The Emergence of a Black Perspective in Counseling

Abstract

Scholarly concern with the process of counseling the Black client can be traced readily to the 1940s when, for example, workers in the field were disturbed and uncertain about specific aspects of counseling Black youth and adults (Williams, 1949). Specifically, need was expressed for special information in counseling such youth. Today, concerned counselors have expressed a similar need for special techniques to use with minorities or asked if it is better for minorities to be counselors to other minorities, since racial and ethnic barriers are so threatening and difficult to penetrate (Vontress, 1973). The difference today, however, is that the volume of data on counseling Blacks is greater, as is the tolerance for discussion of those related issues, such as racism. This increase in attention was predicted by one researcher who found three studies on the subject at the time of his but asserted that in the ensuing years considerably more research would be reported (Island, 1969). The plethora of publications since the initial tends to confirm the prediction. Ironically though, while the quantity and quality of articles waxed, the number of remained conspicuously low. To illustrate, using the term review of the literature in the most liberal sense, only six such reviews could be uncovered (Island, 1969; Sattler, 1970; McGrew, 1971; Banks, 1971; Carkhuff, 1972; Denmark & Trachtman, 1973). This finding is particularly striking when one considers both the attacks on the profession in terms of the practices of its professionals toward Black clients (Williams, 1949; Barney & Hall, 1965; Washington & Anderson, 1974) and Black professionals (Jones, M.C. & Jones, M.H.; Smith, 1970; Smith, 1971a; Daley, 1972) and the perennial admonishments by Black people that they are not receiving adequate services (Himes, 1948; Manley & Himes, 1948; Russell, 1949; Waters, 1953; Brazziel, 1958; Hypps, 1959; Record, 1966; Russell, 1970; Tolson, 1972).