MaralexHam Resources

Imagery/visualization to foster self worth build self esteem. “To any citizen of this country who figures himself as responsible – and particularly those of you who deal with the minds and hearts of young people – must be prepared to “go for broke.” Or to put it another way, you must understand that in the attempt to correct so many generations of bad faith and cruelty, when it is operating not only in the classroom but in society, you will meet the most fantastic, the most brutal, and the most determined resistance. There is no point in pretending that this won’t happen.”
- James Baldwin, A Talk for Teachers, 1963

As a clinician I often engage in imagery and visualization exercises with my students and today as I walked around my home and noticed the images that my now adult children were raised in. I thank my parents for encouraging a strong sense of who I am and my worth so that I can pass it on to my children and the ones I blessed with the opportunities to serve. What images are you providing for your children, nieces nephews grandchildren?

“To any citizen of this country who figures himself as responsible – and particularly those of you who deal with the minds and hearts of young people – must be prepared to “go for broke.” Or to put it another way, you must understand that in the attempt to correct so many generations of bad faith and cruelty, when it is operating not only in the classroom but in society, you will meet the most fantastic, the most brutal, and the most determined resistance. There is no point in pretending that this won’t happen.”
- James Baldwin, A Talk for Teachers, 1963

‪I received a link to a Facebook video, and I became angry and shock as I saw the above comments from one of my previous professor/faculty advisor and a social worker a clinical social worker. I sent both the link and the screenshot to the school expressing my concerns/requesting‬

Malcolm X said, “Of all our studies, history is best qualified to reward our research.” The young people in the streets right now must understand the history. Everything they’re doing today has been done before. In Spring of 1968, cities across America burned to the ground. The triggering event in history was the assassination of Dr. King but more precisely, it was the enduring pain and frustration of Blackness, that caused thousands to burn it all down. Washington, Chicago, Baltimore, Detroit, Cincinnati and many other cities erupted. After generations of police violence, government-sanctioned terrorism of all stripes and the assassination of the one Black man calling for peace, all bets were off. American cities burned for weeks and many communities wouldn’t recover for decades. That was in 1968 and 50 years later, Black people are, in many ways, worse off. Perhaps rioting has its just place but the work of Black power happens after the dust settles.

Illinois Association of School Social Workers Annual Conference