Black Psychology Magazine Fall 2022 Edition

Why YOU Should Take A Course On Black Psychology

By Rosey ompson

IfyouarehumanyoushouldtakeacourseonBlackPsychology.Thereare noothercoursesatGoucherthatdiveintothecomplexityofraceinthe sameway YoushouldtakeacourseonBlackPsychologysoyoucan developanunderstandingofahugelyimportantpartofAmericansociety. ThefieldofPsychologytypicallyignorestheimportanceofracial diversity,butonecannotstudythemindandhowitaffectsbehaviorsin societywhenanaspectofsocietyisignored.Youshouldtakeacourseon BlackPsychologysoyoucanstarttomovepastanystereotypes,and developrealunderstanding.Thisfieldisnotcompleteifyoudon’tlookat thefullpicture,weneedtomovepastsciencepretendingtobecolorblind. YoushouldtakeacourseonBlackPsychologysoyoucanconsiderthe impactofhistoryonBlackpeopleinAmerica.Itisimportantbecausethe fingerprintsofslaveryandcolonialismarewithus,whetherweunderstand themornot.YoushouldtakeacourseonBlackPsychologytotryand begintounderstandwhatitmeanstobeBlackinAmerica-anddevelop empathy,nomatterwhoyouare.BlackPsychologyisthekeytobeginning tounderstandandacceptallpeople.YoushouldtakeacourseonBlack Psychologybecauseourcountrywasfoundedontheideathatcertain peoplecouldownotherpeople.YoushouldtakeacourseonBlack Psychologybecauseslaverywentoninthiscountrylongerthanithasn’t goneon,andthatissomethingthiscountryhasnevertrulyreckonedwith.

EllenStevens

The Importance of Black Representation in Media

Kat Reed

It is no secret that diversity and representation within the media is severely lacking.Throughout history, there has been a deliberate suppression of Black voices and a dismissal of the Black experience The inclusion and incorporation of Blackness into mainstream platforms is often suppressed, causing harm and lack of representation for generations growing up with social media as a large presence Black inclusion and representation across media is not only important, but necessary as it helps to shape cultural views, especially in youth.

Media often paints the Black community, and Black experience in general in a negative light Because Black representation is far from commonplace, the few instances that Blackness is portrayed in media tends to have a heavier influence With these fewer, and often negative, portrayals, views of the Black community can start to gain negative connotations from those who are ignorant- both willingly and otherwise- to Black history, the Black experience, etc. With the negative portrayals in media, stereotypes can unfortunately be reinforced due to poor portrayals instead of corrected, thus further perpetuating misinformation

There also comes an exorbitant amount of pressure to the few Black voices that do reach the light of media production Due to the lack of representation, Black creators who have platforms and media attention are therefore put in the limelight, even if they do not want it, (Nass, 2022).The added pressure of feeling like “a spokesperson” for an entire community is unfair, both to the creators, and to the community that is being “represented” by so few individuals

Having representation is necessary within today’s media With the commonality of media, and the connectivity it provides across the world, there is no excuse to have such a lack of diversity Having such little Black representation within the media, especially on popular platforms, can reinforce bad stereotypes and spread misinformation There is an added unfair amount of pressure to those Black voices that do enter media attention, as they are forced into representing a large grouping of the populace Although we cannot change the wrongs in history, we can try and correct injustices as they happen, and not further the systemic oppression that has unfortunately endured for so long; we can, and must, do better

Bibliography

Nass, L (2022) The fight forAfricanAmerican representation in media State News 11(8) https://statenews com/article/2022/01/the-fight-for-african-american-representation-in-media?ct=content open&cv=cbox latest

America the (not so) Beautiful

By Sami Widenhouse

How beautiful is our national anthem, boasting about how amazing our country is,

“The United States ofAmerica ”

I just wonder when we decided to be united. We never have been and it seems like we never will be

We are not united.

Not when blackAmericans must battle each day for basic human rights Not when blackAmericans don’t exist as equals in this country.

“The land of the free ”

Since when?

I guess they forgot all of the trauma, black people endured generation after generation after generation, all caused by the “United” States

“Home of the brave.”

How so?

I don’t see the bravery in ignoring the truth of this country’s history. Maybe one day our nation’s beautiful song

Will tell the truth.

ClaudineSchwartz

SamByrne

11.Break Free

Sydney Lewis

Sometimes it just feels like the real you is behind a wall It was easy for me to feel alone in my situation

Looking in wanting to be let out Who is going to let you out Break free.

Whoareyou

Totellusthatwe’renot t/able/cunning/clever/goodenough Totyourstandards?Whatisit aboutourskinthatsays take/destroy/tear/dishonor Andwhyisitthateveryonehasagreed toparticipateinthispublic ogging?Tospikeourskullsonspears asexample?Topastedesignationsonbuildingstodeclare uslesser?Tofoldusintosystemsofimprisonmentanddenyus ourdreams?Whoareyoutotake whatdoesn’tbelong toyou/declareyourself anowner/dismantlewhatyouhave noclaimon?

No one,that’swho Nothing,that is.Andwearebig,andwe areeverything.

-Aniya Carrington

MariahLowe-Berrien

MentalHealthResources:

StudentCounselingCenter: 24/7Hotline:855-236-4278. OfficeNumber:410-337-6481.

SuicidePreventionHotline: 9-8-8 or 741-741