02/20/2026
In our Black Minds in Psychology series, we honor Dr. Inez Beverly Prosser, the first African American woman to earn a Ph.D. in psychology.
Her groundbreaking research examined how segregation impacted the self-esteem and educational experiences of Black children. Her findings became part of the broader body of evidence used in the historic Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court ruling in 1954, which declared school segregation unconstitutional.
We continue to stand on the shoulders of scholars who used research to challenge inequity and advocate for change.