ARTICLES

EDITORIAL: My Bad; Our Bad

By Halford H. Fairchild, 3

President’s Address: Raising the Bar on Commitment and Responsibility,

By Mary E. Hargrow, 4

Ethical Standards of Black Psychologists

By Na’im Akbar and Wade Nobles, 6

The ABPsi’s Annual Campaign, 2001-02

By Judy E. Ross, 12

Liberating Your Mind: A Review of the Psychology of Blacks by Parham, White and Ajamu, By Leanne Stein, 13

2002 International Convention, 15

Convention Highlights, 16

Convention Registration, 17

Post-Convention Cruise, 18

ANNOUNCEMENTS, 20

Chapter Challenge, 20

Student Circle, 21

E-mail Directory, 22

CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING, 24

Job Opportunities, 24

ABPsi Resolutions (Forms), 28

2001 Convention Videotapes, 31

EDITORIAL

My Bad; Our Bad

BY Halford H. Fairchild, Ph.D.

Editor, Psych Discourse

I owe the members of ABPsi an apology for the delays in getting Psych Discourse out. Although I have plenty of very good excuses, the delay was under my control. And I am sorry.

I went crash, burn, flame-out. My ability to produce PD for the last three months is partially explained in an email (slightly edited here) that I recently sent to the other members of the Board of Directors:

I wish to apologize to everyone for the lateness of Psych Discourse. The March, April and May issue (a combined issue) is being readied for the printer, hopefully to be delivered in the a.m. I had several major systems shut down: the most important of them was my emotional health. The emotional energy required to produce PD was severely damaged. But I've also had personal and professional issues to grapple with. The external reason is that The ABPsi really couldn't afford to produce monthly issues at this time. I also had a catastrophic computer crash and have not yet been able to recover all of the lost data. But, I take full responsibility and apologize to all concerned. I did not, as I so often urge others to do, “stay strong in the struggle.” ….

…. As those who attended the San Diego meeting know, I had a significant emotional experience surrounding The ABPsi's current financial and office situation. Imagine if your son or daughter was murdered. How would it affect you?

ABPsi has been like a son or daughter to me since about 1985 (my first year on the Board of Directors). ABPsi was a parent to me since about 1972 (the year of my first Convention, and since then I have missed only the 1973 meeting). The Kennedy Street property was like a, well, beloved pet. I was National President the year we cleaned, painted and moved into the building. My blood, literally, is still in that building, as well as my sweat and tears. About 20 or 30 of us transformed that building from being roach and rat infested into being a pretty decent place to live and work. The sale of the building is something that I cannot get over until we move into a bigger and better facility that we own. [ABPsi is currently housed in a rented suite of offices not far from Kennedy Street.]

See Editorial on p. 12

President’s Message

Raising the Bar on Commitment and Responsibility

Mary Elizabeth Hargrow, Ph.D.

National President of The ABPsi

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Greetings to The ABPsi Membership:

Many sincere apologies for the long delay in receiving your Psych Discourse, one of the valued offerings that membership in The ABPsi brings, and a publication that serves as a bridge that connects us to each other. Thank you for your patience.

This has been a year of a tremendous financial short fall leading to cutbacks and downsizing that has affected our ability to deliver the quantity and quality of services that the Board of Directors (BOD) would like to provide to you, and that you deserve to receive. However, through careful planning and financial sacrifice from each of the BOD members and some committee chairs and co-chairs, The Association is emerging operationally, financially, and programmatically stronger. Retrofitting and strengthening the infrastructure while continuing office operations on a part time basis has, and continues to be, a challenge that requires our tenacity. Cut backs with Psych Discourse have been one of the services that has been affected. Again, please accept my apologies, and expect all services to improve within the next month.

