President’s Perspective: Black History Month & the Michigan School of Psychology

Since 1976, the United States has formally recognized Black History Month. This month, the Michigan School of Psychology enthusiastically participates in this recognition and celebration of the contributions of Black people to American culture, science, the arts, education, and other elements of civic life. These remarkable contributions are all the more noteworthy because they have been made in the face of individual and systemic oppression, racism, prejudice, and other hardships. Unfortunately, this vital recognition of our heritage, history, and present reality is now sometimes inhibited or threatened by multiple forces. For example, some government entities are no longer officially observing Black History Month or other previously established occasions designed to recognize the heritage and contributions to our culture and society of underrepresented or marginalized groups of people.

As an institution of higher education, the Michigan School of Psychology cannot support these suppressive measures. Institutions of higher education must always be concerned with the vigorous pursuit of truth, and should be especially sensitive and resistant to attempts to ignore or repress meaningful ideas, disregard important historical events, or obscure data and information. A retreat from recognition of the historical and current contributions of Black people to American life is one such attempt, which must be resisted.

As an educational institution whose purpose is to train practitioners in the clinical application of the science of psychology, MSP must also point out the deleterious effects on the psychological well-being of people whose collective and individual impact and heritage is overlooked, unheeded, and thus disrespected (see letter from APA/APASI leadership). Similar effects are now being felt among transgender and gender diverse people, whose distinct identities are also seemingly being targeted for erasure by some powerful forces in our society. (See the statement from the National Council of Schools and Programs of Professional Psychology on this important issue.) The devastating psychological effects of racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, gender-based discrimination, and other systemic oppression is well documented in the scientific and clinical literature. If a society becomes more accepting of these things, or if it moves away from systematically and intentionally fighting against them, it engages in the self-destructive damage of its own people.

So, as MSP observes Black History Month, we not only recognize and honor people who have made meaningful contributions to our lives and culture, but we also stand for the core values that drive Psychology and higher education. I hope you will join the MSP community in the observation of this important time.

Michigan School of Psychology President
Brian L. Stogner, PhD