During the month of February, we dedicate time to reflect on, celebrate, and honor the legacy, achievements, resilience, and strength of Black/African Americans within the diaspora. We also take a moment to highlight the fight to equality, equity, and liberation from systemic racism, oppression, and race-based harm. While we dedicate February to sharing about Black History Month, caring about Black lives, mind and body, extends beyond a month on the calendar. Many statistics and research speak to how experiences with racism, oppression, discrimination, and other forms of racial trauma, can cause and/or contribute to psychological effects, impacting one’s overall well-being. While we dedicate time to honor Black History Month, I found it meaningful to first pay homage to the pioneers of the mental health field, acknowledging their contribution to our profession and work. Their commitment to addressing mental health disparities and mental health concerns is evident in their ground-breaking work.
As a Black therapist and life-long learner, I find it meaningful to express gratitude for, reflect on, and consider these trailblazers, continuing the work of eradicating barriers, stigmas, and disparities. Many have, and continue to contribute to the mental health field, so this list is not exhaustive. Some of these individuals may be familiar, and some of them may be new for you. Either way, I hope you enjoy these interesting facts about pioneers who paved the way for wellness among children, adults, families, and fellow professionals. And, I found it meaningful to connect their work to work I am committed to:
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- 1. Dr. Inez Beverly Prosser:
I am the first one in my entire family to pursue my Ph.D. in counseling. Learning about Dr. Inez Beverly Prosser, and her being the first African American/Black woman to earn a Ph.D. in Psychology, reminds me of how rewarding and challenging, “being the first” can be. Her dissertation, “The Non-Academic Development of Negro Children in Mixed and Segregrated Schools”, examined the impact of racial inequality and racism on Black children’s identity and mental health. Her work was instrumental in conversations that centered around desegregating American schools, and highlights how institutional systems such as schools, can impact individual and collective well-being.
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- 2. Dr. Francis Cecil Sumner:
Dr. Francis Cecil Sumner was the first African American/Black man to earn a Ph.D. in Psychology, and is often referred to as the “Father of Black Psychology”. Though Dr. Sumner encountered challenges with publishing his research, due to his race, he persevered and his work ultimately resulted in publications. He is one of the founding members of the Howard University’s Psychology department. As I think about how research endeavors and challenges in my doctoral program, I consider how important it is for Black voices to be amplified in research, scholarly work, and community work.
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- 3. Dr. Mamie Phipps Clark and Dr. Kenneth Bancroft Clark:
Dr. Mamie Phipps Clark and Dr. Kenneth Bancfroft Clark, both who earned doctorate degrees in Psychology, were instrumental in the Brown vs. Board of Education, with their “Doll Study”, in which they provided evidence in ending school segregation. They also dedicated their work to addressing the psychological harm to Black children. Much of Dr. Mamie Phipps Clark’s work highlighted mental health disparities within the African American community. Dr. Kenneth Bancroft Clark was the first Black president of the American Psychological Association. In 1964, Dr. Mamie Clark opened her own agency, “The Northside Center for Child Development” to provide psychological services to historically excluded minority communities. Drs. Phipps and Clark’s work encourages me to continue the work of developing and/or engaging in strategies that combat forms of harm in our communities.
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- 4. Dr. E. Kitsch Childs:
Dr. Childs contributed to the development of the Association for Women in Psychology in 1969, and was a founding member of Chicago’s Gay Liberation Front. Her private practice work provided services to the LGBTQIA+ community, people living with HIV/AIDS, and other historically excluded communities. Her work centered around exploring the experiences of Black women and she utilized feminist therapy to support and empower her clients. One of the most powerful lessons I learned along my journey is the mind-body connection, specifically for Black women. Dr. Childs’ work reminds me to continuously be aware of how physical health impacts mental health, and vice versa. Her advocacy for historically excluded communities aligns with mine to challenge and eradicate oppressive systems and ideals, discrimination, and other forms of physical, emotional, and psychological harm.
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- 5. Bebe Moore Campbell:
As I near the end of my Ph.D. program, I’m very excited to read “72 Hour Hold”, a book recommended to me by one of my professors. The book was written by Bebe Moore Campbell, a mental health advocate, author, journalist, and teacher who was paramount in advocating for mental health in the Black community, particularly founding the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) – Inglewood in a predominantly Black neighborhood. She desired to cultivate safe conversations about mental health concerns in Black communities. In 2008, she was recognized with, “Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month” by Congress.
As we continue to explore, address, and identify both disparities and cultural forms of healing, I hope we grow in appreciation of how Black Mental Health has evolved over the years. And, if you are a healer in this field, I hope you’re encouraged in knowing that you stand on the shoulders of world-changers and are empowered to continue on with advocating for Black Mental Health.
Reference:
Black Pioneers in Mental Health. Mental Health America. (n.d.). https://www.mhanational.org/black-pioneers-mental-health
