Parallel Paths – Forrester B. Washington

Parallel Paths – Forrester B. Washington

1. Who was Forrester B. Washington and what were his accomplishments?

* Forrester B. Washington was an African American who advocated for his race during the New Deal and during a time when the social work profession was first evolving and did not focus on the African American society. He fought for injustice and had great impact on the development of social work especially in the southern region.

2. In what year did Dean Washington write this article and what was important event was taking place at that time?

* Dean Washington wrote this article in 1935. During this time the Great Depression was taking place.

3. In what way, according to Dean Washington, are social workers like mechanics and physicians?

* Social workers are like mechanics and physicians because they are a critical part to correcting the social organization. Mechanics and physicians correct things that other professions or organizations cannot and social workers are similar; they intervene in situations that typical entities cannot solve.

4. Why, according to Dean Washington, are Negro social workers more effective with Negro clients?

* Negro social workers are more familiar with the atmosphere and climate of Negro households. The sense of familiarity allows the worker to make sound decisions and recognize the residual effects of the decision.

5. In what ways did the demand for Negro social workers change during the depression?

* The demand for Negro social workers increased during the depression. There was a climb in Negro clients, and Negro social workers were able to close these cases faster which saved time and money.

6. Why is social work training valuable?

* Social work training is valuable because workers are able to assess situations and determine the best outcome based on prior knowledge and experience. This is extremely important in situations that involve emergencies.

7. Before the establishment of the Atlanta School of Social Work, why were untrained Negroes hired to do social work, when it was required that white workers be trained?

* There are several reasons why untrained Negro workers were hired: they did not have to pay them as much as trained workers, the lack of concern of Negro clients, educated workers were frowned upon because they had to be treated with more respect, and there were not many trained Negro social workers.

8. What did Dean