On January 25, 2025, memorial services were held for two giants in the field of Black psychology, Dr. William “Bill” Cross and Dr. A. Wade Boykin. As we celebrate Black History Month, it is important to honor these two seminal Black psychologists and reflect on the significance of their contributions to psychology. It should be noted that friends and colleagues who wanted to attend both services for Dr. Cross and Dr. Boykin were unable to do so because of the unfortunate circumstances of their services being held on the same day. The pain of this unbearable decision was evident at the memorial service of Dr. Cross when the first speaker, noted expert on African American men Dr. A.J. Franklin, asked for a moment of silence for his dear friend Dr. Boykin. Dr. Franklin, along with another invited speaker and distinguished scholar on race and racism, Dr. James Jones, are part of a generation of Black psychologists who, along with Drs. Cross and Boykin, helped to transform psychological scholarship on Black people.

In a recent special issue of the American Psychologist on “Foundational Contributions of Black Scholars in Psychology,” the work of Drs. Cross and Boykin was highlighted (along with several other scholars). The purpose of the special issue was to retrieve and highlight foundational scholarship by and/or with people of African descent that has been “marginalized or erased by Western psychology.” As I have previously noted, prominent Black psychologists are not recognized among the most eminent psychologists of the 20th century. Of course, in the world of Black psychology, there is no list of eminent psychologists that could be constructed that would not include William Cross and Wade Boykin. However, relegating the significance of their work to only the field of Black psychology does a disservice to them and the discipline of psychology. It unwittingly communicates that their work does not represent “mainstream” interest in psychology, which at best is a problematic message and at worst is a racist message. What could be more “mainstream” than creating knowledge to improve the lives of Black people which will ultimately benefit society? Cross and Boykin each did this with their scholarship.

Read the full article on Psychology Today.