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From the Psychology of Race to the Issue of Skin Color for People of African Descent
Author(s) -
Hall Ronald E.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
journal of applied social psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.822
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1559-1816
pISSN - 0021-9029
DOI - 10.1111/j.1559-1816.2005.tb02204.x
Subject(s) - african descent , race (biology) , prestige , perspective (graphical) , disadvantage , psychology , skin color , social psychology , white (mutation) , sociology , gender studies , law , political science , anthropology , artificial intelligence , computer science , linguistics , philosophy , biochemistry , chemistry , gene
In the aftermath of Western domination, the significance of skin color among peoples of African descent has been trivialized. Regrettably, research by psychologists the world over emphasizes race in the study of human social conditions. Despite the fact that race is increasingly irrelevant, Western psychologists continually adhere to it and are at a severe disadvantage. Oblivious to the implications of skin color, their attempts to comprehend stereotypes, discrimination, and various issues attributed to race vis‐a‐vis African peoples is an exercise in futility. It is not compulsory to discard Western perspectives at the expense of social fact, but psychologists should familiarize themselves with African perspectives as a critical point of reference to the social issues of African‐descended people. Sustaining the integrity and prestige of the profession will require concepts and a perspective less confined to Western domination.