After 34 years of functioning, it is not unusual for a structure, an institution, or an organization to have to undergo major infrastructure work in order to continue. And, I invite all of us to see it as our individual responsibility to make sure that this needed organization continues. The infrastructure work that is taking place within The ABPsi at this time will have long term effects on its viability and sustainability as we move into this rapidly expanding global society where the challenges for people of African ancestry are increasingly visible to the world. Our physical, mental, and spiritual survivals on this planet are increasingly threatened. Check out the statistics on any number of physical diseases and consequences of social injustice to African people locally, nationally, and globally. Far too many of us seem asleep, anesthetized, and/or immobilized by the magnitude of the challenges. But, Members of The ABPsi, we must rise and assist ourselves and our communities—locally and globally—in finding solutions for meeting these challenges. This is a time for perseverance.

The ongoing infrastructure retrofitting and strengthening that is taking place within The ABPsi include (but are not limited to): renegotiating and settling burdensome contracts, revising and strengthening policies and procedures, increasing the effort to have The ABPsi recognized as a Continuing Education provider in every state, having The ABPsi’s Ethical Standards included in the Global Ethical Standards for Psychology that are now being developed, exploring and evaluating alternative ways of operating office functions, supporting and encouraging the growth of the African Psychology Institute, restoring and restructuring The Association’s Culturally Consistent Referral Program, making updated information on The Association available on the Internet, and forming new and more extensive collaborative working relations with other African American associations and African based organizations.

The ABPsi has never had sufficient financial resources to fully support the travel and hotel accommodations of the individuals who volunteer to serve the organization on the national level as members of the Board of Directors, the ABPsi General Assembly, or their Committees. There have been times when these volunteers were given partial stipends for expenses. However, so far this year, 2001-2002, the short fall in revenue has placed this burden completely on each individual, and they have met their responsibility of attending BOD and GA meetings despite this situation. How can you help to change this scenario before the fiscal year ends?

The ABPsi’s 34^th International Convention in San Diego, at the Four Points Sheraton Hotel, August 6-10 (meetings August 4-11) is The Association’s Annual Fundraiser and Professional Conference. There are many ways to participate to make this a success in both areas: Register to attend the convention and stay at the convention hotel. If you are unable to attend, donate a monetary amount for two student registrations and accommodations, or for one recent graduate or other full paying attendee. For the Souvenir Program Book, you can and should solicit corporate and institutional sponsors; solicit ads from institutions, businesses or organizations; order a personal or professional ad; or make a sizable donation to support the convention or BOD members’ meeting expenses. There is a Chapter Challenge initiative in which the National Convention Committee (NCC) co-chairs, Mr. Archie Harris and Ms. Evelyn Young, have asked each chapter to raise $2,500.00 to $5,000.00 in support of this 2001-2002 National Fund Raiser. (Call Ms. E. Young, the National Office, or see the web site for forms at www.abpsi.org). Participation by the membership in these activities can make it possible for the 2001-2002 BOD members to receive stipends to cover some of their expenses for this year, and for The ABPsi to operate more fully during 2002-2003. Chapters in each region are to collectively provide financial support for their regional representative. Check with your chapter leadership and make sure that your chapter has fulfilled this responsibility—and paid their annual chapter charter fee—and is involved in the Convention Chapter Challenge fundraising effort. [see the Announcement pages.]

Increasing our responsibility at all levels is mandatory to successfully and sufficiently retrofit and strengthen the infrastructure of The ABPsi, from within, so that our home can and will withstand the storms that are before us and those that we may face in the future. We must be prepared, if necessary, to do this with a smaller group of committed and participating psychologists of African descent. I believe that there are enough of us who will not abdicate this responsibility that we are uniquely qualified and called to do.

The convention theme is, “The World Wide Web of African Psychology: From Antiquity to the Present.” The presentations of theory, research and practice are focused toward increasing ‘Cultural Competency’ in working with people of African ancestry and other underserved communities. The healing modalities will include contemporary, traditional, and a variety of combinations. Some of the presenters will be from the continent of Africa. PLEASE, DO NOT MISS THIS CONVENTION!

President Hargrow may be reached at MEHargrow16@aol.com or in care of the National Office.

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ETHICAL STANDARDS

OF BLACK PSYCHOLOGISTS

PREAMBLE

We hold to be true that only persons of African Descent and who are completely committed to no less than the absolute liberation of the Black mind shall be recognized as legitimate Black Psychologists. We also hold to be true that the commitment process simultaneously recognizes:

1. that the shackles of slavery and centuries of racial oppression still restrict the mental freedom of people of African descent.

