Case Analysis of Brown v. Board of Education (1954)
The purpose of this discussion is twofold. First, analyzing Landmark Cases that impact communities of color provides an opportunity to broaden the perspectives of human services professionals. Consequently, the purpose of this portion of the assignment is to analyze a
Landmark Case that impacted Black Americans, including the role of justice in the case, implications on public perception, and how the implications of the case might impact Black American clients. The second purpose of this assignment is to ponder a case study application
and engage in the self-reflection that results from practicing cultural humility while increasing cultural competencies.
Landmark Cases: Application and Analysis
Step 1: Consult the following list for brief summaries of Landmark Cases that directly
impacted Black Americans: Landmark Cases. (Uploaded) Either identify one of the cases
from the list, or if you prefer, you can identify a case not on the list that involved or impacted
Black Americans.
Step 2: Research the case, using only sources you deem credible. Thoughtfully and
thoroughly respond to the following prompts, and when appropriate, integrate relevant content
from the assigned readings or video lectures provided thus far in our course.
Name and summarize the case.
Identify and explain what you perceive to be the role of justice, injustice, or partial
justice as related to the case.
Explain the implications of the case, including the impact on public perception.
Identity the systemic issues related to the case. If intersectionality of identities played
a role in the case, integrate its relevance into your response. Relevant media that you
deem credible can be integrated into your response, including podcasts, social media,
and/or shows or movies meaningful to Black American communities.
Imagine you are a human services provider. Explain how this case and its outcome
might impact the perspective of a Black American client seeking services.
Case Study: Application and Analysis
This portion of the discussion applies content learned thus far in our course to thinking
through your work with future clients. To do so, please ponder and respond to the following
case study.
Step 3: Please read the following case study: Michael “Mike” Johnston. (in green)
Client: Michael Johnston; prefers to be called Mike.
Background: Michael “Mike” Johnston is a 25-year-old Black male who recently sought
assistance from a human services professional. He works in a corporate environment and has
been experiencing symptoms of anxiety, depression, and a sense of emotional exhaustion. Mike’s
decision to seek assistance was a complicated one. He explained that as a Black man, he is
supposed to be strong and resilient. Mike explained that he has experienced racism and
discrimination throughout his life, and he explained feeling sick and tired of it.
Step 4: Imagine you are Mike Johnston’s human services provider (in your particular field-of-
interest). Think through the following prompts, pondering both relevant content covered thus
far in our course and how you might handle each of the questions raised in the prompts
below.
How might you build a trust-based relationship with Mike?
Due to historical and contemporary experiences of racism in healthcare and mental
healthcare, how might you explore the impact of stigma with Mike?
Michael’s experiences may be shaped by the intersection of Mike’s racial identity and gender
identity. Societal expectations of masculinity within the Black community may impact his
willingness to seek help, express vulnerability, or engage in self-care practices.
How might you address Mike’s racial identity and gender identity?
Mike explained experiencing racism and discrimination throughout his life. How
would you discuss these dynamics with Mike?
Step 5: In one paragraph, describe and assess your approach in Step 4, explaining the
strengths and weaknesses of your approach. (You need not provide your responses to the four
prompts above; instead, compose a paragraph that describes your approach and assesses the
strengths and weaknesses of your approach.)
Step 6: Self-evaluation is an important part of building cultural competence among human
service providers. Based on you as the human services provider and Mike as your client,
ponder your response to the following questions:
In working with Mike, I:
feel my own identity may influence my effectiveness in working with Mike. Think
through how and why.
can (or cannot) link the systemic problems of racism and discrimination to Mike’s
concerns. Think through how you would approach doing so and identify what might be
your next step in learning how to do so.
would provide Mike with culturally responsive resources. Think about which resources
you would provide Mike and why. Consult the Module 4 Discussion which identified
resources for communities of color.
Step 7: In one paragraph, summarize what you learned from the self-evaluation portion of this
assignment (from Step 6). (You need not provide your responses to the three prompts above;
instead, compose a paragraph that summarizes your self-evaluation.)
Step 8: Post your responses to Steps 2, 5, and 7 to the discussion forum. For your sources in
Step 2, please use APA in-text citations and APA reference page citations.
Step 9: Reply to at least one classmate’s post with a substantive reply that integrates relevant
content from our course. Your reply should include at least one paragraph about the Landmark
Case identified by your classmate, and your reply should also include at least one paragraph
that provides constructive, positive feedback to your classmate’s approach working with the
client in the case study. If you located a resource you think would be helpful to your
classmate, please include it and explain how the resource has been helpful to you.
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