-methods study of low-income U.S. mothers during the pandemic. Family Relations, 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1111/fare.12684
19.
HayesC.CasstevensW. (2017). Everyday racism in Black mothers’ lives: Implications for social work. Social Work Chronicle, 6(1), 11–27.
20.
JonesS.AndersonR.Gaskin-WassonA.SawyerB.ApplewhiteK.MezgerI. (2020). “Crib to coffin”: Navigating coping from racism related stress throughout the lifespan of Black Americans. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 90(2), 267–282. https://doi.org/10.1037/ort0000430
21.
KolivoskiK.WeaverA.Constance-HugginsM. (2014). Critical race theory: Opportunities for application in social work practice and policy. Families in Society: The Journal of Contemporary Social Services, 94(4), 269–276. https://doi.org/10.1606/1044-3894.2014.95.36
MorganE.StahmerA. (2020). Narratives of single black mother using cultural capital to access autism interventions in schools. British Journal of Sociology of Education, 42(1), 48–65. https://doi.org/10.1080/01425692.2020.1861927
24.
PattonM. (1990). Qualitative education and research methods (2nd ed.). SAGE.
25.
RayV.RandolphA.UnderhillM.LukeD. (2017). Critical race theory, afro-pessimism, and racial progress narratives. Sociology of Race and Ethnicity, 3(2), 147–158. https://doi.org/10.1177/2332649217692557
26.
RazackN.JefferyD. (2002). Critical race discourse and tenets for social work. Canadian Social Work Review, 19(2), 257–271.
SolórzanoD. G.YossoT. J. (2002). Critical race methodology: Counter-storytelling as an analytical framework for education research. Qualitative Inquiry, 8(1), 23–44.
