WASHINGTON – Following is a statement by Jennifer F. Kelly, PhD, president of the American Psychological Association, marking Martin Luther King Jr. Day:
“Today, we celebrate the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., whose work and sacrifice made it possible for people of color to have greater opportunity in so many aspects of our society. We are encouraged to see so many people of color living fulfilled lives and exercising their right to vote. At the same time, we still have far to go to achieve Dr. King’s visionary dream.
“Dr. King delivered a historic address to APA’s Annual Convention in 1967 — like today, a time of heightened social tumult and change. He called racism and its effects ‘deep ... gigantic in extent, and chaotic in detail’ — and challenged us as social scientists to play a more active role to help eradicate them.
“More than half a century later, there is more work to do. Our nation is in trauma, particularly communities of color, who already faced deeply rooted historical inequities and are more likely to live in poverty, and now are dying at higher rates from the pandemic. Stark evidence of hate and racism is widely visible, most recently in the marked difference in the response by law enforcement to the mostly white rioters who stormed the Capitol Building and the Black Lives Matters protesters in the same city only months earlier.
“Even as APA evaluates the organization’s and our field’s role in the perpetuation of racism, we must use our science and expertise to help address what our nation is facing. I hope all psychologists will join me in pledging to use our science, our expertise, our advocacy and our compassion to help create and support paths for both accountability and healing.
“Research shows that the political divides we are experiencing are due to fear and misperception of others. Seeing that those feelings can be inflamed by political leaders helps us to understand how we have gotten here. Research also shows that the divisiveness will continue to grow if fear of ‘the other’ and the wounds fueling that fear are not addressed.
“In 1967, Dr. King urged APA to ‘suggest mechanisms to create a wholesome [B]lack unity,’ and the country to ‘reaffirm our belief in building a democratic society.’ He concluded that he had not lost hope. Neither have I, and neither should we. While it may be hard to detect today, the moral arc of the universe is always bending toward justice, as Dr. King said.”