Since 1970, there have been numerous contributions to the discipline of Black Canadian history. This article assesses the work of a number of historians and other social scientists in the literature. Each of the authors clearly acknowledges that Black Canadians have experienced racism and discrimination since their arrival in Canada and discusses how members of the community responded to these practices. Collectively, the work of these authors clearly fills a void in the writing of Canadian history in which people of African descent are typically excluded.
This article examines the role that Union United Church, the oldest Black church in Montreal, Quebec, played as a social welfare institution from 1907 to 1940 during the establishment of the city's Black community. The Union Church and its affiliated church groups played a significant role in the Black community. As a social welfare institution, it provided the community members with basic necessities, particularly during a downturn in the economy. Social, recreational, and educational activities were organized through the church to promote a sense of community. Through its ministers, community members battled against the "Colour Line" that excluded members of the community from equitable employment and educational opportunities.
This article describes the role that spirituality plays in the lives of African Nova Scotians. Utilizing the results of two studies involving members of this group, "The Strong Black Woman Project" and the "Racism, Violence, and Health Study," three major themes emerge. These include spirituality as a source of strength, spirituality as a coping strategy in a society where African Nova Scotians continue to experience racism and discrimination in all spheres of life, and spiritual health and well being as an important aspect of health. The article concludes with a discussion of the results and implications for social work practice.
In their effort to adapt to life in Canada, immigrant and refugee fathers encounter several stressors, including underemployment and role changes within their families. Through a qualitative study involving in-depth interviews with fourteen Russian immigrant and twenty Sudanese refugee men in Canada, the authors examine the perceptions and experiences of these men as fathers in a large urban center in western Canada. The authors present insights on the meaning of fatherhood, the values that guide their behaviors as fathers, their interactions with and aspirations for their children, decision-making processes within the family related to children, and the challenges these men have faced as fathers in Canadian society.
"Multiculturalism is regarded as a key feature of Canada's national identity. Yet despite an increasingly diverse population, racialized Canadians are systematically excluded from full participation in society through personal and structural forms of racism and discrimination. Race and Anti-Racism in Canada provides readers with a critical examination of how racism permeates Canadian society and articulates the complex ways to bring about equity and inclusion both individual and systemically."--
AbstractFamily mediation includes working with peoples of diverse cultures. Mediators need to learn about other cultures and become creative in their work with clients with diverse backgrounds. Using examples from Vietnamese, Pakistani, and Ismaili communities, this article discusses ways mediators can enhance their ability to work with people from different cultures.
Paternal disengagement has been identified as a key risk factor for Canadian children. Prior to this study, the specific barriers to paternal engagement facing immigrant and refugee fathers had not been studied or identified, nor had strategies been developed to ensure that the needs of this population are met in new and existing services. The design of specialized services for immigrant and refugee fathers, as well as the successful integration of immigrant and refugee fathers into existing services, requires that practitioners gain an understanding of fatherhood from a cross cultural perspective. The intent of this study was to explore the values, strengths and difficulties faced by new Canadian fathers as they negotiate a variety of Canadian experiences while coping with the struggles associated with migration. Implications of these findings for the development and implementation of programs intended to support families will be discussed.
Little attention has been paid to the needs of refugee children in Canada. The last decade has seen increasing numbers of Roma refugees settling in southern Ontario, and this qualitative study explored the needs of Roma refugee children in the education, health and social services sectors. We interviewed or conducted focus groups with 24 Roma and 62 service providers from those sectors. Participants indicated that Roma children had high needs for service in all these sectors, but that families were often unable or unwilling to access services effectively. Specifically, children needed schooling for language acquisition and for the development of social relationships; absenteeism was a concern. Income assistance was needed by Roma and other newly-arriving families. Continuity and quality of health care was an issue. In all sectors, barriers were related to language, culture and the unique history of the Roma people. This paper contextualizes study findings by briefly summarizing Roma historical and current experience in Europe; this experience is critical to an understanding of the difficulties that Roma encounter with institutional systems.
ABSTRACTMost immigration studies focus on the negative consequences of immigration for families and for parenting. Immigration is also viewed as a factor that undermines fathers' capacity to implement their fathering roles. The impact of immigration on fathers has received very little attention. This paper is based on 54 interviews with immigrant fathers to Canada and Israel. Based on qualitative data, the paper investigates immigrant fathers' perceptions of fatherhood in the midst of cultural change. This paper challenges the widely held notion that immigration itself is a risk factor for fatherhood. It focuses rather on the systemic barriers and obstacles facing immigrant fathers in their new country and the positive opportunities this change presents. Implications for intervention and policies concerning immigrant families are discussed.
Acknowledgements --About the Authors --Foreword:Still Fighting for Change /Rajean N. Willis, Rachelle Sweeting, Veronica Marsman, Vivian Dixon, Yvette Jarvis and Wanda Thomas Bernard --Foundation for the Social Work Profession /Delores V. Mullings, Jennifer Clarke, Sulaimon Giwa, Wanda Thomas Bernard and David Este --Part 1:Context and Foundation --In Our Own Words: This Is the Beginning /Jennifer Clarke, Delores V. Mullings, Wanda Thomas Bernard, David Este and Sulaimon Giwa --Social Work Pioneers /Christopher Walmsley, Wanda Thomas Bernard and David Este --Decolonizing Social Work Research /Lori A. Chambers --Part 2:Institutionalization of Black Bodies --Colour of Child Welfare: Overrepresentation of Black Children in Ontario Child Welfare /Jennifer Clarke, Gordon Pon and Doret Phillips --Cultural Production of Problem Baby Mamas /Anita Rachel Ewan, Delores V. Mullings and Jennifer Clarke --Black Caribbean Canadian Elders /Delores V. Mullings, Sulaimon Giwa and Anda Adam --Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Access to Mental Health Services /Wesley Crichlow, Ellen Faulkner and Kirk Leach --Out of the Shadows: Race and (Dis)Ability among African Nova Scotians /Rajean N. Willis, Kimberly M. Berry and Wanda Thomas Bernard --Practice Modalities in Health Care with Black Canadians /Notisha Massaquoi and Delores V. Mullings --Black Women's Resilience: Therapy and Support for Refugee Women /Joelleann Forbes, Deone Curling and Simone Donaldson --Black Lives under Lockdown: COVID-19 and Racial Injustice Converge /Jennifer Clarke, Delores V. Mullings and Sulaimon Giwa --Epilogue In Conversation:This Is Not the End /Delores V. Mullings, Jennifer Clarke, Sulaimon Giwa, Wanda Thomas Bernard, Dave Este, Heather Kere Quelleng, Amma Gyamfowa and Anne-Marie Hay --Index
