02/03/2026
As we honor Black History Month, it is essential to pay homage to the leaders whose clinical insight, scholarship, leadership, and courage advanced the field of psychology and ultimately improved mental health and substance use outcomes. Dr. Solomon Carter Fuller, the first Black psychiatrist in the United States and an early contributor to Alzheimer’s research, laid critical groundwork for modern neuropsychiatry. Pioneers such as Dr. Joseph L. White and Dr. Beverly Greene further advanced culturally responsive and intersectional approaches that continue to guide ethical and inclusive mental health practice today. We also recognize figures such as Dr. Inez Beverly Prosser, along with Drs. Mamie and Kenneth Clark, whose groundbreaking work in child psychology generated invaluable insight and catalyzed lasting systemic reform.
On this day and always, we will honor the profound impact these leaders had.
February is not just about remembrance; it is a call to action for all mental health professionals and policymakers. Change cannot take place in isolation, just as a person cannot be understood through a singular lens. The foundation that we were provided is a call to improve the systems of care, allowing for equity, cultural humility, and healing for all people.