Archives: Dr. Krystal Hays

This is Part 4 of a 4-part blog post. 

Read Part 1: Black History Month: A Call For Healing Conversations

Read Part 2: Healing Conversations on Race: The Role of Empathy in Building Christlike Racial Unity

Read Part 3: Healing Conversations on Race: Acceptance

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We sat around the dinner table on a typical weeknight; my husband, myself, my 10-year old daughter, and my 7-year old son. We were probably eating pizza or Chinese food (I can’t remember). As we watched the evening news a commercial came on advertising an upcoming documentary special celebrating Black History month. In just a few moments the trailer for the program highlighted slavery, the civil rights movement, and the Jim Crow era. My son turned to me and asked “Why do White people hate Black people?” Then my daughter chimed in “Yea, why do White people always try to kill Black people? Why are they so mean?”  I was frozen and didn’t know what to say. I planned on having a simple dinner not answering deep sociological questions from a 7- year old. This was a painful question to answer because, based on historical and current facts, I could see why they would conclude that White people must hate Black people. What other conclusion could they draw about slavery, segregation, or the murder of George Floyd? However, I didn’t want them to believe that ALL White people are hateful and violent towards Black people. I needed them to feel hopeful and believe that the “arch of the moral universe is long but it bends towards justice”. What my children were experiencing is what some scholars call intergenerational racial trauma. Although my children have not experienced racism directly, and live in a very racially diverse and loving environment, they still feel the sting of anti-black racism in society.  

As I sat at the table searching for a response to my children’s questions I thought quickly back to the book my colleagues and I wrote; Healing Conversations on Race. The chapter I spent the most time writing was about Love. In this chapter, we suggest to readers that the love of God and love of others is a commandment. Also, Christlike love should be demonstrated through actions that exemplify the nature of Christ. Further, we have both an individual and collective responsibility to demonstrate Christlike love in all our relationships. It is critical to recognize that Christlike love is incompatible with racial disunity and racism. As we move closer to consistently living a life that demonstrates Christlike love we should be compelled towards a pursuit of racial unity.  

So I said to my children “Do you think it’s true that ALL white people hate Black people?” “What about your best friends Jennifer and Conner?” “What about Aunt Alice?” “Do they hate you?” These were all people who are very close to our family and love them dearly. They also happen to be white. We started a conversation about what love looks like and how it’s impossible to hate someone and be violent toward them if you truly love them. We talked about the ways our white friends demonstrate their love towards us.  As we had this conversation, I could see their wheels spinning and see them begin to develop discrepancies between the hate they saw displayed in that commercial and the love they experience in their lives.  

The experience my children had was one I pray more Christians have. The Healing Conversations on Race book helps Christians have these kinds of conversations. In the book we teach that God hates sin, racism is a sin, so God hates racism. The book guides us to see how our life experiences, relationships, and internalized narratives have led us to have beliefs about folks who are racially different from us. Many times these beliefs are inaccurate and inconsistent with scripture. We suggest that love is not a cliché or ambiguous feeling and the Bible teaches us what it looks like to really love others. We suggest that love is displayed through Christlikeness, humility, and self-sacrifice. We teach that love is incompatible with racist thoughts, behaviors, policies, and societies and loving conversations can bring healing.  

My children are still young and will continue to wrestle with understanding race and racism. Our brief dinner conversation does not negate the reality of racialized hate in this country. However, I hope that our conversation helped them to think more deeply about their relationships and the ways they can engage with white people (and others who are racially different) in a way that draws them into loving, Christlike relationships. My hope for them, and for you, is that we can practice humility, empathy, acceptance, and love that drives out hate and racism and brings us closer to unity in Christ. This is very challenging work. However, it’s through intimate relationships with those who are racially different that we can have new experiences and rewrite narratives. It’s through these relationships that God will convict, and draw to repentance, those who harbor racial hatred or complicity towards racial injustice. Ultimately, I pray that through this approach we can HEAL our racial wounds and truly be the body of Christ that God desires us to be.  

Thank you for following this blog series and I invite you to take the next step. You can visit our website to learn more about the book and how to begin the HEAL journey. We believe that reading the book will give you the foundational knowledge and skills necessary to engage in a real conversation with a racially different brother/sister in Christ. We are confident that taking this important step will move you as an individual, and the Church as whole, closer to racial unity which is consistent with Christlikeness. Through this process, Christians stand to be a shining example of the transformational power of Christ by demonstrating a solution to the racial disunity and racism that plagues our society.

