Michael Dubose

SW 4710
Journal 7
October 18, 2014
Journal 7
5. Increasingly, social workers are going into political careers (elected and appointed officials
and staff positions). Is this an encouraging sign for the profession? Explain
I do believe that social workers going into the profession of politics are encouraging
because social workers are powerless against government. (Karger & Stoezs, 2014)
This will allow social workers to impact politics with the reasoning and voice of the
people that they have first had knowledge of their problems. Allowing the perspective of a social
worker would not only be beneficial to the social work profession but also the law makers who
are blinded by their own perspective on the public.
Those who have no clue about the people they serve it will help them become well informed and
put them in a position to act on behalf of the people they serve with a clear vision of the issues
their constituents face.
Social workers going into politics will allow an elected official to affectively and
empathically advocate and implement change in policy.

Several social workers, across racial, ethnic and gender lines, have taken on major social
problems and made a difference, back in the Progressive Era, e.g., Jane Adams and Ida B.
Wells-Barnett. Who were other outstanding advocates for social change? Select one advocate,
e.g. Adam, Wells-Barnett, Haynes, Cohen, and write a brief bio about the individual and what
impressed you most about his/her social work/social reform cause, targeted population and
change oriented stance or position.
Other outstanding advocates for change are
1. Prince Hall who opened the first school for African American children in Boston
from his own home. He was an abolitionist who fought for equal rights of all people
not only colored. His accomplishment is astonishing given the era that he made his
many accomplishments. He also helped fund to campaign to send slaves back to
Africa.
2. Mikhail Gorbachev played a key role in dismantling the Communist grip on power in
both the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. His aspirations for democracy and reform
opened up the way for the end of the Cold War and the bringing down of the Berlin
Wall.
He has worked tirelessly promoting new efforts at social justice and concern for the
environment through his own organization the Green Cross.
3. Other includes Desmond Tutu, Susan B. Antony who fought for the rights of women,
Nelson Mandela, Rosa Parks and Fredrick Douglass.
Fredrick Douglass was a former slave and anti-slavery campaigner of fought for the
rights of all. He even attended and supported a womens suffrage meeting and spoke.
Douglass endured beatings and verbal attacks. Douglass escaped slavery and went on
to become one of the most influential people of his time. Douglass was a writer, he
held several government positions after the civil war, he was an editor, and speaker
who fought not only here in American for the rights of Colored and others he traveled
to the British Isle also.
Douglass campaigned for human rights and made a strong moral case against slavery.
Right is of no Sex Truth is of no Color God is the Father of us all, and we are all
brethren. (Fredrick Douglass)
In 1848, he attended the womens rights convention in Seneca. Douglass was the only
African American to attend. He spoke passionately in favor of womens suffrage and
became a lifelong supporter for the womens rights movement, becoming acquainted
with prominent womens rights activists such as Elizabeth Cady Stanton. Douglass
felt rights for black people should be linked with rights for womens rights.
What impressed to so much about Fredrick Douglass is that he was fearless in his
attempts to implement policy change in a time when it was hard for African and
African Americans to live a quality life without fear of dying or being jailed.
Though he was enslaved by Europeans he fought for the rights of all. I was impressed
that he learned to read and write and eventually write books even though it was
outlawed at the time.
Douglass tragic population was mainly African Americans and fighting for their
freedom and equal rights. Douglass fought side by side with women and traveled
aboard to inspire people.
Fredrick Douglass wanted to change public opinion about slavery and racial
inequality. He was a fearless fighter against slavery and inequality for all.
Bibliography
Frederick Douglass Biography -. (n.d.). Biography Online. Retrieved October 18,
2014, from http://www.biographyonline.net/writers/frederick-douglass.html
Most Famous and Influential Social Workers. (n.d.). Odd Stuff Magazine. Retrieved
October 18, 2014, from http://oddstuffmagazine.com/most-famous-and-influential-
social-workers.html
Quotes About Advocacy. (n.d.). (26 quotes). Retrieved October 18, 2014, from
http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/advocacy