Social work futures: Reflections from the UK on the demise of antiracist social work and emerging issues in a post-race era

Abstract

Since social work draws upon knowledge from a range of disciplines, postmodern theories began to filter into theory and practice with emphasis upon identities and intersectionality. With the demise of antiracist social work in the 1980s, these issues appear to be given less attention in social work education. Although new racisms have emerged in the past decade, which extend beyond skin color as the only signifier of difference, this marker maintains importance and persistence in contemporary society. As Sefa Dei (Race Ethn Educ 2(1):17-37, 1999) contends, it is through the racial signification of skin color, individuals and groups are marked and classified for differential and preferential treatment.