Letter to the Editor: Misused Label

To the Editor:

Yes, racism thrives in Philadelphia. But most do not realize that racism and other menacing “isms” are rooted in unfinished emotional business from one’s young years — due to terror, rejection, abuse, rage, jealousy, and envy. These feelings are then displaced onto others and ingrained in families and institutions, where scapegoating takes on malignant life. You’ve got to be carefully taught, indeed. That said, the label of racism can be dangerously misused — a misuse I was involved in that haunts me to this day.

From 1991 through 2010, I received an extraordinary pro bono professional opportunity, one used to demonstrate that intervention in early criminal acts offers a far more effective approach to change than jail, as well as one that saves our city money. Carefully selected cases involving domestic violence were referred to me for intensive psychotherapy, in lieu of incarceration. One case involved a professional woman with several children who scapegoated one, beating her mercilessly in the very same way her mother (whom the child resembled) beat her. I worked as I was trained by the extraordinary multicultural, multiracial staff of the nonprofit Society to Protect Children, telling the mom that the city of Philadelphia cared deeply for the well-being of our children and would not tolerate her behavior.

Through developing a trusting relationship with each of the children, along with marital and family therapy, the dangers ceased. However, unknown to me, the mom reported me to the agency where the case was outsourced, labeling me a racist. Long story short, the family was removed from my care. I was given an opportunity to say goodbye to the children, and I do not know who wept more.

SaraKay Smullens

Philadelphia

To The Philadelphia Inquirer, April 1, 2024