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In the wake of global protests spurred by acts of police brutality in the United States, the Journal of Community Practice is seeking paper proposals for empirical, theoretical, and practice-based articles for a special issue examining racial justice in Black and Brown communities. Racial justice goes beyond paying lip service to disparities. Instead, it entails institutional changes aimed at addressing them. Addressing disparities undergirds four of the 12 Grand Challenges articulated by the American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare: closing the health gap; promoting smart decarceration; reducing extreme economic inequality; and achieving equal opportunity and justice.

Paper proposals are solicited that provide a comprehensive understanding of this topic which focuses on how institutional relationships contribute to inequality. A critical perspective questions modern societal structures, values, beliefs and ways of life, and pays particular attention to the socioeconomic and political structures of both community and society.

Thematically, papers are sought that examine racial justice in areas such as:
• Social welfare system
• Access to health care
• Primary and secondary education
• Housing
• Employment
• Political enfranchisement
• Media coverage
• Policing
• Criminal legal system
• Environmental justice

Our goal is to develop a special issue of the Journal of Community Practice that presents multiple perspectives both thematically and experientially. Submissions from scholars who engage in collaborative research with communities of color, do comparative analysis between the U.S. and other countries, and/or apply critical race theory to the study of inequality are encouraged. We especially encourage submissions from Black and Brown scholars engaging in this work.

Abstracts and manuscripts should be labeled FOR SPECIAL ISSUE – BRINGING RACIAL JUSTICE for consideration by the special issue editors. Abstracts should clearly identify how the paper is linked to the special issue theme, provide background and purpose, data and methods of analysis, results and key conclusions and implications. Abstracts should be no longer than 500 words and submitted by email to [email protected] by August 3, 2020. The Guest Editors will provide abstract dispositions by August 17, 2020.

Contributions can include:
• Full-length original research articles (up to 6,250 words; ~25 pages)
• From the Field (max. 3,750 words; ~15 pages)
• From the Classroom (max. 3,750 words; ~15 pages)
• Innovations in Community Research (max. 3,750 words; ~15 pages)

Final manuscripts should be submitted online by October 30, 2020. Submission is below. Manuscripts should not exceed the above page limits; all pages should be double-spaced (including the abstract, references, tables and figures), 12 point Times New Roman font. References, citations, and general style of manuscripts should be prepared in accordance with the APA Publication Manual, 7th ed. Refer to Instruction for authors below.

Anticipated publication date of Fall 2021.

Instructions for AuthorsSubmit an Article