This article describes various communication barriers between Euro-American chaplains and African American families which prevent effective spiritual care. These barriers include covert and deeply internalized racism, belief in false ideologies, persistent stereotyping, and being unaware of white privilege. Proposes potential solutions of acknowledging ones own race; becoming sensitive to the history and continuing oppression of Euro-Americans toward African Americans; building multicultural competence through education; and building equal-status relationships with African American individuals.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
AshbyHomerJr. (2003). Our home is over Jordon, St. Louis, MO: Chalice Press.
2.
BelgumDavid. (1999). Dealing with cultural diversity: A hospital chaplain reflects on gypsies and other such diversity. The Journal of Pastoral Care, 53, 175–181.
3.
DevoreWynetta. (2001). Whence came these people? An exploration of the values and ethics of African American individuals, families, and communities. In FongRowena and FurutoSharlene (Ed.), Culturally Competent Practice (pp. 33–46). Needham Heights, MA: Allyn & Bacon.
4.
DeymazMark. (2007). Building a healthy multi-ethnic church. San Francisco: Josey-Bass.
5.
YanceyGeorge. (2003). One body one spirit. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
6.
DeYoungCurtiss PaulEmersonMichael O.YanceyGeorge, and KimKaren Chai. (2003). United by faith. New York: Oxford University Press.
7.
FeaginJoe, & O'BrienEileen (2003). White men on race. Boston: Beacon Press.
8.
FosterCharles R., & BelsfordTheodore. (1996). We are the church together: Cultural diversity in congregational life. Valley Forge, PA: Trinity Press International.
9.
FuertesJairo N.MislowackAlexa, and MintzSharon. (2005). Multicultural competencies in clinic and hospital settings. In ConstantineMadonna G., and SueDerald Wing (Ed), Strategies for building multicultural competence in mental health and educational settings (pp. 145–159). Hoboken, New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
10.
FukuyamaMaryHernandezCarlos, and RobinsonShari (2007). Religious and spiritual issues In ConstantineMadonna G. (Ed), Clinical practice with people of color: A guide to becoming culturally competent, (pp. 212–230). New York: Teachers College Press.
11.
GutierrezGustavo (1988). A theology of liberation. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books.
12.
HarveyAminifu R., Individual and family intervention skills with African Americans: An africentric approach. In. FongRowena and FurutoSharlene B.C.L. (Ed.), Culturally competent practice: Skills, interventions, and evaluations (225–240). Needham Heights, MA: Allyn & Bacon.
13.
HarveyKevinBrownBrianCrawfordPaul and CandlinSally. (2008). Elicitation hooks: A discourse analysis of chaplain-patient interaction in pastoral and spiritual care. The Journal of Pastoral Care & Counseling, 62, 43–61.
LarteyEmmanuel. (2003). In living color: An intercultural approach to pastoral care and counseling. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
16.
LawEric H.F. (1993). The wolf shall dwell with the lamb: A spirituality for leadership in a multicultural community. St. Louis: Chalice Press.
17.
LeeK. Samuel. (2001). Becoming multicultural dancers: The pastoral practitioner in a multicultural society. The Journal of Pastoral Care, 55, 389–395.
18.
MarinJuanita. (2007). African American populations. In ConstantineMadonna (Ed.), Clinical practice with people of color: A guide to becoming culturally competent (pp. 33–45). New York: Teachers College Press.
19.
OkayamaChet M.FurutoSharlene, and EdmondsonJames. (2001). Components of cultural competence: Attitudes, knowledge, and skills. In FongRowena, and FuroutoSharlene (Ed.), Culturally competent practice, (pp. 89–100). Needham Heights, MA: Allyn and Bacon.
20.
OrtizManuel. (1996). One new people, Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press.
21.
RodriguezJesus. (1999). Chaplain's communications with Latino patients: Case studies in non-verbal communication. The Journal of Pastoral Care, 53, 309–317.
22.
SmithWilliam David. (1978). Black perspectives on counseling. In WalzGarry R. and BenjaminLibby (Ed.), Transcultural counseling: Needs, programs and techniques (pp. 83–110). New York: Human Sciences Press.
23.
TaylorCharles W. (1995). Race, ethnicity, and the struggle for an inclusive church and society In CouturePamela D. and HunterRodney J. (Ed.), Pastoral care and social conflict (pp. 152–164). Nashville: Abingdon Press.
24.
TownsendLoren L. (2004). Ferment and imagination in training in clinical ministry. In, RamsayNancy J. (Ed.), Pastoral care and counseling: Redefining the paradigms (pp. 119–134). Nashville: Abingdon Press.
25.
TurnerWilliam H. (1977). Myths and Stereotypes: The African man in America. In WilkinsonDoris Y. and TaylorRonald L. (Ed.), The black male in America (pp. 122–132). Chicago: Nelson-Hall.
26.
Van BeekAart M. (1996). Cross-cultural counseling. Minneapolis: Fortress Press.
27.
WilkinsonDoris Y. (1977). The stigmatization process: The politicization of the black male's identity. In WilkinsonDoris Y. and TaylorRonald L. (Ed.), The black male in America (pp. 145–158). Chicago: Nelson-Hall.
28.
WimberlyEdward P. (1991). African American pastoral care. Nashville: Abingdon Press.
