From the President

Heroes and Role Models

By Shirley Gentilini, MSW, LCSW

In February the media continually promote movies chosen to receive an award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Many of these movies are about heroes. Their biographies demonstrate exceptional tenacity, courage, and dedication to their causes. These heroes work tirelessly to overcome the difficult challenges they face.

The movie The Imitation Game shows how the brilliant British scientist, Alan Turing, the inventor of the precursor to our modern day computer, developed a way to decipher and decode messages the Germans were sending during the Second World War. He faced challenges from his superiors and his co-workers who felt it was taking him too long to make his Enigma machine work. They wanted him to quit, but he believed in his work and found ways to convince those wanting him to quit to allow him to continue. Eventually he accomplished his goal. The ability to decode German messages is believed to have shortened the war by two to four years.

Another example of a great leader, who worked diligently on humanitarian causes, was shown in the movie, Selma. It emphasizes the work of the great African American, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a Baptist minister, humanitarian, activist, and leader dedicated to the American Civil Rights Movement.

Based on his Christian ideals, he believed in advancing civil rights by non-violent civil disobedience. Dr. King helped organize the march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama. He and others with him wanted this to be a peaceful walk to combat racial inequality through non-violence. However, those marching over the bridge met with violence from police and others who were waiting for them. This march, known as “Bloody Sunday,” was televised and shown all over America. Americans witnessed the racial prejudices and inequality of the treatment of African American citizens.

Dr. King organized two other marches in March, one over the Edmund Pettus Bridge on March 9; and on March 25, Dr. King led a peaceful march that ended on the steps of the State Capitol.

Martin Luther King received the 1967 Nobel Peace Prize one of his many awards. Americans celebrate his legacy and his U.S. Federal Holiday established in 1986.Demonstrating the determination and heroism of two people with physical ailments are the films, The Theory of Everything and Still Alice. In The Theory of Everything, Stephen Hawking, an English theoretical physicist, cosmologist, author, and director of research, deals with his early onset of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also know as Lou Gehrig’s disease. We walk with him through this debilitating disease that gradually paralyzed him. However, he continued his work and traveled to share and educate others. Dr. Hawking never wanted to let his ALS keep him from pursuing his life goal to share his theoretical beliefs and work. He traveled to other places and and educated others about his theory, known as Hawking Radiation: Penrose-Theorems.

Stephen’s wife was a strong supporter and helper. As his disease became more debilitating over the years, the film shows how her role as caregiver became more difficult. In the social work profession, we understand how those who care for their loved ones with disabilities need support from others.

For those who work with clients suffering from dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, the film, Still Alice, is very powerful. Alice is a college linguistic professor who works at a prestigious university. She is married and has three young adult children. As the movie progresses we follow her along her path into forgetfulness, and worsening dementia. Alice makes a dynamic statement about her disease. She says, “If I had cancer people would be more accepting and understanding.” The film demonstrates how the family members cope. This film is timely because as our population is aging more social workers are needed to work with those who have Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.

Social workers can offer resources and support to their caregivers, who often become overworked and overwhelmed.

These films show us “heroes” working toward their goals. In spite of difficult and overwhelming circumstances, they ignored negative opinions. They followed their beliefs and were courageous, determined, and dedicated to accomplish what they so strongly believed in. We in the social profession are familiar with the prejudices these heroes faced.

Social workers are involved in the process of helping others make desired changes. We do this as clinicians, directors of agencies, professors, legislators, and policy makers seeking social justice. Rather than blame the person, we focus on his/her environment and often recognize that the environment may be a factor contributing to his/her problem.

We social workers involved in the process of helping others make desired changes need to recognize and appreciate our strengths. However, we should not forget to look inward, examine our own attitudes and behavior, and seek changes that will make us better human beings. As Leo Tolstoy observed, “Everybody thinks of changing humanity, but nobody thinks of changing themselves.” Let us continue on the path of improving ourselves.

In March we honor and celebrate those social workers receiving awards from their local units and regions. As we learn about them and their contributions, we can appreciate them as role models and mentors. I hope that you and your colleagues will be able to attend. This also is an opportunity to celebrate the contribution and work that you do as a social worker.