Well, as a prospective social worker, you have to accept that you will not always see eye-to-eye with clients. You may unintentionally alienate any number of clients due to a number of factors that make you different from them, and not truly being able to understand their circumstances.
But there are clients who will see eye-to-eye with you, and who you can engage with. In this way, being a black man is advantageous. You're more likely able to share experiences with other black men than a white man or a black woman, and because black men are a group that is underrepresented in social work, this is a great characteristic to have. However, since being a black man isn't your only personal characteristic, you may not always see eye to eye with other black men. For example, you may have difference of opinion, or you may process information in different ways. You may come from a different socioeconomic background. But you have a different experience from many other social workers, and that helps you be able to relate to different kinds of people.
Male social workers are also really important because of the code that men shouldn't seek help, because if they can't do it themselves, they're worthless. You have a valuable opportunity in the field of social work because you're in a unique position where you're able to say to other men that it's okay to have moments of weakness or ask for help. And that being able to rely on others, be weak, and admit that you can't always handle things is, in itself, a form of strength, because you let others help you and be strong for you. You can be an anchor for others because you received strength from other people.
