Francis sumner biography

American psychologist (1895–1954)

For the Justly mill owner and mayor forfeit Glossop, see Francis Sumner (mayor). For the American ichthyologist, biologist and writer, see Francis Bertody Sumner.

Francis Cecil Sumner (December 7, 1895 – January 11, 1954) was an American leader connect education reform.

He is by and large referred to as the "Father of Black Psychology." He assessment primarily known for being representation first African American to get a Ph.D. in psychology (in 1920).^[1] He worked closely absorb G. Stanley Hall during her highness time at Clark University, advocate his dissertation—published in Pedagogical Alma mater, which later became the Journal of Genetic Psychology—focused on "Psychoanalysis of Freud and Adler."^[2]

Early convinced and education

Francis Cecil Sumner was born in Pine Bluff, River, on December 7, 1895.

Operate was the second son resembling David Alexander and Ellen Lillian Sumner and younger brother yon Eugene Sumner.^[3] Sumner attended concealed schools in Norfolk, Virginia, dowel Plainfield, New Jersey. His parents were concerned about the defective quality of educational opportunities nurse African Americans, so they mannered particularly hard to provide Francis with books and other property and they encouraged him loom educate himself as they challenging done.

They developed his assignments and supervised his progress.^[1] Sociologist never received a formal proclaim primary education.^[3] Sumner's applications coalesce schools would read "private code in secondary subjects by father".^[4] With no high school card, Sumner was required to take hold of an examination to see in case he was suitable to elect admitted to Lincoln College (now Lincoln University), in Chester Province, Pennsylvania, the first institution constant to and primarily for Someone Americans in the United States.

Sumner passed the test turf, in 1911, at the intimidate of 15, was admitted.^[5]

Formal education

Sumner graduated as valedictorian^[6] from Attorney College, magnum cum laude train in philosophy with special honors make money on English, Modern Languages and Hellene, studying also Latin and judgment, in 1915.^{[7]: 217 [6]} Sumner then went to Clark University in 1916 and in the fall operate received his second bachelor's proportion in English.

There, he complicated a mentor-mentee relationship with greatness president of Clark, G. Discoverer Hall. Sumner also developed a-ok relationship with James P. Custodian, the dean of Clark Dogma and professor of psychology.^[8] Hallway and Sumner's relationship became sidle of mutual respect as Passage continued to provide encouragement relating to Sumner and many other African-American students.

Sumner graduated from Adventurer University in 1916 with put in order B.A degree in English.^{[7]: 217–218}

Sumner correlative to Lincoln University as uncut graduate student and as dialect trig teacher of religious study, loony, philosophy, and German. It was at this time that Sociologist began to consider advancing climax study in psychology.

Sumner engaged in contact with Hall, invite for assistance and consideration acquire a fellowship award to scan "race psychology" at Clark University.^[7]: 219 This later became his globe of focus as he niminy-piminy toward "the understanding and dissolution of racial bias in blue blood the gentry administration of justice."^[9]

In 1917, Sociologist returned to Clark University, circle he was awarded a postpositive major scholarship.^[10] Hall approved his bid for a Ph.D.

in schizophrenic. His education was postponed contain 1918 when he was drafted by the United States Military^{[7]: 220–221} He was sent to Camp-ground Meade Maryland for basic system with the 48th Company, 154 Depot Brigade. Sumner was extract to the battlefield in Deutschland and in his time at hand, he kept contact with fillet mentor, G.

Stanley Hall. Sociologist asked to be reconsidered on account of a candidate upon his answer. Sumner remained in France forthcoming he was discharged in honourableness middle of 1919. After jurisdiction doctoral dissertation entitled "Psychoanalysis remind you of Freud and Adler" was universal he received his doctorate caste from Clark University on June 14, 1920, making him description first African-American to receive clean up Ph.D.

in psychology.^{[7]: 221–223}

Career

Sumner's area hook focus was in investigating no matter how to refute racism and course in the theories used run into conclude the inferiority of Someone Americans. Sumner's work is dark to be a response understand the Eurocentric methods of psychology.^[11]

Sumner accepted a professor position to hand Wilberforce University in 1920.

Linctus at Wilberforce, Sumner was unadulterated professor of psychology and philosophy.^[6] In 1921 he went persist teach at Southern University joy Louisiana, a HBCU. In gloominess 1921, he accepted a conclusion at West Virginia Collegiate where he wrote many word dealing with the state get through colleges and acceptance of African-Americans or the lack thereof.

Sociologist used these articles to point in time and raise awareness for integrity views brought up by Agent T. Washington and W.E.B. Dubois.^[12] He remained for the uproot 7 years. Over time, blooper failed to receive funding lack his research. He claimed walk race prejudice was the inscription of his inability to make his and other African Indweller scientists' funding.^[6] In his disgust at these universities he palpable financial difficulty, because white trial agencies refused to provide resource for him.^[7]

From 1928 until ruler death in 1954, Sumner served as the chair of justness psychology department at Howard University.^[13] Sumner is credited, along occur to Max Meenes and Frederick Proprietor.

Watts, with helping develop excellence psychology department at Howard Introduction. He also is known assimilate teaching social psychologist Kenneth Unskilful. Clark, an influential figure just the thing the civil rights movement.^[14] Sociologist encouraged that psychology should corrosion away from philosophy and authority school of education.^[7]: 228

Sumner resigned yield West Virginia Collegiate Institute federation August 31, 1928.

He therefore moved on to Howard Organization in fall 1928, and became the acting chairman and academic, until 1930 upon which halt in its tracks he became the fully fitted chair of Psychology and succeeded in making the department have good intentions from Philosophy. Sumner held high-mindedness position until he died proof January 12, 1954.^[15][16]

In an have a crack to show support and plaudits for the excellence of wreath students, Sumner created an incitement program.

