The national discussion on mental health, as well as how it is conceptualized and treated, has been significantly impacted by the contributions of a number of Black men and women. February prompts the opportunity to recognize and illustrate a few of their outstanding achievements and draw attention to their influence. We are honored to shine a spotlight on some of the Black pioneers who helped pave the way in the field of mental health. 

Mamie Phipps Clark, PhD, and Kenneth Clark, PhD:

Husband and wife psychologists, born in 1914 and 1917, made history when they became the first African-Americans to earn Ph.D.s in psychology from Columbia University (APA, 2012). Dr. Kenneth Clark was the first African American to ever hold the position of President of the American Psychological Association. They collaborated in order to do research for their respective theses on how black children identify themselves. This experiment was eventually evolved into the renowned doll studies that demonstrated internalized racism as well as the detrimental impacts of segregation for African-American children.

Jacki McKinney, MSW:

Jacki McKinney, born in 1934, was a family advocate concentrating on issues impacting African American women and children. She was a survivor of childhood trauma, homelessness, and addiction. As a result of her work with trauma survivors, she has been honored with the Clifford Beers award and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Voice Awards program of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

Beverly Daniel Tatum, Ph.D.:

Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria And Other Conversations About Race was written by Dr. Tatum addressing racism's impact on schools in the United States. In 2014, she was honored with the American Psychological Association's Award for Outstanding Lifetime Contribution for her diligent work in psychology, the education system, and social justice. Dr. Tatum also serves as a board member for the Woodruff Arts Center Board in Atlanta, Georgia.

E. Kitch Childs, Ph.D.:

Beginning in the early 1970s, E. Kitch Childs, Ph.D., was a leading voice in the field of clinical psychology for women and an activist for LGBTQ+ civil rights. Dr. Childs was instrumental in changing the APA's stance on homosexuality. Dr. Childs was the owner of a therapy practice that served the LGBTQ+ community and those with HIV/AIDS. Through a client-therapist paradigm that sought to remove barriers caused by hierarchies, she opened the doors to therapy for populations that had previously been skeptical of such services.

These and many more accomplished individuals within the Black community have opened the path for underserved communities to obtain access to quality mental health treatment. 

Authored By; Julianna Robinson, LCSW

References:

American Psychological Association. (n.d.). Featured psychologists: Mamie Phipps Clark, Phd, and Kenneth Clark, Phd. American Psychological Association. Retrieved February 1, 2023, from https://www.apa.org/pi/oema/resources/ethnicity-health/psychologists/clark 

Beverly Daniel Tatum's biography. The HistoryMakers. (n.d.). Retrieved February 1, 2023, from https://www.thehistorymakers.org/biography/beverly-daniel-tatum-41 

Black Pioneers in Mental Health. Mental Health America. (n.d.). Retrieved February 1, 2023, from https://www.mhanational.org/black-pioneers-mental-health 

Crosby, E. (2021, October 18). In honor and memory of Jacki McKinney. NYAPRS. Retrieved February 1, 2023, from https://www.nyaprs.org/e-news-bulletins/2021/10/18/in-honor-and-memory-of-jacki-mckinney 

E. Kitch Childs. Feminist Voices. (n.d.). Retrieved February 1, 2023, from https://feministvoices.com/profiles/e-kitch-childs