June 2022

​

     Welcome to DIRECTIONS the monthly online newsletter of the Delaware Valley Association of Black Psychologists (DVABPsi). We look forward to providing our readers with pertinent information to support, encourage, and uplift our community and those who serve the community. Juneteenth is celebrated on June 18th.The goal of DVABPsi is to make a positive impact on Black Mental Health today and in the future. 

        

 Ayo Maria Gooden, Ph.D.- Editor               

Auriane Kemegne, B.S - Co-Editor, Marketing Coordinator

​

                                                       

                                                                                                                                           

                                                   

 

 

                                                      President's Message:  

                                                      Dr. Tashekah Smith

                                                      Delaware Valley Association

                                                      of Black Psychologists

                                                             (DVABPsi)

​

​

                                 

              Hotep DVABPSi Family, 

​

As our country celebrates the second year where Juneteenth is a federal holiday, as a nation, this gives us an opportunity to celebrate ourselves and each other as Black people in America. We are beautiful and the world knows it. While we have not always recognized our own beauty and strength, do remember that we are a people of excellence, intelligence, resilience, and power. Please use this month and the remainder of the year to bask in the beauty that God placed in us and that is a reflection of our ancestors. They would be proud. 

​

In the words of the late great Bob Marley, "Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery. None but ourselves can free our mind. Have no fear for atomic energy. Cause none of them can stop the time. How long shall they kill our prophets. While we stand aside and look? Some say it's just a part of it. We've got to fulfill the book. Won't you help to sing these songs of freedom...redemption songs..." (excerpt from Redemption Songs by Bob Marley with different influences).

 

The Delaware Valley Association of Black Psychologists are here for you.

We look forward to hearing from you and seeing you at our monthly meetings and Mbongis on Zoom! 

    
Sincerely,  

Dr. Smith

​

                        

 

 

 

​

​

                             

 

 

​

​

​

​

 

 

 

Violence Breeds Violence: How Selecting Healthy Partners Can Stop the Violence, Part 1

Ayo Maria Gooden, Ph.D., ABPBC

​

Healthy people come from healthy families.  Healthy families build healthy neighborhoods.  Healthy neighborhoods create healthy communities.  Blacks do not have healthy communities and we do not have enough healthy neighborhoods to build healthy communities.  A neighborhood is where you live.  Blacks live in a variety of different neighborhoods, some with all Black people, some with multiple racial groups, some that are financially stable or financially successful, and others that are financially struggling.  When there are widespread financial problems in a neighborhood, violence inside and outside the house becomes a predominant characteristic.  In fact, research by people such as Dr. Eberhardt (2019), indicates that when most people, regardless of their race, think about Black neighborhoods, they associate them with poverty, crime, drugs, unemployment, and other negative characteristics.  A community is a group of people who live and work in unity towards a common goal.  

​

Every race of people and many ethnic groups, with the except Blacks and Native Americans have a community.  Asians, for example, China Town and have their own stores, businesses. Koreans, Japanese, and other Asian groups create communities designed to educate, employ, and protect their people.  The highest value for Asians, as indicated by Dr. Edwin Nichols (1987), is the group.  They work as a collective and consider how their actions and choices will impact the group as they design ways to pass down their collective wisdom.  Asians work together to build a safe and productive environment for themselves.  Caucasians, or people who classify themselves as “white” value objects.  The laws, which have been written to protect things that White people possess over the rights of people.  If you steal a car or steal money you can get life in prison.  If you are White and you rape a person or kill a person (especially if that person is Black) you will usually be found not guilty.  All the Federal, State and Local governments are established by Whites and designed to protect their rights over Melanics-especially over the rights of Black people.  Whites set up the educational institutions including Black Colleges and Universities (BCUs) which is why you will never see a BCU flying the Black flag (red, black and green).  Whites establish the rules by which Blacks will live and work.  You cannot get your hair braided in a hair salon unless it has been sanctioned by a White governing/licensing board (even though they do not know anything about braiding or natural Black hair).  Black psychologists must be licensed by a White national board of psychologists to practice as psychologists and to be accepted into the networks of insurance companies (all of which are White).  All systems in the United States of America are designed to support White success and Black failure.

