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Edward Cecil Sumner : Father Of Black Psychology

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hen spoken of, Francis Cecil Sumner is considered the ‘First’. Sumner was the first African American male psychologist, he was called Father of Black Psychology. Despite the odds Francis Sumner faced, he did what many felt was impossible to do. Sumner not only did the unthinkable, but he proved that no matter who you are, what you are, or where you come from you decide your destiny. Sumner is known to many as the ‘Father of Black Psychology’. Sumner was born in a segregated community, didn’t have an education pass junior high, and was looked down upon because he was black. Francis Cecil Sumner was born on December 7, 1985 in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. Too many Sumner was known as the ‘Father of Black Psychologist’ because he was the first black male to receive his doctoral in psychology. Sumner completed this degree at Clark University at Massachusetts in the year of 1920. A committed scholar regarding psychology, languages, and religion, Francis assisted with bettering education opportunities for African Americans for the reason that he was colored” (“Francis Cecil Sumner”). As a child Sumner attended elementary school and three different States Plainfield, New Jersey; Washington, D.C.; and Norfolk, Virginia. Sumner’s father was unappeased with the caliber of prep school offered to African youth in the restricted schools available to coloreds (Francis Sumner, Max Meenes). Sumner’s father who was self-educated decided to home-school his son from elementary up to junior high.

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