Cory Whitfield, an ETSU graduate student, was recently elected to serve as a student representative for the Tennessee chapter of the National Association of Social Workers Board of Directors. Whitfield will be working with other social workers to promote racial and social justice in Tennessee. The organization also works to promote the social work profession in the region.
Whitfield also completed his undergraduate degree in social work at ETSU. It’s encouraging to see someone in our own community selected for such a great opportunity for both their own career and the opportunity to create change. I hope that with Cory Whitfield on the Board of Directors, change will be made to help our community in Northeast Tennessee.
Racial and social prejudice can be found pretty much everywhere, but it’s especially a problem in Northeast Tennessee. According to the Census Bureau, 13.9% of Tennesseans were estimated to live in poverty in 2019. According to the USDA in 2018, Greene, Carter, Washington, Unicoi and Sullivan counties all had a 14.5% or higher poverty rate, with Carter County being the highest at 19.1%. According to Knox News, a survey conducted in 2017 recorded Tennessee to be the eighth least-educated state.
I believe that poverty and lack of a good, unbiased education are what create a perfect environment for racism and social prejudice to grow. Another major factor is a lack of diversity or representation in communities. If someone is never exposed to different perspectives or around different kinds of people, than they are a lot less likely to be tolerant or appreciative of other philosophies and cultures.
Northeast Tennessee has all three of these characteristics, which makes it even more important that organizations like the NASW work to create change in this community. Working to improve cultural and racial diversity, education and financial opportunity in this area will help to reduce racism and promote equality.