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This blog is the final of 4 in our Black History Month Blog Series for 2023. Check back each Wednesday of February for more on how to have healing conversations. CBU Students who comment on these blogs will have a chance to receive a copy of the book. Winners will be emailed in early March. Listen. Learn. Engage.

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References

This blog is the first of 4 in our Black History Month Blog Series for 2023. Check back each Wednesday of February for more on how to have healing conversations. CBU Students who comment on these blogs will have a chance to receive a copy of the book. Winners will be emailed in early March. Listen. Learn. Engage.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., “Remaining Awake Through a Great Revolution.” Speech given at the National Cathedral, March 31, 1968. https://kinginstitute.stanford.edu/king-papers/documents/remaining-awake-through-great-revolution-address-morehouse-college  

Wyatt, T. R., Taylor, T. R., White, D., & Rockich-Winston, N. (2021). “When No One Sees You as Black”: The Effect of Racial Violence on Black Trainees and Physicians. Academic medicine, 96(11S), S17-S22.  

www.healingconversationsonrace.com  

A few weeks ago, I was browsing LinkedIn and getting caught up on the latest professional news. While scrolling, a post appeared that amazed me: Mattel was advertising their newest doll of Ida B. Wells! I couldn’t believe it and immediately went to the website to try and order my own Wells doll. I desperately wanted my 10-year-old daughter to see this doll. She needs to know who Ida B. Wells is and how she contributed to the fight for justice for Black Americans.  

As you read this, you might be wondering why Mattel would create a doll of Ida B. Wells. Who is Ida B. Wells anyway? Why was this doll so important to me? Why does my daughter need to know about her? Although this blog post is not intended to provide a detailed history lesson, it’s important to take this moment during Black Heritage Month to shine a light on sheroes like Mrs. Wells and how they paved the way for Black women like me.  

Doll diversity 

In January 2022, the Mattel company released their newest Barbie doll in their Inspiring Women series: Ida B. Wells. The new Wells barbie joins Rosa Parks, Maya Angelou, Helen Keller, and others in this series. According to Mattel, “The Barbie Inspiring Women Series pays tribute to incredible heroines of their time; courageous women who took risks, changed rules, and paved the way for generations of girls to dream bigger than ever before.” Mattel has been making Barbie dolls since 1959 and has continued to transform their popular toy over time to reflect the culture. The first African American Barbie hit the market in 1968, but it wasn’t until 2016 that the Mattel company embarked on an intentional effort to diversity its doll line. In 2018 the Inspiring Women series launched featuring Amelia Earhart, Frida Kahlo, and Katherine Johnson.  

Now Ida B. Wells has joined the collection.  

Ida B. Wells 

Ida B. Wells-Barnett was born in 1862 in Holly Springs, Mississippi. She was a journalist who led a social movement against the lynching of African Americans across the South. She was born into slavery but was freed and given the opportunity to receive a college education. She used her education and the advantages it provided her to advocate for other African Americans through teaching, speaking, and writing. Mrs. Wells was an activist, a champion for justice, and unapologetic in her demands. She serves as a symbol of strength and grace and inspires me to use my gifts and talents to pursue justice with zeal.  

Why this Matters 

You’ve likely heard the saying “representation matters” in the last several years. Well…it does. That’s why I’m so excited about this new doll and want to introduce it to my daughter. It is essential that little girls, like my daughter, know who she is and what she did for this country. I want my daughter to see her Ida B. Wells Barbie doll and remember that justice is possible but not easy. It takes a commitment to education and service to others. As a social work educator, I am deeply committed to these things. I seek to use my privileges to do as Proverbs 31:8-9 says and “Speak out on behalf of the voiceless, and for the rights of all who are vulnerable. Speak out in order to judge with righteousness and to defend the needy and the poor.” That’s what Ida B. Wells did throughout her life. I am thankful that someone at the Mattel corporation recognized her contribution and deemed her worthy of being represented in the Inspiring Series collection. She has certainly inspired me, and I hope she will be an inspiration to my daughter as well.  

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Want to read more in our 2022 Black History Month Blog series? Check out all the posts below!