 

Most Black men are still prevented from earning large salaries that allow them to head a household and provide the love, nurturance, and protection that Black men provided in Africa and around the globe before the invasions of Whites.  Black males and Black females make almost half of the salary of Whites and about a third of the salary of Asians (https://www.pgpf.org/blog/2021/11/income-and-wealth-in-the-united-states-an-overview-of-data.)  Black men make about 75 cents to every dollar of a White male and Black women make about 65 cents.  The problem with these statistics is that averages are deceptive because if you have a small number of people with very high salaries it can make the average income look higher.  Blacks have the highest unemployment (https://www.bls.gov/opub/reports/race-and-ethnicity/2020/pdf/home.pdf) along with Native Americans.  Being unemployed or underemployed creates chronic distress which leads to alcoholism, drug abuse, domestic violence, seeking illegal sources of income, and other problematic behaviors. If you are raised in a house where parents are arguing about a lack of money, are unable to pay bills, are evicted from their homes, cannot afford school supplies or appropriate clothing, you are going to be traumatized.  You learn you cannot count on your parents.  You learn that your parents are not capable of taking care of you or nurturing you.  You may become the scapegoat and experience verbal, physical, or sexual abuse.  You learn that the White people have everything you do not have that you wish you had and so you desire to be like them.  You reject Black people who hurt you or do not protect you and you embrace those with the power you wish you had in your life. Not having a system in place that creates a Black community means there is a lack of standards regarding what is expected of an individual in the various roles of man, woman, husband, wife, father, and mother.  If you had inadequate role models, or dysfunctions role models you have difficulty navigating relationships.  Proof of the disruption in Black relationships is documented by marriage rates.  

​

Marriage Rates

According to U.S. marriage statistics in 2015 (https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2017/05/18/1-trends-and-patterns-in-intermarriage/), only 30% of Blacks over the age of 18 were married.  When Black marriage rates are compared to other ethnic groups, 60% of Asians over 18 were married, 54% of Caucasians, and 46% of Latinx, it becomes more apparent that Black relationships are in trouble.  Marriage rates are only one piece of the pattern. How successful are Blacks with the maintenance of marital relationships?  Divorce rates suggest that the selection of a partner was not adequate or perhaps much worse than inadequate.

​

Divorce Rates

Forty-two percent (42%) of both Black females and males have divorced at least once (https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2017/05/18/1-trends-and-patterns-in-intermarriage/). The divorce rates among other groups will help to put Black statistics into perspective: Asians have the lowest divorce rate-18% of Asian females and 16% of Asian males have been divorced, at least once; Latinx 30% of females and 27% of Latinx males; 38% of Caucasian females and 36% of Caucasian males get divorced at least once in their lifetimes; but the highest divorce rate is among Native Americans with 44% of the males and 45% of the women experiencing at least one divorce.  Black and Native Americans have very similar patterns.  It is my observation that the two groups in this country most devastated by racism has been Blacks and Native Americans.  The final statistic to be reviewed is intermarriages or interracial marriages.

​

Intermarriages or Interracial Marriages

In addition to Blacks experiencing next to the highest divorce rates and the lowest marriage rates, Blacks have had a huge increase in interracial marriages or intermarriages.  In 1980, the rate was 5% but it increased to 18% in 2015 (https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2017/05/18/1-trends-and-patterns-in-intermarriage/).  The rate of intermarriages among Asians is 29%; Latinx intermarriages are 27%; and Caucasians intermarry at a rate of 11%.  The group with the highest intermarriage rates is Native Americans.  Native American females have the highest rates at 61% and Native American males intermarry at a rate of 54% (June 12, 2015).  The rates of Native Americans intermarrying is especially concerning because their land ownership and other benefits are based on percentage of Native American blood.  If they continue to intermarry, they will no longer be legally able to maintain Native American lands and what few rights they currently possess.  In part two of this series, the psychological causes and consequences of intermarrying will be explored along with how intermarrying impacts building a strong Black family.  The role of Black organizations and groups such as Black Love Partners, supporting Black businesses such restaurants, professionals, and schools will also be examined in relation to build strong Black love relationships, families, neighborhoods, and communities.  If you are single, ask yourself, where do you go to meet healthy Black potential love partners?  If you are married, ask yourself, if your marriage is not as strong as you would like it to be, are you courageous enough to seek support from a Black therapist?  The Delaware Valley Association of Black Psychologists is a chapter of the international Association of Black Psychologists (www.abpsi.org).

