HR!Day621 - Systemic Racism Day 1: Conversations with Black Men About How They Tapped Into Their Own Creativity To Structure Journeys To Make A Difference At Individual and Collective Levels
- --- Humanity Rising Day 621 - Monday January 30, 2023 (GoTo Bottom)
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This Week: Shedding The Shackles of Systemic Racism
Day1
Creativity |
Day2
Resilience |
Day3
Passion |
Day4
Education |
Day5
Visions |
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On the planet, there is a need to heal race-linked wounds, particularly anti-black race-linked wounds that stem from systemic racism. It is well known and chronicled that anti-black race-linked wounds are embedded in cultural scripts and societal practices and have been inflicted historically on enslaved people of African descent in the United States, as well as on darker complexion people globally. More specifically, Black men more often have been the targets for many of the inhumane acts exhibited by those who consciously or unconsciously created and/or maintain systemic racism. Systemic racism, grounded in patriarchy and colonial attitudes, mirrors numerous and harmful institutional “shackles” that Black men have had to deal with and overcome over the years.
The purpose of these series of sessions, then, is to bring together a number of Black men, with varied voices, to share their stories about how they have tapped into their own unique talents and structured creative journeys to make a difference at individual and collective levels. Through a five-day series, the intent is to have conversations among Black men from various walks of life to share their views on the effects of systemic racism in regard to:
- Self-definition and self-determination
- Personal, societal, and/or global challenges and resilience
- Finding one’s passion to make a difference
- Educational journeys
- Creative visions for the future.
These topical areas for conversations are simply lens through which to view personal, societal, and global race-linked issues and dynamics, as well as lived experiences, and therefore may have similarities, differences, and/or overlaps as the conversations unfold.
What’s in a name? One of the effects of systemic racism as practiced by those with “anti-black colonized minds” is to reduce Black people to objects, knowingly and consciously or unknowingly and unconsciously. In the United States, for example, the original practice of enslavement was to “try” to strip people (African Americans) of their cultural identities and names, to view Black people as “properties” and to rename “their properties.”
For African Americans, and Black men in particular, the lingering effects throughout the centuries has been the societal mirrored effects of the intersection of systemic racism, poverty, and shame on the individual and collective professional identity development of African American men. James Baldwin once posed a question, the substance of which was, why does “white America” need to have African American men to be in the positions that they are. Ultimately only those who consider themselves to be members of “white America” can answer that question.
However, Black men may be able to shed some light on the “mirrored societal effects” that such positioning attitudes have on lived experiences. So, in recognition that we are symbolic creatures as a human species, we will begin our conversations with a focus on how Black men have been labeled over the years, and the net effect(s) of such labeling, and what it means to embrace the art of self-definition and self-determination in dealing with the aforementioned intersection. Self-definition and self-determination may be considered first steps in shedding the shackles of systemic racism, for both require a profound shift in consciousness. It ultimately reveals itself as self-love.
Convener
- Carroy (Cuf) Ferguson has a Ph.D. in Psychology from Boston College. He has been President or Co-President of the Association for Humanistic Psychology for many years, making history in 2006 as the first African American and first person of color to be President of this national Association since its founding in 1962 by world-renown psychologists in the field like Abraham Maslow and Carl Rogers. He is a tenured Full Professor and former Dean at University of Massachusetts-Boston, currently serves as Human Services Program Director and Human Service Internship Coordinator, is a co-founder of two visionary organizations (Interculture, Inc. and Associates in Human Understanding), is a co-founder of Massachusetts’ historic Commonwealth Diversity Fellows Program, has been a clinical practitioner for over 35+ years, is a member of a number of boards, is a human relations, multicultural, and organizational development consultant, and workshop facilitator, is an Associate Editor of the Journal of Humanistic Psychology, and is a published author of books, articles, and other writings (e.g., Evolving The Human Race Game; A New Perspective on Race and Color; Transitions in Consciousness from an African American Perspective; and Innovative Approaches to Education and Community Service).
Panelists
- Dr. Michael Laurent has been a licensed psychologist for over 30 years and retired as a professor and Department Chair (Department of Marital & Family Therapy at California State University, Dominguez Hills, located in Carson, Calf.) after 40 years of service with California State Universities (extensive teaching, coordinating, & supervision experiences at the University of Southern California, Cal State University Northridge, & Phillips Graduate University). His emphasis now is helping heal and transform the City of New Orleans from its current experience with violence. As a licensed Marital & Family Therapists also, his extensive experience in couples therapy and African American Psychology has led to his creation of BlackCouplesLivesMatter.com. Most of his time now is spent as an author, consultant, public speaker, and podcast host. He has a strong dedication to Humanistic Psychology (AHP), is a lifetime member of AHP, and is a board member of AHP. His interest in Humanistic Psychology started with his enrollment in Dr. Leo Buscaglia’s “Love Class” at the University of Southern California in the 1970s. Since then, he has fought against all forms of oppression and for equality, inclusion, acceptance, and love. Dr. Joseph White, known as the godfather of Black psychology, was also a mentor to Dr. Laurent. Dr. White was very supportive to Dr. Laurent in Dr. Laurent’s creation of counseling/support groups for African American men. Forthcoming books by Dr. Laurent are The Married Couples Club; Brother Talk: Black Men in Counseling Groups; and Making America Humanistic Again: How To Get Americans To Move Hate To Love.
- Merlin R. Langley, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist, tenured Associate Professor, and the inaugural Director of the Division of Interdisciplinary Studies (2014-present), Chairperson of the Department of Social Work (2008-2011), and Program Coordinator of the Human Behavior and Social Environment sequence (1997 -2008) at Florida A&M University. His research interests are in the areas of higher education leadership, professional identity development of African Americans and women, and the examination of cultural and personality factors that contribute to mental health and health outcome disparities among diverse ethnic groups. Dr. Langley has conducted research, published and presented scholarly papers in these areas. He received his Ph.D. and M.S. degrees in clinical psychology with a minor in social work from Florida State University, Certificate of Advance Graduate Study in counseling psychology and family systems therapy from Northeastern University, Ed.M. in Counseling and Guidance from Boston University, and a B.A. degree in psychology from the City University of New York - The City College. Dr. Langley also completed two post-doctoral clinical psychology fellowships at Harvard. He is also an alumnus of the Leadership Tallahassee, (Class XX), Florida A&M University Emerging Leaders Initiative Program, (Cohort 1), Florida State University Institute for Academic Leadership and the Management Development Program at Harvard Graduate School of Education.
- Dr. Tony Van Der Mear has a Master’s of Science in Community Economics from the Graduate School of Business at New Hampshire College, and a Ph.D. in Leadership and Change from Antioch University. He is a Senior Lecturer in Africana Studies at UMass Boston. One of his significant researched works is titled “Spiritual Journeys: A Study of Ifa’/Orisa Practitioners in the United States Initiated in Nigeria.” He’s been a social justice activist over the past 40+ years, as well as a practitioner in the Yoruba belief system. He was initiated into Ife’ in Oyo, Nigeria under Dr. Wande Abimbola. In addition to receiving the title Akogun Awo Alaafin of Oyo, he was also given the post of Asoju Esin Ali Yoruba (representative or ambassador of Yoruba Religion and Culture) from the late Ooni (King) of Ile Ife,Oba Okunade Sijuade Olubuse II. He is a practicing Babalawo, serving members in the Greater Boston Community with their spiritual practice and development.
Co-convener:
- Jim Garrison, President, Ubiquity University
78 Participants
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