Washington — Following is a statement by Cynthia de las Fuentes, PhD, president of the American Psychological Association, marking Martin Luther King Jr. Day:
“Today, we commemorate the birth of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and reflect on his enduring impact and the ongoing work toward achieving his dream of a just and equitable society. As we honor the legacy of this inspirational leader, we also recognize the profound role that psychology plays in understanding and addressing the challenges of working to achieve equality, end discrimination and create social justice.
“Dr. King’s commitment to equality, justice and nonviolent social change remains a guiding force for our nation and the world. In his historic 1967 address to the APA Annual Convention, Dr. King challenged us, as psychologists, to contribute to the creation of a more inclusive and compassionate society. We must continue to advocate for mental health policies that address the needs of diverse communities and work toward eliminating systemic barriers that perpetuate disparities, even within our own profession.
“While we have made much progress, there is still more to do. We must not become complacent. In that same speech, Dr. King gave us a word: maladjusted. ‘It is a good word,’ he said. ‘I am sure that we will recognize that there are some things in our society, some things in our world, to which we should never be adjusted.’ Those things include racial discrimination, religious bigotry and economic disparities. We must never normalize these conditions.”