​

References

Eberhardt, J. (2019). Biased: Uncovering the Hidden Prejudice That Shapes What We See, Think, and Do. New York. Viking.

​

Nichols, E. (1976, 1987).  The Philosophical Aspects of Cultural Differences.  Nichols & Associates.

​

https://www.bls.gov/opub/reports/race-and-ethnicity/2020/pdf/home.pdf

​

https://www.itsovereasy.com/insights/divorce-statistics

​

https://www.pgpf.org/blog/2021/11/income-and-wealth-in-the-united-states-an-overview-of-data

​

https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2017/05/18/1-trends-and-patterns-in-intermarriage/

​

 

     

 

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

 

 

​

 

 

Join The Association of Black Psychologists                   (www.abpsi.org) and DVABPsi. 

  Make your contribution to healing our people!

                                      

BENEFITS:

 

• Free CEs

​

• Advertising Products (Books, Research, etc)

​

• Afforded the Opportunity to Present your Books or Research during our monthly Mbongis

​

• Mentoring for Graduate Students

​

• Community Partnerships and Involvement

​

• Job Opportunities Notices

​

• Networking with other Blacks in the Field

​

• Opportunity through a Partnership to get Supervision for Licensure

​

• Will advertise your Workshops/Training or Business to Members and other Mental Health Professionals

 

    

 

 

   

 

              

 

 

 

 

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

     

 

​

​

​

​

 

 

JOIN The Black Health Trust every Sunday 12:00 pm PDT/3:00 EDT

                   

 Visit https://www.blackhealthtrust.org/ for updates and more information.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Mashariki Gazeti

East Region Newspaper

​

                                                A CALL FOR PAPERS

​

Calling all articles (scholarly, opinions, etc.) about Africa, Africans, African Americans, psychology, advertisements, events, poetry, quotes, and announcements. The Mashariki Gazeti (MG) is published twice (i.e. September and March) during the fiscal year (i.e. August to July). Submission deadlines are August 15th and February 15th.

​

Advertisement Rates

​

Advertise employment opportunities, business ventures, office space, conferences,
business cards, trips, and other events. Our circulation reaches over 300 people in
Boston, New York, New Jersey, Delaware Valley (i.e. Philadelphia and

surroundings), and Washington, D.C.
$100.00 – full page
$50.00 – ½ page
$25.00 – ¼ page
$15.00 – business card

​

Advertisements must be camera ready. Make checks or money orders payable to:

​

Dr. Faruq Iman

​

Articles, etc. Submission

Please submit all articles, ads, etc. to:
Faruq T.N. Iman, Ph.D., C.H.P., Editor

1301 N. 54 th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19131-4307

(215) 921 – 2557
Email: faruqiman@yahoo.com

​

​

   

 

Opportunity to Advertise in DIRECTIONS Newsletter 

​

Advertisements can be submitted for review and publication at least three weeks before the next month's issue along with a check, money order payable to Delaware Valley Association of Black Psychologists (DVABPsi), or online payment.    Advertisement rates are as follows:

​

                                 Full Page:  $100.00

                                 Half Page:  $50.00

                                 Quarter Page:  $25.00

                                 Business Card: $15.00 

​

​

Mailing address:      Ayo Maria Gooden, Ph.D., Co-Editor

                                 DIRECTIONS Newsletter

                                 Delaware Valley Association of Black Psychologists

                                 P.O. Box 542

                                 Westtown, PA  19395-0542

​

​

                                         Newsletter Submissions

​

Members of DVABPsi are encouraged to submit articles, poems, announcements,  quotations, employment opportunities, and information related to undergraduate,   graduate, and post-graduate programs in psychology.  Currently, we are seeking Guest Contributors for 2022.  Members of DVABPsi are invited to be Guest Contributors. Please submit a short bio and photo with articles. Related pictures and graphics can also be submitted with articles. Contact the DIRECTIONS Newsletter team for additional information at directionsdvabpsiorg@gmail.com. 

​