Why Black History Month by Dr. Charles Lee-Johnson

Remembering to Forget, to Begin Again by Dr. Viola Lindsey

Not Black History Just History by Dr. Stephen Brown

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Check out the Student Contributions to this series here:

Paving the Way to Worship: Black Christian Leaders You Should Know by Hozell Francis II

Rev. George Liele: Church Planter, Missionary, and Servant of God by Hozell Francis II

Andrew Bryan: Pastor Church Planter, and Servant of God by Armon Patrick

Dr. E. W. McCall: Innovator, Educator, Trendsetter by Hozell Francis II

Lisa Fields: Apologist and Servant of God by Armon Patrick

By Krystal Hays, PhD, MSW, LCSW

This is the second part of a Blog series on Dr. Hays’ journey into social work. Check out part one here: https://blogs.calbaptist.edu/cshb/2019/10/17/finding-my-way-home-a-journey-through-social-work-part-1/

“Can I really do this? Am I smart enough? Do I have what it takes? What if I fail?” These were all questions I asked myself as I started my first day as a PhD student in social work. I had dreamt of this day and made it through a difficult and competitive application process. However, now that the reality of becoming Dr. Hays began to settle in, so did the doubts. I was experiencing a fairly common phenomenon called imposter syndrome which is defined as feelings of inadequacy despite evidence of success (Clance & Imes, 1978). Research suggests that women, people of color, and other underrepresented groups often experience self-doubt and insecurity in the face of success and this was certainly the case for me (Joshi & Mangette, 2018). Although I do not believe I met the criteria for any clinical diagnosis, my feelings of insecurity certainly contributed to my trepidation about doctoral studies.

Nevertheless, I had to believe that God opened the door to doctoral studies for a reason. I needed to trust that I had the capacity to learn new skills, complete my classes, and write a dissertation. Philippians 4: 6-7 would become my guiding scripture which reads, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (NKJV). After all, doctoral studies was ultimately a means to an end. The end goal was to develop knowledge and interventions to address the excessive burden of mental illness experienced by African Americans. Also, I needed to find ways to bridge the gap between mental health professionals and the church. I had to keep clients like Ruth in mind; my 50-something year old female client with Major Depression who struggled to recover and reconcile her faith with her emotional turmoil. I was privileged to champion the cause for health for Ruth, and so many like her.

My PhD program was definitely challenging in more ways than one. However, I made valuable relationships with fellow students and faculty advisors who supported me. I had the opportunity to travel around the country sharing about my research and passion for advocating for those who cannot advocate for themselves. Also, I was beginning to develop a love for teaching. Although the imposter syndrome crept in from time to time I was certainly more confident about ability to do the work God called me to do.

After five long years, lots of classes, more papers than I can count, and one new baby boy added to the family, I was finally set to defend my dissertation and graduate. Commencement was held on a pleasant and sunny Southern California day. My closest family members and friends were there to cheer me on as I was “hooded” on stage in front of thousands of onlookers. As my name was called and the tile of my dissertation was read something interesting happened. Several students graduating with their master’s degrees who were sitting in the crowd stood and cheered. It was as if somehow my receipt of a PhD was an inspiration for them and cause for celebration. This brief moment would stick with me as a reminder that every success I experience is a shared success and that I should always be mindful of my ability to influence and inspire those who come behind me.

Now, my journey through social work has led me to a career in higher education. As an Assistant Professor of Social Work I enjoy walking alongside the next generation of clinicians and community change agents as they begin their own journey through social work. Moreover, I am privileged to have the opportunity to serve as the Director of the Doctor of Social Work program that will receive its inaugural cohort of students in the fall. This is more than a dream come true for our University, our College, and myself. I am overjoyed thinking about the many students who will be able to access doctoral level education to take their careers to the next level. This is especially significant when you consider that only 4.5% of the total United States population has completed doctoral level education (U.S. Census Bureau, 2018). Knowing firsthand the tremendous impact my doctoral program had on my career trajectory I look forward to helping others fulfill their dreams and lead change efforts in communities around the globe. My journey through social work is far from over, in fact, a new chapter may have just begun.

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What are your thoughts? Share below; we would love to hear from you!

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To learn more about the Doctor of Social Work program at CBU please visit www.calbaptist.edu/DSW

Clance, P. R. and Imes, S. A. (1978). ‘The impostor phenomenon in high achieving women: Dynamics and therapeutic intervention’. Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice, 15, 241–47.

