Francis Cecil Sumner established a psychology degree program at Howard University. This program led to the education of a new generation of African American psychologists.

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Francis Cecil Sumner (1895–1954) was the first African American to earn a PhD in psychology in the United States, receiving his degree in 1920 with a dissertation focused on issues related to psychoanalysis. A pivotal figure in the field, he was one of the founders of the psychology department at Howard University. His research interests also included racial bias and educational justice. Because of his foundational contributions and accomplishments, he is often recognized as the “Father of Black Psychology.”

Francis Cecil Sumner

Spielman, R. M., Jenkins, W. J., & Lovett, M. D. (2020, April 22). Psychology (2nd ed.). OpenStax. https://openstax.org/books/psychology-2e/pages/1-introduction

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