Anti-black racism and community violence: an autoethnography of the experiences of a black male social worker in community settings

Abstract

This research represents a highly personalized account of my experience as a black male frontline worker supporting black families impacted by community violence. Using myself as the subject this paper explores complexities of navigating community violence in relation to structural violence, anti-black racism mental health impacts. Through utilizing autoethnography as a methodology this paper examines two transformative events that provides an insider’s vantage point into the challenges I have faced as a black man within my practice. Through sharing my experience, I hope to raise awareness about the impacts on mental health on frontline workers that support communities that experience trauma.