Association of Black Psychologists
Encyclopedia
The Association of Black Psychologists (ABPsi) is a professional association of African American
psychologists founded in 1968 in San Francisco, with regional chapters throughout the United States
. It publishes the Journal of Black Psychology
. Its main offices are in Washington, DC.
of that era. The ABPsi intended to create a psychology of the black experience focused on improving the circumstances of black people. The founding psychologists believed that a psychology created mostly by white middle-class men could not explain the situation of people of African descent, and moved to incorporate African philosophy
and cultural experience into the creation of a new understanding of black psychology. The founders actively chose to remain independent of the American Psychological Association
, decrying that body's complicit role in perpetuating white racism in society. Instead, the ABPsi took a more active stance, seeking “to develop a nation-wide structure for pooling their resources in meeting the challenge of racism
and poverty
.” according to a statement released at their founding in 1968. Ebony Magazine's publication of Toward a Black Psychology by Joseph White
in 1970 was a landmark in setting the tone and direction of the emerging field of Black Psychology. By 1974 the ABPsi had established offices in Washington D.C., begun the Journal of Black Psychology
, and fully separated from the APA
.
, and annual meetings brought the individual efforts of African-American psychologists together to form a collective endeavor encompassing a large body of research
including hundreds of book
s and thousands of articles. The ABPsi has continued to orient itself toward actively addressing the problems facing black communities and challenging myths of black inferiority that persist in mainstream psychology. The ABPsi aided in the formation of many other associations of Black professionals, joining in an inter-disciplinary effort to further the struggles of African-Americans. While the ABPsi has achieved greater recognition within mainstream psychology, the critiques levied by its founders can be clearly seen in the ascendant field of cultural psychology
.
s of the Association of Black Psychologists include:
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
psychologists founded in 1968 in San Francisco, with regional chapters throughout the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It publishes the Journal of Black Psychology
Journal of Black Psychology
The Journal of Black Psychology is a quarterly psychology journal published by the Association of Black Psychologists. The journal was founded in 1974 and publishes original research in a wide variety of areas:* African-centered psychology...
. Its main offices are in Washington, DC.
Beginnings of the ABPsi
The ABPsi was formed in the wake of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King and the rise of Black NationalismBlack nationalism
Black nationalism advocates a racial definition of indigenous national identity, as opposed to multiculturalism. There are different indigenous nationalist philosophies but the principles of all African nationalist ideologies are unity, and self-determination or independence from European society...
of that era. The ABPsi intended to create a psychology of the black experience focused on improving the circumstances of black people. The founding psychologists believed that a psychology created mostly by white middle-class men could not explain the situation of people of African descent, and moved to incorporate African philosophy
African philosophy
African philosophy is used in different ways by different philosophers. Although African philosophers spend their time doing work in many different areas, such as metaphysics, epistemology, moral philosophy, and political philosophy, a great deal of the literature is taken up with a debate...
and cultural experience into the creation of a new understanding of black psychology. The founders actively chose to remain independent of the American Psychological Association
American Psychological Association
The American Psychological Association is the largest scientific and professional organization of psychologists in the United States. It is the world's largest association of psychologists with around 154,000 members including scientists, educators, clinicians, consultants and students. The APA...
, decrying that body's complicit role in perpetuating white racism in society. Instead, the ABPsi took a more active stance, seeking “to develop a nation-wide structure for pooling their resources in meeting the challenge of racism
Racism
Racism is the belief that inherent different traits in human racial groups justify discrimination. In the modern English language, the term "racism" is used predominantly as a pejorative epithet. It is applied especially to the practice or advocacy of racial discrimination of a pernicious nature...
and poverty
Poverty
Poverty is the lack of a certain amount of material possessions or money. Absolute poverty or destitution is inability to afford basic human needs, which commonly includes clean and fresh water, nutrition, health care, education, clothing and shelter. About 1.7 billion people are estimated to live...
.” according to a statement released at their founding in 1968. Ebony Magazine's publication of Toward a Black Psychology by Joseph White
Joseph White (psychologist)
Joseph L. White is Professor Emeritus of Psychology and Psychiatry at the University of California, Irvine and "godfather" of the field of Black Psychology.-Early Life and Family:...
in 1970 was a landmark in setting the tone and direction of the emerging field of Black Psychology. By 1974 the ABPsi had established offices in Washington D.C., begun the Journal of Black Psychology
Journal of Black Psychology
The Journal of Black Psychology is a quarterly psychology journal published by the Association of Black Psychologists. The journal was founded in 1974 and publishes original research in a wide variety of areas:* African-centered psychology...
, and fully separated from the APA
American Psychological Association
The American Psychological Association is the largest scientific and professional organization of psychologists in the United States. It is the world's largest association of psychologists with around 154,000 members including scientists, educators, clinicians, consultants and students. The APA...