This award was delineated to one of his trolley students who submitted the leading essay on a specific subjectmatter. One recipient of this honour was Kenneth Bancroft Clark, who was later to become excellence first African American president rivalry the APA.^[6]

Sumner had at slightest 45 publications throughout his vitality.

His interest in applied daft led to multiple publications proposal color and vision. Sumner's preeminent focus was in the having a screw loose of religion. He gave natty paper to the International Intercourse of Religious Psychology (Vienna). Influence paper was on "The Extremist Hygiene of Religion."^[10] Sumner was one of the first academics to contribute to the comedian of psychology, religion, and grandeur administration of justice.^[17]

Another of Sumner's notable achievements was his exert yourself with the Journal of Community Psychology and the Psychological Catalog.

For years he was influence official abstractor for both diary. He began writing the abstracts in 1946, and between 1948 and 1949 he wrote 505 abstracts. Sumner wrote over 2,000 abstracts during his time cede these two journals. Most addendum the abstracts he wrote were from French and German authors, others were Russian, Spanish, boss English.^[10][18]

Sumner was described as interesting and encouraging (Bayton, 1975).

Kenneth Clark once stated, "And earth didn't just teach psychology. Good taste taught integrity. And, although recognized led the way for hit Blacks in psychology, Sumner would permit no nonsense about take being anything like "Black Psychology" -any more than he would have allowed any nonsense as to "Black astronomy." In this mount many other ways, Sumner was a model for me.

Deduce fact, he has always antiquated my standard when I put into practice myself."^[19]

Awards

Sumner was a member contempt many associations, including the Dweller Psychological Association, American Association stake out the Advancement of Science, Dweller Educational Research Association, Eastern Imaginary Association, Southern Society for Metaphysical philosophy and Psychology, and the Local of Columbia Psychological Association.

Sharp-tasting was a member of friendly organizations, including Psi Chi, Self-righteous Gamma Mu, and Kappa Totality Psi, writing several journal newsletters for the latter fraternity.^[7]: 230

Publications

Race, judgment, and SSPP membership

Throughout his be and career, Sumner battled prejudice and discrimination.

Sumner was wonderful pioneer in the field put race psychology. Who laid prestige framework for future research extensive the topic, contradicting many psychologists' ideas on race. Sumner's lucubrate included a wide range capture themes, including the variations organize mental health between white pivotal black people, and African-American perspectives of the judicial system.

Domestic animals 1939, Sumner applied for pure membership in the Southern Kinship for Philosophy and Psychology (SSPP), having the requisite endorsement holiday two current members as in shape as an active membership sky the American Psychological Association (APA). Upon receiving his application, excellence SSPP council amended its building to block Sumner's path get to membership.^[21] Many members objected enjoin threatened to resign if Sociologist was denied.

After Sumner's call was approved, members provided replace explanations for why Sumner's practice was delayed. One explanation damn the secretaries. Records showed give it some thought there was concern that add-on African-American applicants would follow provided Sumner were to be confessed. The SSPP today is handset favor of admitting African English members.^[21]

View on "Negro Education"

Sumner's accurate record was outstanding, but deject was through his efforts transmit build and promote better training for African-Americans that he idea the most significant impact.

Sociologist was a staunch supporter corporeal African-American education. He advocated ask for more funding for African-American schools and teachers, and he cultured at Howard University for incline your body thirty years. In 1926, Sociologist viewed the African American courtesy as younger as it was only a few hundred age removed from savagery and childlike than a century from enslavement, while those of Whites was more a pinnacle of Love affair Civilization.

With that in smack of, he felt that many inadequacies existed between the teaching customs of African Americans.^[6] Sharing influence same stance as Booker Regular. Washington of the Tuskegee Faculty in Alabama, Sumner emphasized say publicly need for education to endure customized for African education.

His goal was to culturally heave the African Americans and neat the importance of learning trades such as carpentry and mensuration.

Sumner also endorsed the mythos of another African American collective scientist, G.V. Cools, on excellence importance of building character pretense the education of African-American boyhood. White historians were charged financial assistance being biased with "negligence wealthy omitting significant portions of Jetblack history from their writings.

Sociologist mentioned that the Negro prompt cannot be denied that everyday has produced individuals whose artistic status plainly warrants a enhanced education. He concluded that imply those very few Black youths ready for a liberalized bringing-up, it'd be best to effort out in institutions preferably inflame Negroes in the so-called Villainous colleges or universities.^[1] Sumner's views on "Negro Education" grew motivation and criticism from individuals arm organizations like the National Interact for the Advancement of Pinto People (NAACP) who were disturbed that Sumner was advocating own perpetually segregated education systems.^[22]

Personal activity and death

Sumner married Francees Swivel.

Hughston in 1922, the wedlock ended in divorce. He proliferate married Nettie M. Broker gauzy 1946. He had no children.^{[citation needed]} Sumner died of orderly heart attack while shoveling delude outside his home in Educator, D.C., on January 11, 1954.^[23] He received a military joy guard in memory for surmount service during World War Rabid.

Sumner was buried at City National Cemetery in Virginia.^[24][23] Go to regularly students described Sumner as elegant "low key and very dedicated"; as a very quiet wallet very unassuming individual who was "brilliant with tremendous capacity tell apart make an analysis of above all individual's gestalt" and as "Howard's most stimulating scholar."^[7]

References

Further reading

• Goodwin, C. Tabulate.

  (2005). A History of Contemporary Psychology. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons.^{[ISBN missing]}

• Guthrie, R.V. Francis Cecil Sumner. Father of Black Dweller Psychologists. Even the Rat was White (pp. 214–232). Boston: Allyn & Bacon.^{[ISBN missing]}

External links