Answer

   Working with Children

Almost every black person in America or any white-dominated country has experienced the sting of disrespect on the basis of their color.  While American society purports to be egalitarian and open, the extent of discrimination leaves the black community cynical about that notion. Discriminatory feelings have affected several people, especially children who end up developing certain mental disorders such as depression (Ungar, 2005). One of the movies which has demonstrated how certain groups of people are discriminated based on color, sex, and origin is For Akheem. The movie illuminates several challenges which many black teenagers face in America society and how blacks have to be determined, resilience and tough in order to survive in a society which purports to fight for equal rights of every individual irrespective on their color or origin. This paper seeks to explain actions needed to work with a child who has been stereotyped based on factors related to color, origin, and background

For Akheem is a movie about a 17-year-old Daje Shelton who is in a court-supervised alternative high school after she was charged for fighting others in her previous school. In her new school, she is determined to turn things around by working hard and achieving her goals just like any white child in the country. However, she loses focus in school after losing his friends to gun violence just because they are black. She falls in love with Antony, gets pregnant and gives birth to a baby boy, Ahkeem.  Working with a child who believes that the society does not either want or value them requires one to identify the structural, development, and attachment issues that are significant in enlightening the child that just like others, they too are valuable in the society.

Social structure in sociology is the idiosyncratic, steady arrangements of institutions whereby people in a society interact and live together. One of the structural issues in the film which is relevant to the child is racism, where people are judged based on their skin color and not their contribution and ability in the society (Ungar, 2005).  Daje Shelton sees her friends being eliminated by the police not because they have done serious crimes, but because they are blacks. It is the same reason she has been taken to a court-supervised alternative high school. In addition, being put in a court-supervised alternative school after she was charged for fighting is another structural issue which does not give her an opportunity to advance in her education like others.

One of the developmental issue I would consider when working with this child is behavioral problems. Notably, Shelton is growing as child who believes that they are not a significant part of the society and considers that they are vulnerable population which can be eliminated anytime. Thus, she is ready to fight in order to survive in the society Reay, 2019, slide 35). Her behaviors could exposer or trigger her to fight people which can then put her in more problems. It is in this context that I have to consider her behavioral issues then advise her accordingly.

Shelton has deficit attachments, especially with the whites. She feels that blacks are mistreated or discriminated based on their color. The blacks have to work extra hard in order to live a good life as the whites. She has this perception that blacks are being killed for no good reason. As such, her attachment to the society and the feeling that she is an important part of the society is already gone, a factor which must be considered during the period we shall work together. In order to work with the child, there must be consent. Defined by Ungar (2005) as the permission for something to happen or agreement to do something, I have to seek official permission from the authorities to work with the child. Since the film does not mention the parents of Shelton, it is important to get the permission from the authorities and also make her aware of my intentions.

In order to build a positive working relationship with Shelton, I will employ the Rogerian approach of empathy. The approach makes the victims feels understood in similar way as she/he feels; views and thoughts are accepted not judged or debated- “try to see it in their way”. It also establishes feeling of “safety”, increases victim’s self-acceptance and esteem, and enables the child to deal with feelings (Reay, 2019, slide 42). Using the approach, Shelton will be able to understand the societal set so that she can deal with issues she is able to change and avoid too much anger which can lead her to jail as before. Another Rogerian approach that I will use is respect. Regardless of what the child says or does acknowledging each child as a unique person is an important factor which brings good relationship between the worker and the subjects.