What is it about?
It is both important and daunting for psychology to address and redress systemic racism. Through an extended metaphor of water, we utilize personal reflection, interviews, and historical accounts to better understand how racism has impacted the field of psychology from within to better consider efforts to reduce its impact on the greater Black American community. We conclude by acknowledging that although the waves of psychology can be consuming, terse, and painful, our ability to detoxify the water is possible with perspectives that cultivate deep pools of inquiry, mutual understanding, and action.
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Why is it important?
The U.S. is experiencing a wave of efforts to contend with anti-Black racism. The authors call for psychology scholars to demonstrate the ability to reduce the toxicity within the field before implementing efforts to communities impacted by psychological science and practice, less we continue to perpetuate the same toxicity through our efforts.
Perspectives
We came into this field to make a difference for Black populations. This work will require the APA to take a hard look at its past practices to ensure we can meet the mental health needs of Black Americans moving forward, both within and outside the field.
Riana Elyse Anderson
Columbia University
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Reflections from the wading pool: Detoxifying racist psychological waters while submerged in their waves., American Psychologist, May 2024, American Psychological Association (APA),
DOI: 10.1037/amp0001248.
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