2. the continued retentions and residuals of our African Cultural Heritage inform and direct the creative mental powers of people of African descent.

Black Psychologists, as scientists of the mind, are committed to research, theory and practice which is designed to build from the core of our African spiritual and physical being. Black Psychologists are also committed to research, theory and practice geared towards the unmasking of the nefarious influences of racism and the internalized destructiveness of the racist.

The objective of a Black Psychologist is to restore the Black mind to its original form, prior to the intrusion of slavery, by cultivating the integrity, the dignity, the collective awareness and the unified movement of Black people towards their social, political, economic, psychological and spiritual liberation. The parameter of values of Black Psychologists are defined by this objective. With the freedom for inquiry and formulation, the Black Psychologist accepts the responsibility for the welfare of all Black people and respect for all human beings who are in the conduct of respectable human affairs, and not in conflict with the survival and progress of African people.

THE FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLE OF CONSUBSTANTIATION

The essential guiding principle for the ethical conduct of Black Psychologists is informed by the ontological principle of "consubstantiation," i.e., "we are one people, we are of the same essence." This principle requires an adherence to the structural recognition that "I am because we are and because we are, therefore I am," as well as to the functional acceptance of the African principle of identity which recognizes that "who you are is who you are connected to" (and value base of collective responsibility). The fundamental principles derived of consubstantiation result in the set of guiding principles derived by Collective Responsibility.

THE ETHICAL STANDARDS

I. Responsibility

II. Restraint

III. Respect

IV. Reciprocity

V. Commitment

VI. Cooperativeness

VII. Courage

VIII. Accountability

Standard I. RESPONSIBILITY

The ethical standard of responsibility recognizes that Black Psychologists, while committed to the understanding of the human mind in general in the service of all humanity, hold a value and commitment to addressing the unique problems and propensities of the African mind (throughout the diaspora). Black Psychologists are first and foremost responsible for the understanding of the African mind and for the application of the knowledge to the alleviation of problems which have been fostered by the historical oppression of Black people.

Principle I-1: Black Psychologists believe that their skills should most appropriately be dedicated to the improvement of the lives of Black people. Though there are obviously related activities which may be of high priority to non-Black people, the choice of priority involvements by Black Psychologists must first be toward those which will expedite the improvement of the life situation of Black people.

Principle I-2: Black Psychologists engage in research which will improve the quality of life of Black people. This research should be reflective of the psychological strengths of Black people and/or should be focused on the cultivation of strengths which will foster such improvement. Black Psychologists object to and refuse to support theoretical or empirical positions which accept the innate or irremediable deficiency of Black people.

Principle I-3: For Black Psychologists to engage in any research, theory, or practice which in any way endangers the development of Black people, shall be recognized as highly unethical. Any Black Psychologists so involved, directly or indirectly, shall be publicly exposed as being in violation of, and irresponsible to, the well being of Black people, and shall be formally disassociated from this body. The judgment of such misconduct shall be determined by the Standing Committee on Ethical Standards.

Principle I-4: As teachers, Black Psychologists recognize their responsibility to foster self-knowledge. If that teaching involves non-Black people, then the Black Psychologists' responsibility is to offer knowledge of the non-Black self as it impacts on the life and circumstance of Black people.

Principle I-5: As providers of services to suffering people, Black Psychologists recognize that their initial responsibility is to the suffering of Black people. In whatever setting Black Psychologists find themselves awkward, they always extend their efforts to offering the best and highest quality of service to Black people. When a choice is available, Black Psychologists see their responsibility as primarily a resource to improve the life situation of Black people.

Standard II: RESTRAINT

The ethical standard of restraint recognizes that Black Psychologists understand that the "rights" of any single individual are always balanced against the responsibility to, and requirements of, the group. Black Psychologists are governed by principled conduct and restraints which are designed to judge actions in relation to the welfare of the group and the larger good.

Principle II-1: Black Psychologists avoid the use of their professional identity as a vehicle to exploit or take personal advantage of the Black community.

