Section I: The Psychology of Black Women

History

Div. 35 Sect. I (The Psychology of Black Women) began as a committee on black women's concerns. With vision and perseverance, the committee gained a more prominent voice within the division, and Section I (The Psychology of Black Women) was established in 1984. As a section, The Psychology of Black Women has its own bylaws and governance structure and has scheduled time for invited presentations at the American Psychological Association's Annual Convention.

Officers

President: Collette Chapman-Hilliard, PhD (2018-20)

President-elect: Jioni A. Lewis, PhD

Past President: Cashuna Huddleston, PhD

Secretary: Gihane Jérémie-Brink, PhD

Treasurer: Jasmine (Jas) Tilghman, PhD

Membership Committee Chair: Bianca Jones, PhD

Early Career Professional Chair: Sarah R. Cunningham, PhD

"Still I Rise" Newsletter Editor and Awards Chair: Batsirai Bvunzawabaya, PhD

Early Career Committee Representative: Telsie A. Davis, PhD

Program Chair: Kerrie G. Wilkins-Yel, PhD

Dance Chair: Julii Green, PhD

Historian: Catherine Adams, PsyD

Student Representative: Anahvia T. Moody

Div. 35 Section I's Governance Structure and Officer Bios

Newsletter

Still I Rise is the publication arm and voice for Section I of Div. 35, the Psychology of Black Women. Read the latest issue as we explore issues of relevance to our section that focus on the mental health and development of black women and girls and their communities, and black women psychologists. Still I Rise is published quarterly.

Membership Benefits

Please fax your completed Section I membership application (PDF, 149 KB) and $5 dues to (202) 218-3599, or mail it to:

Division Services Office
American Psychological Association
750 First Street, NE
Washington, DC 20002-4242

If sending a check, please make it payable to "APA Division 35."

Questions? Contact Keith Cooke at (202) 216-7602 or email APA Divisions.

Purpose and Vision

To create a forum where black women can network and get mentoring and support from each other.
To provide outreach, guidance and mentoring to black female students in psychology.
To promote the development of methods of research and models of treatment and intervention that are ethnically, culturally and gender appropriate for black women.
To increase scientific understanding of those aspects of ethnicity, culture and class among black women which pertain to the psychology of women.
To maintain and increase the overall status of black women in the profession of psychology.
To increase the quality of education and training opportunities for black women in psychology.
To encourage the evolution and development of the specialty of the psychology of black women as a science.To advocate on behalf of black women psychologists with respect to the formation of policies of Div. 35.
To promote the general objectives of APA and Div. 35.

Presentations

Felicia D. Griffin-Fennell, PhD; Danice L. Brown, PhD; and Rhonda L. White-Johnson, PhD, presented "Improving the Quality of Psychological Health Research, Education, and Treatment for Black Women" (PDF, 405KB). This session was sponsored by Div. 35, Section I.
Telsie Davis, PhD, presented “Power Networking.”
Viviane Barnette, PhD; Beatrice Tatum, PhD; Julii Green, PhD; and Wendi Williams, PhD, conducted conversation hour programming at APA entitled “Work-Life Balance for Professional Black Women.” It was guided by a presentation on wellness developed by Barnette.
Black Women’s Coping and Resilience in the Face of Racial Trauma, Discrimination and Oppression (PDF, 425KB)
The legacy of slavery remains in racism, sexual assault, stereotyping and poor self-image. Practice self-care and activism, find social support and creative expressions, and use spirituality.

Supplemental materials:
- "Majoring in Minstrelsy: White Students, Blackface and the Failure of Mainstream Multiculturalism," by Tim Wise
- "The Rise of the Ghetto-Fabulous Party," by C. Richard King and David J. Leonard

Section Awards

Carolyn Payton Early Career Award
This award, sponsored by Div. 35 Section I (Psychology of Black Women), recognizes the achievement of black women who are early career psychologists, specifically for published work addressing the concerns of black women and girls.
Psychology of Black Graduate Student Women Award
This award supports graduate student research on the role of gender in the lives of black women and girls.

Related Information