Slide 3: Bullying can significantly impact African American students, just as it can affect students from any other racial or ethnic background. They may experience racial slurs, stereotypes, or discriminatory behaviour from their peers, leading to isolation, low self-esteem, and a negative sense of identity (Wang et al., 2021). In addition, African American girls may experience gendered racism, while African American students from low-income backgrounds may face socioeconomic bullying (Xu et al., 2019).
Bullying can have severe consequences for the mental health of African American students. They may experience increased stress, anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation. Persistent bullying can also lead to a decline in academic performance, further exacerbating the negative impact on their well-being (Xu et al., 2019). Similarly, Aleena faced all these dynamics in the school, which led her to develop anxiety, depression, and lower self-esteem. Furthermore, African American students face unique challenges regarding reporting and receiving support for bullying (Wang et al., 2021).
Fear of retaliation or not being believed and mistrust of authorities can make it more difficult for them to seek help. Additionally, disparities in access to resources and culturally competent support services can further compound the impact of bullying. According to Xu et al. (2019), African American are more likely to be classified into frequent verbal, physical, and sexual victimization (1.27) than White and Latinos (0.82) (Xu et al., 2019). Similarly, immigrant students had higher odds of being bullied than native children, so Aleena also suffered from changing behaviours and physical actions (Xu et al., 2019).
Slide 4 : However, SMART goals, which refer to Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Timely goals, were incorporated to address the issues better and increase the awareness and management capability to handle these activities in schools. Three SMART goals were defined, including:
Increasing awareness and promoting reporting of bullying among African American and white-American students is essential to address the issue effectively (Huang & Vidourek, 2019). I have encouraged school management to implement comprehensive anti-bullying programs incorporating education and training on bullying prevention and intervention. These programs included specific content on recognizing and addressing racial bullying, emphasizing the importance of empathy, respect, and inclusivity (Huang & Vidourek, 2019).
To enhance the school climate and supportive environment for African American, we provided cultural competence training for teachers, administrators, and staff members to understand and address the unique experiences and challenges faced by African American and white-American students. This training included promoting cultural sensitivity, respect for diversity, and recognizing and responding appropriately to racial bullying incidents (Huang & Vidourek, 2019).
In addition, to improve access to mental health services for Aleena and other ethnic group students who faced bullying, it is crucial to determine activities that help their well-being and recovery. It included school-based counselling services, community partnerships, culturally competent mental health professionals, outreach and awareness campaigns, addressing stigma, trauma-informed care, and telehealth services (Huang & Vidourek, 2019).
Slide 5: Increasing awareness and promoting reporting of bullying among African American and white-American students have led to several educational session outcomes (Cook et al., 2018). Students have clearly understood what constitutes bullying behaviour, including verbal, physical, and cyberbullying. They have learned to differentiate between teasing and bullying, recognizing the harmful impact bullying has on individuals. Through educational sessions, students developed empathy and perspective-taking skills, positively affecting Aleena’s life as she could actively participate in school activities without bullying barriers (Cook et al., 2018).
White American students have learned to consider the feelings and experiences of their peers, understanding how their actions and words can affect others. This has promoted a culture of compassion and res
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