Principle II-2: Black Psychologists avoid making public statements which may be construed as reflective of the collective sentiment of the Black community unless they are duly appointed by a representative group of the community as their spokesperson.

Principle II-3: Black Psychologists are cautious in communicating their research findings as representing observations in a limited sphere, thus avoiding making global pronouncements about the state of the race.

Principle II-4: Black Psychologists represent themselves as servants to the community and lead only as they have been appointed.

Standard III: RESPECT

The ethical standard of respect recognizes that Black Psychologists shall at all times give deference to the will and intent of Black people. As reflected in behavior, attitudes, etc., Black Psychologists submit to excellence, and righteousness in themselves and in each other.

Principle III-1: Black Psychologists shall avoid misrepresenting their professional qualifications, affiliations, commitments and/or contributions to the field. Black Psychologists do not claim, directly or indirectly, to possess professional qualifications or skills which they do not have. Neither do they permit people to assume and/or represent them as having qualifications or skills which they do not have.

Principle III-2: Because of the explicit commitments of Black Psychologists to address the specific and unique concerns of Black people, anyone who does not share in this commitment should not affiliate themselves or represent themselves with this organization.

Principle III-3: Black Psychologists do not identify themselves either explicitly or by implication as affiliated with The Association of Black Psychologists, for the purpose of obtaining benefits, without being an official member of the organization.

Standard IV: RECIPROCITY

The ethical standard of reciprocity recognizes that Black Psychologists understand the mutual dependence between the welfare of Black people and their personal well-being. In no instance shall Black Psychologists place their personal gain in opposition to the advancement of the Black community.

Principle IV-1: Black Psychologists are first of all concerned about providing the best and highest quality services. Financial consideration should never restrict their ability to serve the Black community.

Principle IV-2: Black Psychologists' fees for services to the Black community should be commensurate with the community's ability to pay.

Principle IV-3: Black Psychologists recognize the economic oppression and destitution of the Black community. Thus, they responsibly return a portion of their earnings to the Black community.

Standard V: COMMITMENT

Black Psychologists will often be enticed by power, prestige and position to compromise their agreement to serve the vested self-interest of the Black community. In light of this, the ethical standard of commitment recognizes the need for Black Psychologists to acknowledge their devotion to protect and affirm the integrity and welfare of the Black community.

Principle V-1: Black Psychologists accept and advocate in all of their professional affairs a oneness of being between themselves and the collective reality of the community of Black people. Their conduct recognizes that they cannot discredit the Black community without discrediting themselves nor discredit themselves without discrediting the Black community.

Principle V-2: Black Psychologists recognize that they are committed to protecting the minds of Black people from the overt and subliminal influences which rob the Black community of dignity, integrity and ultimate mental liberation.

Principle V-3: When there is a conflict among races or social groups, Black Psychologists are primarily committed to and concerned with the welfare of the Black collective and only secondarily with the interest of their professional group.

Principle V-4: Black Psychologists are committed to protect the confidentiality and secrecy of information obtained through professional inquiry or personal trust. Release of such information may occur only after permission is explicitly given and/or consultation is held with respected colleagues and legal representatives of the Black community.

Standard VI: COOPERATIVENESS

The ethical standard of cooperativeness recognizes that Black Psychologists will at all times respect the integrity, expertise and contributions of colleagues in Black Psychology, within the field of general psychology and other fields. As long as these professionals and/or their work/contributions are not in violation of the vested self-interest of Black people, Black Psychologists can and will find collaborative relationships acceptable.

Principle VI-1: Black Psychologists respect the ethnic, racial and cultural integrity of other groups insofar as the integrity of those groups is not predicated on the oppression, exploitation or destruction of the Black race or other groups of human beings.

Principle VI-2: Black Psychologists condemn any research or intervention, collaborative or otherwise, conducted in Black communities without an explicit service intent, or other direct benefit, to the Black community.

Principle VI-3: With the exception of a student, tutorial or trainee position, Black Psychologists entering into interracial research or service to Black people shall do so only when the direction and governance of the research and service (particularly its purpose, direction, interpretation and use) are under the control of Black people.

