Toward a Black (and Diverse) Psychology: The Scholarly Legacy of Joseph White

Abstract

Dr. Joseph White was affectionately referred to as “the father of Black psychology.” His seminal article “Toward a Black Psychology” articulated a strengths-based conceptual description toward understanding Black behavior and culture. He challenged the White orthodoxy in psychology while also serving to empower other non-White racial and ethnic groups to speak their unique psychological and cultural truths. In this article, we discuss his impact and scholarly legacy and how he used Black psychology as a bridge to build multicultural alliances and to support the professional development of students and young professional across race and ethnicity.