Janet Carter-Black
Assistant Professor
Office location: 2066
Phone number:217-333-2887
Email: carterbl@illinois.edu
Educational Background
Dr. Carter-Black received her bachelor’s degree in English in 1977, her M.S.W. degree in 1995, and her Ph.D. in social work in 2005, all from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. For 21 years prior to joining the faculty at the UIUC School of Social Work, Professor Carter-Black served children, youth, and families at Cunningham Children’s Home, a private residential child welfare agency located in Urbana, Illinois. In 1996 Dr. Carter-Black became a partner at Black & Black Associates, a private therapeutic counseling practice and consulting firm where she provided training, staff development and consultation to various human service organizations and educators around the country. Professor Carter-Black began her teaching career as an Adjunct instructor at Parkland Community College and the UIUC School of Social Work in 1997 and 1998 respectively.
Research and Practice Interests
Dr. Carter-Black’s research interests include resilience in African American families and the strategies employed by parents that facilitate healthy development and positive outcomes for their children despite a) the disparities found at the intersection of race, gender, and social class, and b) the external economic, political, and socio-cultural forces that perpetuate these disparities. Her research focuses on parenting practices that influence and shape children’s understanding of race, gender, and social class, teach them techniques for confronting racism, gender inequality, and social elitism, and imbue them with coping mechanisms that mitigate against the deleterious effects of race-related stress. Dr. Carter-Black is committed to strengthening the knowledge-base and building on practice competence and skills that will better serve racial/ethnic minority families in general and African American families in particular.
Current Research
Professor Carter-Black is currently exploring what she refers to as contested racial authenticity. This is a phenomenon whereby high achievement and success oriented African American children and youth find themselves challenged by same-race peers for “not being Black enough”. These contestations include accusations of “acting white” or “talking white”, and have escalated from teasing to acts of harassment, hostility, and violence, creating considerable psychological and emotional distress for those found guilty of the allegation.
Recent Publications
Carter-Black, J. (2008). A black woman’s journey into a predominately white academic world. Affilia, 23 (2), 112-122.
Haight, W. L., Carter-Black, J.D., & Sheridan, K. (2009). Mothers’ experience of methamphetamine addiction: A case-based analysis of rural, midwestern women. Children and Youth Services Review, 31, 71-77.
Carter-Black, J. (2007). Teaching cultural competence: An innovative strategy grounded in the universality of storytelling as depicted in African and African American storytelling traditions. Journal of Social Work Education, 43(1), 31-50.
Haight, W. L. & Carter-Black, J. (2004). His eye is on the sparrow: Teaching and learning in an African-American church. In E. Gregory, S. Long, & D. Volk (Eds.), Many pathways to literacy. London: outledge/Falmer of the Taylor & Francis Group.