Delaware Valley Association of Black Psychologists (DVABPsi)
Past Newsletters
June 2021
May 2021
April 2021
March 2021
March 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. The goal of DVABPsi is to make a positive impact on Black Mental Health today and in the future. This month we focus on
Black women in psychology past and present, and celebrate Black women and our efforts toward better mental health.
DeBorah Gilbert White, Ph.D.- Editor Ayo Marie Gooden, Ph.D.- Co-Editor
President's Message:
Dr. Tashekah Smith
Delaware Valley Association
of Black Psychologists
(DVABPsi)
Hotep DVABPSi Family,
When was the last time you engaged in introspection? Introspection is spending time observing yourself internally. Take a deep look at your soul. Getting to know yourself is important. Examining what makes you feel a particular feeling is vital to self-knowledge. Thus you may learn how not to be controlled by your emotions and the emotions of others. Take some time daily during this International Women's month to engage in introspection.
Nanny of the Maroons is a Jamaican national heroine; she helped fight for freedom from the British in the mid-1700s. Ultimately, Nanny and her Maroon fighters gained freedom. She was described as a wise woman who gained respect due to her warfare skills and indomitable spirit. In 1982 she was named a heroine and her image marks the $500 bill in Jamaica as the only female on a bill.
I highlighted this woman as most readers may be unaware of her and during this International Women's Month, I urge you to conjure the spirit of the women who inspire you. These are the women whose shoulders you stand on (inside and outside of your family), express gratitude for all they've deposited inside you, and spend time acknowledging and expanding their influence over your life.
Use introspection to examine yourself. Take the next steps to do with your life the things that may seem hard. The things that inspire you most. The things that you were told you cannot accomplish. The things that bring life to you and those around you. The things that your heroine spirit is passionate about. Discover and do the things you were created to do.
To everyone who identifies as a woman and those who love us--empower and acknowledge the heroines in your life this month and always.
We look forward to seeing you at our monthly meetings and Mbongis!
Sincerely,
Dr. Smith
Information about Nanny of the Maroons was acquired from personal knowledge and http://jis.gov.jm/information/heroes.
The I Am Psyched! National Tour explores the history and contemporary contributions of women of color in psychology as they engage in psychological science, practice, and social justice. The tour launched in 2017 at Howard University in Washington, D.C. is a multimedia interactive exhibit that visits schools and institutions across the United States. It is an initiative of the American Psychological Association (APA) to encourage girls and young women of color to consider careers in the field of psychology and to use psychology to promote social change. This year as part of the tour, five women of color and their contributions to the field are being highlighted. Among them are three Black psychologists; Drs. Inez Beverly Prosser (1895-1934), Mamie Phipps Clark (1917-1983), and Jennifer Eberhardt (1965- present). This month DVABPsi celebrates Black women psychologists past and present among its membership and the wider community. Following we spotlight our sisters lifted by the APA Psych Learning Curve in conjunction with 2022's I Am Psyched Tour!:
Inez Beverly Prosser (1895-1934)
Dr. Prosser was the first African American woman to earn a Ph.D. in psychology in the United States. In 1931, Prosser received a grant to conduct doctoral research in teaching and education, and she enrolled at the University of Cincinnati. Her dissertation, “The Non-Academic Development of Negro Children in Mixed and Segregated Schools” explored social aspects of integration and the possible damaging effects on African-American children's self-esteem. She argued that persistent inequality led to feelings of isolation and low socioeconomic status and that children's futures and learning opportunities were persistently limited by racism. Dr. Prosser received her Ph.D. in psychology in 1933 and died in a car accident in 1934. To learn more about Dr. Inez Beverly Prossner's life and work visit Inez Beverly Prosser Biography (goodtherapy.org).
Mamie Phipps Clark (1917-1983)
Dr. Phipps Clark was a graduate of Howard University. Her master's thesis "The Development of Consciousness of Self in Negro Pre-School Children" was foundational to her later work with her husband Dr. Kenneth Clark known as the dolls study. She provided an important perspective to the civil rights movement regarding racial segregation noting that the concept of "separate but equal" provided a far from equal education for Black youth. The study informed the Brown vs. the Board of Education Supreme Court case by demonstrating the harmful effects of segregation on children and led the Court to rule that racial segregation in U.S. schools was unconstitutional. Her research into self-concept among minorities inspired further research on the subject and opened up new areas of research within the field of developmental psychology. To learn more about Dr. Mamie Phipps Clark visit Psychologist Mamie Phipps Clark Biography (verywellmind.com) and Mamie Phipps Clark - Wikipedia.
Jennifer Eberhardt
Dr. Eberhardt is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati and Harvard University. She has made key contributions investigating the consequences of the psychological association between race and crime. Her research on unconscious bias includes demonstrating how racial imagery and judgment affect culture and society within the domain of social justice. The results from her work have contributed to training law enforcement officers and state agencies to better their judgments through implicit bias training. Her research has provided directions for future research in this domain and brought attention to mistreatment in communities due to biases. As a social psychologist, she investigates the subtle, complex, largely unconscious yet deeply ingrained ways that individuals racially code and categorize people. With her collaborations with experts in criminology, law, and anthropology, and connecting prior studies engaging law enforcement and jurors, Eberhardt is revealing new insights about the extent to which race imagery and judgments impact culture and society. To learn more about Dr. Jennifer L. Eberhardt visit Jennifer Eberhardt - Wikipedia.
