African American Psychology - Is There a Need?

Is there a need for Black Psychology in a world where the color of your skin gives people the firs impression of you, and the impression of a black skin is not a good one? Being an African-American is still another story. Around the world people have a negative view of Black America. The media, and history as a whole have contributed to the overall world view of Blacks in America that is contrary to the Black experience, and spirit that have made a people overcome amazing odds to achieve feats beyond that of any people today. A people whose influence is felt world wide from the birth of this nation and still going strong to this day. The influence of devices that connect the world, light up the dark, cool the reserves, and entertain the masses, sound that touch the soul, with style that is often imitated, all this, from a people with so much going for themselves despite so many obstacles, and hardships has to be unique in themselves, and worthy of consideration from another perspective. Such a will to survive has to have a mechanism within them that is different from the standard set by white psychologist, qualities beyond there study of understanding and life experience.

In the article, African Philosophy: Foundations for Black Psychology, by Wade W. Nobles, he said that beyond general psychology, "Its unique status is from the positive features of basic African Philosophy which dictate the values, customs, attitudes and behavior of Africans in Africa and the new world(p 47, handout). He also spoke of the community that the Africans of West Africa have, like a sense that everyone belongs to the community or the whole. There are no individuals in a tribe; there is instead a oneness among them. The West Africans believe that everything one does is for the good of all.