Principle VI-4: Black Psychologists view with caution the efforts to research, theorize or otherwise define the needs, goals or direction of Black communities by non-Black investigators without extensive and intensive consultation with relevant Black professionals. Research done under such conditions should be identified as such and should be carefully scrutinized before providing any forum for such ideas.

Principle VI-5: In order to secure the collective development of Black theory program/service development, Black Psychologists actively seek out consultation and colleague collaboration with other Black Psychologists and like-minded persons.

Principle VI-6: As an act of principled conduct and to the best of their ability, Black Psychologists contribute time, money, energy, resources and/or other elements of value to the preservation and advancement of The Association of Black Psychologists.

Standard VII: COURAGE

The ethical standard of courage recognizes that Black Psychologists be of sufficient spirit and purpose to openly address and honestly confront any issue, persons, or events which are in opposition to the well-being and vested self-interest of Black people.

Principle VII-1: Black Psychologists condemn by exposure any political operations geared towards the destruction of Black community life, family life and effective psychological functioning.

Principle VII-2: Black Psychologists offer no support to anti-Black positions -- political, scientific, or professional.

Principle VII-3: To the best of their ability, Black Psychologists offer honest reflection and/or clarification of the conditions (whether positive/strength or negative/weakness) of Black people.

Standard VIII: ACCOUNTABILITY

The ethical standard of accountability recognizes that Black psychologists, in accepting the ethical standards of The Association of Black Psychologists, as well as certain social conventions which foster effective living for people in general, will hold their own conduct and that of their colleagues accountable to the criteria of racial redemption and cultural reclamation.

Principle VIII-1: In recognition that self-destructive activities are currently in the vanguard of contemporary moral principles and ethical conduct, Black Psychologists strongly adhere to the idea that any activity directed toward the destruction or injury of Black people shall be viewed and judged as highly reprehensible and indefensible.

Principle VIII-2: Black Psychologists hold themselves accountable to their Black colleagues and to the power of the Black community for the highest standards of performance.

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“The essential guiding principle for the ethical conduct of Black Psychologists is informed by the ontological principle of ‘consubstantiation,’ i.e., ‘we are one people, we are of the same essence.’”

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Principle VIII-3: We recognize that there are traditional advisors/healers in Black communities, i.e., spiritual advisors, Elders and religious counselors. Hence, we recognize the legitimacy of many such resources, to the degree that they are accountable of their services to a body of Black practitioners and lay members of the Black community. Professional competence is best adjudged by moral responsibility and social accountability. We submit this code as a criterion by which such competence may be evaluated.

Principle VIII-4: Black Psychologists realize that their allegiance to and ability to service Black people is compromised by certain personal and/or professional relationships with non-Black people. Any Black Psychologist so involved should recognize their limitations in being accountable to Black people and should decline to engage in activities which may directly affect the lives of Black people. In questionable situations, recommendations for appropriate behavior should be made by the Standing Committee of Ethical Standards.

Principle VIII-5: Black Psychologists shall discourage the practice of psychology by Black people who do not understand and are not committed to the principles contained in this code of behavior.

SUMMARY ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Black men and women who ascribe to the above principles are recognized as the legitimate scientists for the liberation and advancement of the African mind. Sanction against those who seek to practice in Black communities or represent themselves as legitimate Black Psychologists without ascribing to these principles, shall be the public exposure of such persons as in violation of, and irresponsible to, the well-being of Black people.

The ultimate judgment for such sanctions shall be based upon a review by the Standing Committee on Ethical Standards and the committee's recommendation to The ABPsi Board of Directors. Ultimate action regarding the use of the organization's publications and other means for public sanction must be determined by the Board.

Prepared by Na'im Akbar, Ph.D. and Wade W. Nobles, Ph.D., June 11, 1983.

[The Board of Directors invites readers’ comments and suggested revisions or changes on these Ethical Standards. Submit comments to the Ethics Committee in care of The ABPsi, PO Box 55999, Washington, DC 20040-5999.]

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

By Judy E. Ross, 12

Raising the Bar on Commitment and Responsibility