black psychology a mind is a terrible thing to waste
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Black Psychology
A Mind Is A Terrible Thing to Waste
Traditional Psychology Perspectives
Euro-American Value Culturally Biased Afriphobic Dismissive of Africa Scientifically racist
Black Psychology African American experience is
quite different. Black psychologist look to
worldviews or social realities as an explanation of the disparities among the ethnicities.
“Black psychology and the psychology of Blackness reflect an attempt to build a conceptual model that organizes, explains, and leads to understanding the psychological behavior of African-Americans based on the primary dimensions of an African-American world view.”
Types of Black Psychologyaccording to Maulena Karenga Traditional – apply European norms in
analyzing Black behavior. Reformist – adapt conventional thought to
conform to African American “experience with little regard for African foundations.”
Radical – African ethos is the way to analyze Black behavior independent of European theory. It includes “African religion, philosophy, spiritualism, ritualism, concept of time, and worldview as the foundation of Black psychology.”
The Differences Africans
Nature – seek harmony and unity
Person – seek collectivism
Relationships – seek to work with others in an egalitarian way
Religion – spiritual Transformation --
rituals
Europeans Nature –
dominance and control
Person – seek individualism
Relationships – seek to dominate others through hierarchy
Religion – rational Transformation --
aggression
Key words Rhythm Oral tradition Soul Extended self Natural Survival of the
group
Psychological Dimensions of Oppression
Slavery and Racism
Slavery on Black Psychology Slavery lasted for more than 300
years Emancipation was proclaimed
about 140 years ago. Legalized segregation ended only
about 50 years ago. Attitudes and feelings still persist.
The Torture of Slavery “Slavery was an enduring form of
torture of the minds, bodies and souls of Africans.”
The Effects of Slavery The effects of slavery on the
African was pervasive. The enslaved were: Brainwashed Afflicted with self rejection and
alienation Made to fear their captors Developed a dependency
Making Slaves
The House Negro and the Field Negro
Kenneth M Stampp He says that there were three five
steps to controlling the enslaved used by the planters: Establish and maintain strict discipline Convince the African that he was inferior Awe them with the slave holders sense of
power Persuade the bondsman to take an active
interest in the slave holders well-being Imbue a sense of helplessness within
Akbar and Wright Na’im Akbar and Bobby Wright
contend that slavery continues to have a influence on the psychology of African Americans.
Akbar contends that certain “individual behaviors are influenced by collective factors which are historically remote.”
Attitudes related to
were affected by slavery
Property Work Leadership “Clowning”
Personal inferiority
Community division
Family instability Color
consciousness
Property – mixed feelings. On one hand slaves would get pleasure in destroying the slaveholders property. On the other hand blacks were attracted to these material things.
Work – because of inadequate compensation work was punishment and therefore avoided.
Leadership – leaders were eliminated, downplayed or co-opted to serve the interest of the slave holders. Consequently blacks became “hesitant toward strong Black leaders.”
Unity – unity was affected by the social stratification of the field slave versus the house slave. The semi free and mulatto slaves were used to divide the community.
Family life – families were split indiscriminately and strong family ties were discouraged. Slaves were used as studs, multiplicity of partners was encouraged.
Clowning – blacks were “allowed” to entertain whites as jester, clown or fool. This accounts for the “over representation” of blacks in the entertainment industry.
Akbar and Fanon “Both slavery and colonialism
causes the victims to internalize certain destructive behavioral traits or characteristics which contribute to their continued oppression long after freedom or decolonization has been achieved.”
Most Black psychologist support the idea the racism is the source of social dysfunction, aberrant behavior and cultural alienation and continue to impact the mental health of African Americans.
“Racism is the abstract component of physical racial slavery.”
The Effects of Racism
The Mental Health Dilemma
Black and White Approaches Most Black psychologist argue that
the European model for psychology is not adaptable to Black behavior, personality, and mental functions.
Racism affects Worldview Self Perception Perception of
others Vocation Education Religious
Preference
Outlook on life Perspective on
Money Material Relationships Self potential Government Authority
and . . . . . . Mental Health
“. . . racism and racial antagonism cause African Americans to an undue amount of depression, stress, anger and hypertension.”
Improper coping mechanisms can lead to social and biological problems.
Although there may be many factors which lead to depression, including some biological ones, it is logical to think that racism and discrimination may play a role in it.
“Race and color more than any other factors, determines the collective quality of life, achievement potential, health and life-chances of African Americans.”
Even in the face of this African Americans manage to develop positive coping mechanisms and very often push themselves to achieve to disprove the stereotype.
However the tremendous drive to succeed may itself contribute to depression, anger, alienation, etc.
Telos The goal of Black psychologist is to
understand Blacks and provide means by which they can develop healthy psychological functioning.
W.E. Cross stages Cross outline five stages of Blacks
from weak Negro to strong positive self image. Pre-encounter Encounter Immersion-Emersion Internalization Internalization-Commitment
The Stages of Healthy Development Pre-encounter – Devoid of any black
frame of reference. Embraces all things European and is Afriphobic
Encounter – The person encounters a racial incident which moves that person to explore her Blackness.
Immersion/emersion – The person become immersed in anything and everything black. She adopts black clothes, hairstyle, speech and mannerisms.
Internalization – She becomes comfortable with her new Black identity. She thinks and acts Black.
Internalization/commitment – At this stage she has committed herself to being Black consciously. She is not only culturally sure but “politically committed towards the eradication of racial injustice and irresponsibility.
African Characteristics
A Proposed Remedy for the Black Psyche Overly Exposed
to Racism
Wade Nobles Noted African
American scholar puts forth a Black Psychology that uses African Philosophy as its model.
http://pzacad.pitzer.edu/~hfairchi/phoabpsi.html
African Ethos People are
part of nature; the natural rhythm of life
Collective effort is the survival of the tribe
Five Features Philosophy and Religion Notion of Unity Concept of Time Death and Immortality Kinship and Collective Unity
http://www.welltempered.net/adinkra/htmls/adinkra/gyen.htm
Philosophy and Religion There exists a
strong relationship between philosophy and religion. Collective
consciousness Oral traditions
http://dickinsg.intrasun.tcnj.edu/diaspora/religion_photos.html
http://home.concepts-ict.nl/~kimmerle/ceabaluyamask.jpg
Notion of Unity Human beings are
part of nature. Humans are the center but not apart from others (animals, plants and natural phenomena).
http://www.balibamboofurniture.com/african/africa-unity.htm
http://www.welltempered.net/adinkra/htmls/adinkra/nkon.htm
Concept of Time Time is present
and past. Time is also event conscious as opposed to number conscious. Two Swahili words: Sasa – present Zamani – past
http://www.africanbeatsart.com/Danny_page4.htmhttp://www.welltempered.net/adinkra/htmls/adinkra/sank.htm
Death and Immortality Death was part of
the rhythm of life. After one died one lived as long as one was remembered and recognized by those who knew the person.
http://www.welltempered.net/adinkra/htmls/adinkra/owuo-atwedee.htm
http://www.welltempered.net/adinkra/htmls/adinkra/nyawu.htm
http://www.overberginfo.com/marusa_mason/glimpse_of_life_and_death.htm
Kinship and Collective Unity Kinship controlled
all relations in the community and included animals, plants and non-living objects.
http://www.welltempered.net/adinkra/htmls/adinkra/esen.htm
http://dpicg.com/joan_beech/chapters/chapter_14.html
African American community is Experiential community
Africans do not go for the mind/body split where the body is bad and the mind is good.
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