Five C's Of Change

It is impossible to view oppression, such as racism or sexism, in isolation because they are all connected: classism, ableism, and ageism. They are linked by a common origin—economic power and control and by common methods of limiting, controlling, and destroying lives (Pharr, Suzanne, 1998). Pharr believes there is no hierarchy of oppression. Each is terrible and destructive. She says that to eliminate one oppression successfully, a movement has to include work to eliminate them all or else success will always be limited and incomplete. For the sake of this assignment, students will examine the contemporary racial justice movement, Black Lives Matter. Students will show how to incorporate the movement’s perspectives into social work

Having confidence in one’s self and abilities and advocating with groups such as Black Lives Matter for fair treatment of individuals from oppressed racial and ethnic groups involved in the criminal justice system. The second C of change is (inspiring) Courage. Courage is the ability to take action in spite of fear (DeRosa, 2002). The student will step out in Courage to monitor and promote criminal justice policies, statutes, and laws that do not discriminate against individuals based on race, ethnicity, class, or nationality. The third element of the 5 C’s of Change is (sustaining) Commitment as focus, strategy, determination, and consistency driven by love and grounded in knowledge. By love means the deep and consistent passion for justice and the embrace of humanity, which has driven social revolutions (DeRosa, 2002). In using love and knowledge, the student will advocate for addressing the problem of overrepresentation of marginalized racial and ethnic groups within the criminal justice system. Engaging Conflict, the fourth element of the 5C’s of Change refers to the reflection, struggle, and creative tension that promote growth and justice (DeRosa, 2002). Advocating and striving to end racism and discrimination in recruitment, hiring, retention, and promotion in employment of members of racial ethnic groups in all levels of the criminal justice system will definitely cause conflict. However, DeRosa states that conflict is often defined as negative but when channeled appropriately it is a force that can propel one forward. The final C of the 5 C’s of Change is (co-creating) Community. Community means working collectively and collaboratively with others toward a shared vision that acknowledges, values, and affirms human diversity as essential to the individual as well as to the whole (DeRosa, 2002). DeRosa goes on to say that a support system is an essential element of