.
The Work of the ABPsi
The ABPsi successfully anchored the formation of an independent field of Black Psychology. With increased numbers of African-Americans enrolling in graduate programs in Psychology and entering the field, the ABPsi's Journal, newsletterNewsletter
A newsletter is a regularly distributed publication generally about one main topic that is of interest to its subscribers. Newspapers and leaflets are types of newsletters. Additionally, newsletters delivered electronically via email have gained rapid acceptance for the same reasons email in...
, and annual meetings brought the individual efforts of African-American psychologists together to form a collective endeavor encompassing a large body of research
Research
Research can be defined as the scientific search for knowledge, or as any systematic investigation, to establish novel facts, solve new or existing problems, prove new ideas, or develop new theories, usually using a scientific method...
including hundreds of book
Book
A book is a set or collection of written, printed, illustrated, or blank sheets, made of hot lava, paper, parchment, or other materials, usually fastened together to hinge at one side. A single sheet within a book is called a leaf or leaflet, and each side of a leaf is called a page...
s and thousands of articles. The ABPsi has continued to orient itself toward actively addressing the problems facing black communities and challenging myths of black inferiority that persist in mainstream psychology. The ABPsi aided in the formation of many other associations of Black professionals, joining in an inter-disciplinary effort to further the struggles of African-Americans. While the ABPsi has achieved greater recognition within mainstream psychology, the critiques levied by its founders can be clearly seen in the ascendant field of cultural psychology
Cultural psychology
Cultural psychology is a field of psychology which assumes the idea that culture and mind are inseparable, and that psychological theories grounded in one culture are likely to be limited in applicability when applied to a different culture...
.
Past presidents
Past presidentPresident
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
s of the Association of Black Psychologists include:
- Charles W. Thomas, Ph.D. (1968–1969)
- Robert Green, Ph. D. (1968–1969)
- Henry Tomes, Ph. D. (1969–1970)
- Robert L. Williams, Ph.D. (1969–1970)
- Stanley Crockett, Ph.D. (1970–1971)
- Reginald L. Jones, Ph.D. (1971–1972)
- James S. Jackson Ph.D. (1972–1973)
- Thomas O. Hilliard, Ph.D.(1973–1974)
- George D. Jackson, Ph.D. (1974–1975)
- William Hayes, Ph.D. (1975–1976)
- Ruth E.G. King, Ed.D (1976–1977)
- Maisha Bennett, Ph.D. (1978–1979)
- Joseph Awkard, Ph. D. (1979–1980)
- Daniel Williams, Ph.D. (1980–1981)
- David Terrell, Ph.D. (1981–1982)
- Joseph A. Baldwin, Ph.D. (1982–1983)
- William K. Lyles, Ph.D. (1983–1984)
- W. Monty Whitney, Ph.D. (1984–1985)
- Melvin Rogers, Ph. D. (1985–1986) )
- Halford FairchildHalford FairchildHalford H. Fairchild, is a Professor of Psychology and Black Studies at Pitzer College in Claremont, California. He was the editor of Psych Discourse: The Monthly Newsjournal of The Association of Black Psychologists from 1991 until 2002...
, Ph.D. (1986–1987) - Na'im AkbarNa'im AkbarNa'im Akbar, Ph.D is a Clinical Psychologist that is considered one of the world's preeminent Psychologists and a pioneer in the development of an African-centered approach in modern psychology. Akbar is currently on the faculty in the Department of Psychology at Florida State University...
, Ph.D. (1987–1988) - Dennis E. Chestnut, Ph.D. (1988–1989)
- Suzanne Randolph, Ph. D.(1989–1990)
- Linda James Myers, Ph.D. (1990–1991)
- Timothy R. Moragne, Psy.D. (1991–1992)
- Maisha Hamilton Bennett, Ph.D. (1992–1993)
- Anna M. Jackson, Ph.D. (1993–1994)
- Wade Nobles, Ph.D. (1994–1995)
- Thomas A. Parham, Ph.D. (1995–1996)
- Frederick B. Phillips, Psy.D. (1996–1997)
- Kamau Dana Dennard, , Ph.D. (1997–1998)
- Afi Samella Abdullah, Ph.D. (1998–1999)
- Mawiya Kambon, Ph.D. (1999–2000)
- Anthony Young, Ph.D.(2000–2001)
- Mary E. Hargrow, Ph.D. (2001–2002)
- Harvette Grey, Ph.D. (2002–2003)
- Willie S. Williams, Ph.D. (2003–2004)
- James E. Savage, Ph.D. (2004–2005)
- Robert Atwell, Psy.D. (2005–2007)
- Dorothy A. Holmes, Ph.D. (2007–2009)