A concrete expression of APA’s historic apology

A special issue of the APA journal American Psychologist, published earlier this year, follows up on APA’s historic apology to people of color for its role—and the role of the discipline of psychology—in contributing to systemic racism.

The issue highlights research that examined how psychology has perpetuated racial hierarchy and inequities toward communities of color. It is just one of the many steps toward redressing past inequities facing people of color, featuring efforts and opportunities to change the culture of and advance racial equality within psychology.

“An apology is necessary and appropriate, but an apology is just words if it is not backed up by action. This special issue is one concrete expression of that commitment to the apology in the form of an action,” said Joseph P. Gone, PhD, a psychologist and interdisciplinary social scientist at Harvard University, who was a guest editor on the issue and a cochair of the task force that developed the APA apology resolution. “These articles help to illuminate how far racism is suffused in psychology and make us aware of a wide range of actions that can help dismantle racism within the field.”

Other special issue editors were Germine H. Awad, PhD, University of Michigan; Kevin O. Cokley, PhD, University of Michigan; Lillian Comas-Díaz, PhD, George Washington University; and Gordon C. Nagayama Hall, PhD, University of Oregon.

“Psychologists have a lot to offer in how we can dismantle racism, not just in the field of psychology but also in general,” said Awad, a professor of psychology at the University of Michigan, who was also a cochair of the task force that produced the APA apology. “I hope this special issue serves as an invaluable resource for people in every sector of society who want to further understand the mechanisms of racism and how to go about dismantling it.”

Some articles within the special issue include:

Epistemic Exclusion: A Theory for Understanding Racism in Faculty Research Evaluationsopens in new window

Authors: Isis H. Settles, PhD, Kristie Dotson, PhD, and Petal Grower, PhD, University of Michigan; Martinque K. Jones, PhD, and Kyjeila Latimer, PhD, University of North Texas; and NiCole T. Buchanan, PhD, Michael O’Rourke, PhD, and Marisa Rinkus, PhD, Michigan State University

Highlights:

• Despite institutional efforts, growth in the number of faculty of color has largely plateaued, limiting research innovation and other benefits of diversity.
• The theory of epistemic exclusion details the process by which individuals from marginalized groups are devalued as scholars within academia.
• This paper outlines the theory and describes how it applies in the context of faculty departmental reviews of scholarly research (e.g., annual review, promotion, and tenure review) to threaten diversification.
• The authors offer suggestions for equitable evaluation practices and for reducing epistemic exclusion within higher education.

The Misperception of Organizational Racial Progress Toward Diversity, Equity, and Inclusionopens in new window

Authors: Brittany Torrez, PhD, Jennifer A. Richeson, PhD, and Michael W. Kraus, PhD, Yale University; and LaStarr Hollie, MBA, University of Massachusetts Amherst

Highlights:

• Despite interest and resources directed to diversity, Black Americans remain systematically underrepresented in organizational leadership.
• This paper examines awareness of this fact among U.S. workers.
• The authors find that workers overestimate the progress made toward diversifying organizations and are unaware of the relative effectiveness of diversity, equity, and inclusion policies.
• The authors conclude misperceptions of organizational diversity may work against future efforts to make actual progress toward a more inclusive workplace.

Reflections From the Wading Pool: Detoxifying Racist Psychological Waters While Submerged in Their Wavesopens in new window

Authors: Riana Elyse Anderson, PhD, University of Michigan, and Shawn C. T. Jones, PhD, Virginia Commonwealth University

Highlights:

• The United States is experiencing a wave of efforts to contend with anti-Black racism.
• The authors call for psychology scholars to demonstrate the ability to reduce the toxicity within the field.
• The authors say this should be done before implementing efforts in communities impacted by psychological science and practice.

Truth and Reconciliation for Whom? Transitional Justice for Indigenous Peoples in American Psychologyopens in new window

Authors: Jillian Fish, PhD, Macalester College; Jeffrey Ansloos, PhD, University of Toronto; Victoria M. O’Keefe, PhD, Johns Hopkins University; and Joseph P. Gone, PhD, Harvard University

Highlights:

• This article examines how APA can engage in meaningful efforts to restore and repair relations with Indigenous peoples in light of psychology’s history of settler colonialism.
• The authors highlight direct and tangible actions that can ameliorate inequities among Indigenous peoples in psychology.

Standing Against Racial Capitalism: Reconsidering Psychology’s Role in Dismantling Systemic Racismopens in new window

Authors: Daniel José Gaztambide, PsyD, CUNY Queens College; Patience Ojionuka, MA, Sarah Simon, MA, Gabriella Diaz, MA, and Josh Stell, MA, The New School for Social Research; and Jasmine Rename, MA, Teachers College of Columbia University

Highlights:

• This article argues that psychology’s focus on racism as an individual prejudice obscures how it benefits the wealthy.
• Understanding the intersection of race and class clarifies how policies addressing racial and economic inequality strike at the root of racism by limiting the power of economic elites.
• The authors propose strategies and policies that the field of psychology should support to fight the material, structural bases of racism.