Stereotypes are ingrained in the fabric of the USA and coincide with the institution of slavery. The expected behaviors of African-Americans are fueled by stereotypes maintained by the status quo. Throughout US history, the stereotyping of African-Americans, particularly males, has had a negative impact on African-American families and communities. For instance, the belief that African-Americans are unintelligent, lazy, violent, and criminals has affected educational outcomes, employment opportunities, socioeconomic status, and the dismantling of African-American families and communities. Educators, businessmen, and law enforcement often believe these stereotypes, which influences their treatment of African-Americans. The oppression of African-Americans is a critical human rights issue that has to be addressed in social work practice. This article highlights a historical overview of how stereotypes have contributed to a denial of human rights, evidenced by inequalities in education, employment, and the justice system. Recommendations for culturally competent interventions and practice to improve social equity are discussed.

A qualitative research design using the interviews of five homeless street females was undertaken to understand the meaning of the lived experiences of the homeless street females and their identified need for community based programs. This research design provided the researchers with the opportunity to understand the complexities of homelessness from the homeless street females in Ethiopia using ethnography. The qualitative study was exploratory in nature and utilized ethnographic methods, such as participant observation and semi-structured interviews within both formal and informal social contexts. This ethnographic approach allowed the homeless street female the opportunity to utilize their own point of view to explore their concerns, attitudes, and personal experiences with caregiving relationships, social supports, coping strategies, gender and stigma, and cultural beliefs and practices in how they manage their lives on the street.

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