Joshi, Aishwarya and Mangette, Haley (2018) “Unmasking of Impostor Syndrome,” Journal of Research, Assessment, and Practice in Higher Education: Vol. 3 : Iss. 1 , Article 3.

U.S. Census Bureau (2018) Annual Social and Economic Supplement to the Current Population Survey, 2000 and 2018

Finally! After three long years of classes I was entering my senior year of college. I was excited to only have a few classes left to complete my degree in Psychology and Social Behavior. However, for some reason I couldn’t fully enjoy my new “senior” status. Suddenly I felt overwhelmed by the fact that I had no idea what I was going to do after I graduated. I had spent most of my life as a student so I always knew what to expect. Finish one grade…move on to the next. Graduate from high school…go on to college. For the first time I was faced with making a major life decision and I wasn’t sure what to do.  

I started to look for various jobs online. I just couldn’t imagine going to work day after day just to get a paycheck. I had to do something that felt meaningful…that made a difference in someone’s life. I began to reflect on what I liked to do and what I felt passionate about. I thought, “I guess I like kids. Maybe I should do something with kids”. If I was really honest with myself though, I cared about children’s wellbeing but I didn’t really like working with them. I was at a loss.  

It just happened that I had the opportunity to enroll in a Social Work class the next semester. I looked over the course description and it seemed like an easy “A” so I signed up. Each week in that course something started to click. The more I learned about what social work was and what social workers did I started thinking “this sounds like me”. The values and ethics felt like my own. The focus on fighting for the underdog was refreshing and the explicit mention of topics like discrimination, oppression, and marginalization spoke to my heart.  

Sometime around the middle of the semester two recruiters from Masters Social Work programs came to pitch their programs to the class. “A Master’s degree?” I thought. I’d never considered going to graduate school. No one in my family had ever gone and I wasn’t quite sure I could be the first. Was I smart enough? Could I afford it? What would my friends and family think? After all only 9.5% of Americans pursue graduate degrees, and even fewer African Americans (less than 7%). Yet, I felt like God was speaking to me through this Social Work class but I couldn’t be sure. I prayed and asked God to make it clear if social work was what He wanted me to do. I picked a couple of graduate programs, put my applications together, and left it in His hands. I prayed “Lord, let your will be done” and trusted that if He wanted me to go, He’d get me in, and help me get through it.  

My answer came around March. I was in! I would be pursuing a Master’s degree in Social Work. I was excited, anxious, and terrified all at once. It would be the most challenging (and expensive) thing I’d ever done. I was confident that this is what God was calling me to do.  

My entry into the field of social work was unlike anything I could have imagined. I found myself taking classes about substance abuse, mental illness, and racism. I was absorbing the values of service, social justice, dignity and worth of the person, human relationships, integrity, and competence. I loved it!  

After about a month of interning I felt like I was home. A sense of gratitude overwhelmed me. I would have never guessed that I would be a social worker in a mental health setting. But by God’s sovereign grace and omniscience He led me right where He needed me to be…and it felt good. Over the course of the two year MSW program I would continue to be challenged and develop the necessary skills and insight to function as a professional social worker. What I didn’t know was that my journey home was just beginning. 

I was assigned to an internship in an adult mental health clinic. This was definitely not my choice since I had serious fears and biases of those classified as mentally ill. In fact, most Americans believe that people with mental illnesses are dangerous although data suggests otherwise. Nevertheless, I was sure the Field Instructor must have made a mistake because I was supposed to help kids. I decided to trust the process and go where I was sent. At the clinic I learned from a great supervisor and awesome staff who helped to transform people’s lives every day. I met with clients who were a lot like me. They were average folks who had suffered a bad experience, trauma, or were just feeling depressed. I became more aware of the stigma I held about this population. I was especially touched by my African American clients who reminded me so much of my cousins, aunt, mother, and father and I wanted so badly to see them made whole. 

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Stay tuned for Part II….and in the meantime, leave a comment below letting us know if any of this resonated with you today! All CBU student comments are eligible for a raffle giveaway within one week of posting!

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Stuart, H. (2003). Violence and mental illness: an overview. World Psychiatry, 2(2), 121. 

Educational Attainment in the United States: 2018. February 2019. https://www.census.gov/data/tables/2018/demo/education-attainment/cps-detailed-tables.html