1.5 Hrs MCEP/CEU/LCPP

Research on African American fathers has either been absent or wrong.  Recent efforts to redress this challenge are discussed, including theoretical perspectives, analyses, and clinical applications.

This presentation will address the challenges faced by Black graduate students at a large (46,000 plus), predominantly white institution of higher education, and how an organization established to support these students has met these challenges. Presenters will review the history of this organization at the university, discuss some of the challenges and obstacles that have been faced, and identify what has been found to be the primary benefits of having a Black Graduate Students’ Association (BGSA) on our campus.

Recent studies indicate that construal of body weight correlates higher with depression; body size still correlates higher with depression. Researchers also demonstrate that skin color among African Americans correlates with depression. As a result this research will evaluate the affect of body weight and skin color on African American adolescents. We propose that dark skin and weight are factors in levels of depression among male and female adolescents.

Using the theory of race self complexity, this paper uses narrative data to illustrate the significance of race narrative processing and autobiographical reasoning for the active effort of persons to analyze race experiences with openness to healing and growing. Emotional density represented in narratives can influence how clinicians guide client insights and experiential lessons.

This study investigates Black men’s views of masculinity, internalization of engendered racial stereotypes of Black women, endorsement of culturally misoriented behaviors, and Black male perceptions of their relationships with Black women.  Findings suggest that endorsement of these variables is a factor in challenging relationships between Black men and women.

This study seeks to investigate social driven sexual behaviors and attitudes among urban African Americans in the era of AIDS.  The influences of family and peers, as well as, condom use and HIV testing will be used to assess the issues, challenges and responses of urban African Americans. A three-tiered approach will be taken: 1) The Sexual Risks Scale (SRS), 2) Ethnographic interviews and 3) Ethnographic researcher participant observation.

Black psychologist have adapted to the unjust policies and legislation that have targeted Black women and their families for the last 25 years. The goal of this Think Tank will be to explore different methods and techniques to address these social injustices as they impact racially diverse substance abusers. 

As African American students continue to perform at the lowest levels on national and state exams, it is imperative to look at the performance data of black children. This interactive presentation will highlight data to illustrate the need for educators to critically examine psychological stereotype threat and its manifestation of disidentification for African American students. This presentation will consider the challenges for black psychological theories in addressing stereotype threat, disidentification, and culturally relevant pedagogy in order to achieve educational excellence for African American students.

In addressing the “human good” of our community, this Mbongi Assembly is charged with the task of addressing: (a) the historical and contemporary conditions, forces and circumstances that have  demeaned, distorted, damaged,  and/or debilitated the “mind-set” and overall health and psychological well-being of African (Black) people; (b) the way(s) in which traditional medicine can serve to promote healthy living and rehabilitate/repair the mind-set and overall psychological well-being of African (Black) people; (c) ways to strengthen the capacity of African American families to identify pathways to, and plans for, health and wellness; and (d) identifying strategies, programs and projects for ABPsi (Black psychologists),  Western Trained Physicians and African Traditional Healers to solve and resolve the problematics affecting the African (Black) community.