Key Concepts, Theories, and Issues in African/Black Psychology: A View From the Bridge

Abstract

An impressive body of psychological literature exists that attests to the amount of intellectual labor put forth by Black psychologists in developing and implementing unique approaches to understanding people of African descent. Yet the impact of these contributions made by Black psychologists have often been marginalized and rendered invisible within the overall context of Black intellectual thought. The absence leaves a void in the literature for those seeking an accurate account of the ideas that shape contemporary Black thought. This cursory review of the psychological literature attempts to fill that void by examining some of the major issues, concepts, and themes addressed in African/Black psychology, as well as identifying a few neglected areas and offering suggestions for future research directions in the discipline.

Toward a Culturally Specific Spirituality for Black Sexual Minority Men

“…Through consensus building and member checks, we attempted to ensure that our biases were not unduly influential to our analyses, results, and interpretation. However, consistent with an African-centered conceptualization of epistemology, we understand and appreciate that knowledge is a byproduct of both empirical and experiential models (Jamison, 2018). Thus, we interpreted our overall data analysis process to be aligned with Semaj's (1996) cultural scientist methodology that emphasizes the integration of scientific inquiry with self and collective knowledge aimed toward Black liberation.…”

“…To address this gap that has contributed to Black SM men being marginalized in spirituality-health research, we present the findings of a qualitative study aimed at defining culturally specific spirituality for Black SM men in the United States. We respond to Jamison's (2018) call for more attention in Black psychological research to the lives of SM people. Toward these aims, the authors contemplate how the findings from the study fit within a Black psychological context, may expand Black psychology as a distinct discipline, and contribute to the overall well-being of Black SM men.…”

Introduction: Building for Eternity

“…A critical issue that the discipline of African/Black psychology must tackle concerns methodology. Several scholars (Cokley & Garba, 2018;Grills et al, 2018;Jamison, 2018) question African/Black psychology's reliance on the methods of Western science, both in research and clinical diagnosis. Carruthers (as cited in Jamison, 2018) states that the discipline is "caught between the philosophy of liberation and the methodology of oppression."…”

“…Several scholars (Cokley & Garba, 2018;Grills et al, 2018;Jamison, 2018) question African/Black psychology's reliance on the methods of Western science, both in research and clinical diagnosis. Carruthers (as cited in Jamison, 2018) states that the discipline is "caught between the philosophy of liberation and the methodology of oppression." A diunital approach to conducting research, which combines the empirical and the intuitive, would, according to Jamison and supported by Grills et al (2018) represent a methodological approach consistent with African philosophical principles.…”

“…Frederick Douglass (1857) lamented that without struggle, there is no progress. Our early work challenging culturally biased testing has evolved and has led to the development of African-centered assessment tools, but as these authors (Cokley & Garba, 2018;Grills et al, 2018;Jamison, 2018) concede, many more are needed. African-centered diagnostic tools have been developed, but their use is not yet widespread, and they are either unknown or unaccepted in most clinical settings serving people of African ancestry.…”