(Article adapted from About the I am Psyched! National Tour (apa.org) and 5 Phenomenal Women of Color Who Changed Psychology Forever and Will Inspire You to Do the Same — Psych Learning Curve)
Judy Henderson, LMSW, MHS, MS
Chair Professional Development Committee
Founder/CEO Empowerment Resource Associates. Inc.
Email: jhen.eraservices@gmail.com
Increasing Black Mental Health Access: A culturally Competent Telehealth Model
The DVABPsi Professional Development Committee is embarking on a major project for grant funding with a mission to increase access to culturally competent ethical mental health services through telehealth services for the Black community by clinicians of color. The project aims to (1) Develop a telehealth mental health service for members of the HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) communities in the Tri-State region, which provides relevant culturally competent services that have never been previously
provided to Melanics; (2) Provide research and practice opportunities for BIPOC (Black Indigenous People of Color) mental health care practitioners; and (3) Provide professional development Mbongi’s in the areas of certified telehealth training for clinicians and supervisory coaching for the telehealth professionals.
Committee members are in the process of developing the project. DVABPsi members are invited to be involved with the important and timely work of the Professional Debvelopment Committee. Please contact the committee Chair for more information.
MENTAL HEALTH QUOTES by BLACK WOMEN
"God, make me so uncomfortable that I do the very thing that I fear.”-Ruby Dee
"Don’t feel entitled to anything that you didn’t sweat and struggle for.”-Miriam Wright Edelman
“We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.” -Maya Angelou
“There are times in life when, instead of complaining, you do something about your complaints.”-Rita Dove
“Don’t wait around for other people to be happy for you. Any happiness you get you’ve got to make yourself.”
– Alice Walker
“It’s not the load that breaks you down, it’s the way you carry it.” – Lena Horne
“You wanna fly, you got to give up the shit that weighs you down.”-Toni Morrison
“It’s in the act of having to do things that you don’t want to do that you learn something about moving past the self.” -bell hooks
“Discomfort is always a necessary part of enlightenment.” -Pearle Cleage
“Hard days are the best because that’s when champions are made.”-Gabby Douglas
Adapted from 10 Quotes From Black Women to Get You Out of a Mental Rut – A mental health blog (kontentlykara.com)
Awaken My Sisters
By: Khali Williams “The Wise Original Poet”
Awaken my sister, no more time to rest
He is calling you He wants your best
All that you have been through was only a test
No more time to sleep
Stop wasting counting sheep
You are ready to go in deep
Where others have refused to go
because they really don’t know who is running the show
He wants you to use your gift
There are so many that you can uplift
A lot of people are spiritually stuck on thrift
You must have the desire to encourage and inspire
Warn them about the fire
You have the choice to go left or right
Early in the day or late at night
Either peacefully or with a fight
Never go with an empty cup
You must pray, you must read, you must move l
You Must Wake Up
Tribute To Black Women
By: Khali Williams “The Original Wise Poet”
When God created Adam and saw he was alone
He then created Eve from Adam’s rib bone
She was his same color; his skin tone
I chose a woman the same color as me
My sisters you are the true queens of this civilization
May paradise be your destination
You are black man’s true sensation
For far too long you have been neglected and disrespected
Just for you this poem was selected
Together we have always prayed
You’re a beautiful day that came to me and stayed
They try to compare you to the wind
But you’re just so far beyond measure
A black woman is the true meaning of the word pleasure
You have the keys to unlock the doors to heaven
Call you my six day some say He made seven
You have the aroma of flowers, the freshness of rain
My love grows every hour and blessings I always gain
Black lady continue to hold your head high
I know very hard you will always try
You’re the type of woman who is so very proud
Forever your face will stand out in a crowd
Black girl keep striving to do your best
I place you so far above the rest
To me you are the cream of the crop
Forever you will be at the tip of the top
“Keep on shining just like a diamond,”
This is what I say
You don’t have to hear it from Simon
Black woman, stand by your black man’s side
Together you both will never be denied
Understanding is something that you know
Everyday your knowledge and wisdom will grow.
Always in front and never behind
With you strength is so easy to find
If beauty was a second you would be an hour
Black woman you possess all the power
To me you are the sweetest fruit
And for you, there will never be a substitute
So to you, black women, this is my tribute
(Poems submitted with permission from the poet by Desiree Harris- Chair Public Relations Committee
Khali Williams can be contacted at Khaliwop59@gmail.com)
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Join The Association of Black Psychologists (www.abpsi.org) and DVABPsi.
Make your contribution to healing our people!
BENEFITS:
Free CEs for Licensed Psychologists and
Act 48 Hours for Educators
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 Professors
JOIN The Black Health Trust every Sunday 12:00 pm PDT/3:00 EDT
Visit https://www.blackhealthtrust.org/ for updates and more information.
TheMasharikiGazeti
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 15 th 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 Marie 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.
