American Studies

Sha Quasha Morgan - Race, Culture, and Health

Because she is passionate about being a model for success for students that come from the same background, Sha Quasha will pursue counseling for low income, first generation college students. Following summer, Sha Quasha hopes to work either as a College and Career Counselor in the Oakland Unified School District or as an Academic Advisor within the community college system.Subsequently, she plans to pursue a Masters in Social Work with an emphasis on either Child and Family Welfare or Community Mental Health. Sha Quashas ultimate goal is to provide more awareness to her community about the mental health issues that adversely affect them and necessary support.

Area of Concentration Courses

African American Studies 111: Race, Class, and Gender in the United States
Public Health C155: Sociology of Health and Medicine
Psychology 166AC: Cultural Psychology
Sociology 110: Organizations and Social Institutions
Sociology 131AC: Race and Ethnic Relations: U.S. American Cultures
Social Welfare 110: Social Work as a Profession

Thesis

Sha Quasha Morgan : - "I Can Do Bad All by Myself: Stigma of Mental Illness, Power, Pedagogy, Black Masculinity and America's Healthcare System" (Class of 2016)

Sha Quashas senior thesis explores the significant and misunderstood relationship between power, health and race. Focusing on the complex constructions of Black masculinity and its interactions with history, language, and media representation, she unpacks how particular social identities must navigate society and health care, specifically whether or now and how to pursue mental health care. Sha Quasha demonstrates how discursive practices are used to create and perpetuate racialized mental health disparities, and argues that Black mens reluctance to seek mental health care is not simply a matter of individual choice, but their decisions are largely shaped by external forces.

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