02/05/2026
February is Black History Month. I like to highlight trailblazing Black Women in Psychology Drs. Ruth Winifred Howard and Inez Beverly Prosser, two of the first Black female Clinical Psychologists.
Dr. Ruth Winifred Howard received her PhD in Psychology and Child Development from the University of Minnesota in 1934. Dr. Howard completed a doctoral dissertation on the development of triplets, theorizing that multiples were less developed than singleton pregnancies. She went on to work in private practice at a clinic she operated with her husband. She also held a staff position at the Provident Hospital School of Nursing where she trained Black nurses. Dr. Howard held various positions throughout her career and was well-regarded, training future clinicians, psychologists and nurses.
Dr. Inez Beverly Prosser is often regarded as the first Black female psychologist in the United States. Dr. Prosser completed dissertation research on the impacts of racism and segregation in the educational setting on educational achievement of Black students. She challenged ideas that integration was always good for Black children. For the purpose of her research, Dr. Prosser developed a number of tools to measure personality and emotional responses. Her research shifted considerations of school functioning of that time, which otherwise focused primarily on academic achievement.
Psychology has rich histories of contributions from brilliant Black Psychologists, past and present. We will highlight them throughout the month.
