Psychology of Blacks: Centering Our Perspectives in the African Consciousness

For courses in Introduction to Psychology, African American Psychology, African American Studies, Multicultural Counseling and Cross Cultural Counseling and Psychotherapy.This text highlights the limitations of traditional psychological theories and approaches when applied to people of African descent. It provides information on how the African Centered Perspective is defined, as well as how it operates in the context of the African American family with regard to identity development, education, mental health, research, and managing contemporary issues. It links the context of African American life to the traditions, values and spiritual essence of their African ancestors in an attempt to acknowledge the African worldview and assist the African American community in addressing some of the challenges they continue to face.

About the Author

Thomas A. Parham, Ph.D. is Assistant Vice Chancellor for Counseling and Health Services, as well as an adjunct faculty member, at the University of California, Irvine.Dr. Parham is a Past President of the National Association of Black Psychologists, where he also holds the title of Distinguished Psychologist. He is a Fellow of the American Counseling Association, and a Fellow in Division 17 and 45 of the American Psychological Association. He is Past President of the Association for Multicultural Counseling and Development, and a member of the of the 100 Black Men of America, where he has served as Chair of the Education Committee, the architect of the "Rites of Passage" program for the Orange County 100’s "Passport to the Future" program and for the Los Angeles based "College Bound" program, and consultant on educational policy issues. For the past thirty years, Dr. Parham has focused his research efforts in the area of psychological nigrescence and has authored many articles in the area. His honors and awards include Research Achievement Award from the American Psychological Association's Minority Fellowship Program; receipt of the Research Award for Contributions to the Counseling Profession from the Association for Multicultural Counseling and Development; the Association of Black Psychologists, Certification and Proficiency in African Centered/Black Psychology; The Minority Fellowship Program - James M. Jones Lifetime Achievement Award for long standing and distinguished contributions to the field of racial and ethnic minority psychology; the Wimberly Award—National 100 Black Men of America – June, 2008; and the Janet Helms Award - In Recognition of Mentoring & Scholarship, presented at The 27th Winter Roundtable Conference, Teacher’s College, Columbia University, 2010.