Doing Good: Racial Tensions and Workplace Inequalities at a Community Clinic in El Nuevo South, Natalia Deeb-Sossa

Deeb-Sossa argues persuasively that moral identities have been constructed by clinic staff. The high-status staff--nearly all of whom are white--see themselves as heroic workers. Mid- and lower-status Latina staff feel like they are guardians of people who are especially needy and deserving of protection. In contrast, the moral identity of African American staffers had previously been established in response to serving their people. Their response to the evolving clientele has been to create a self-image of superiority by characterizing Latina/o clients as immoral, lazy, working the system, having no regard for rules or discipline, and being irresponsible parents.