THE IMPACT OF BIAS AND HISTORICAL RACIAL TRAUMA ON BLACK GIRLS’ EDUCATION: USING THEORY TO BETTER UNDERSTAND BENEFITS

ABSTRACT OF CAPSTONE Implicit biases are among the most unfair discriminating microaggressive habits; Black students face within the compulsory educational system. However, college institutions are not sufficiently preparing social work students to work with this marginalized group to help manage these needs through diversity training courses. The researcher wrote a synthesis paper that synthesized two theories, the Critical Race Theory (CRT) and Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome (PTSS). This research will determine if social work students who take part in diversity training embedded in their coursework could better prepare social workers for the field. This research employed a descriptive design while synthesizing the data and defining CRT and PTSS while applying them to the research question. The researcher then described key themes each theory showed by conducting a systematic comparison while refining the synthesis of each approach. This research emphasizes why CSWE must integrate diversity training into its coursework requirements. This refinement better prepares students to acquire the necessary skills to tackle one of the significant Grand Challenges of Social Work to advocate for individuals racially profiled while seeking a fair and equal education. The investigator conducted a systematic review that examined the possible advantages of more culturally responsive practices and social workers stepping into professional roles in schools nationwide to combat implicit biases affecting Black girls\u27 education. In the interest of examining the educational outcomes for a specific group of students, extensive analysis within the institution of the educational system was necessary to gain a better understanding of Black girls. This inquiry yielded qualitative research. A qualitative inquiry relies on data collected by the researcher from first-hand observation conducted in natural settings, participant-observation, interviews, focus groups, documents, and questionnaires that include participants\u27 descriptive written answers. Qualitative researchers examine the lived experiences of individuals\u27 social reality to understand their viewpoint better. This research summary search method intends to find relevant research addressing implicit biases within the educational system that put Black girls at risk for out-of-school placement. There is limited evidence that social workers have acquired cultural competency skills through diversity training. If mandated diversity training happens in the social work education arena, it will help shift the trajectory toward a culturally sensitive pedagogy. For more than a decade, the social work field has debated how best to define cultural competency and teach the concept of diversity in education. The concept of applying a diversity training course to the school social work program certification requirements has unlimited possibilities in conceptualizing new theoretical structures to understand Black students better. This training aligns well with the ongoing process of strengthening cultural competency. This diversity training course aims to help students develop practice wisdom concerning the importance diversity has in shaping trauma experiences. It intends to help social workers learn to respond through a trauma-informed lens on all three micro, mezzo, and macro levels, as articulated in CSWE\u27s Competency # 2