Our Past Events

CENTERING BLACK WOMEN'S KNOWLEDGE, VOICES, AND EXPERIENCES IN TEACHING AND LEARNING

Southeastern Teaching of Psychology Conference
February 21, 2025 in Atlanta, GA

Dr. Dionne Stephens and Dr. Danielle Dickens, provided valuable guidance for educators on how to effectively integrate Black women’s experiences across psychology courses. The session offered practical pedagogical strategies that attendees could implement in their classrooms teaching The Psychology of Black Womanhood to create more culturally responsive learning environments including the importance of sourcing appropriate imagery that accurately represents the diversity and complexity of Black womanhood. They also shared ideas for interactive, culturally synoptic assignments that encourage critical thinking and engagement with the material through a lens that reflects students' own cultural contexts. Additionally, the presentation highlighted the value of student-led activities, where learners could take ownership of their learning, fostering a deeper connection to the material.

2025 PSYCHOLOGY OF BLACK WOMANHOOD SYMPOSIUM

Spelman College
February 20, 2025 in Atlanta, GA

The Psychology of Black Womanhood Symposium brought together over 100 women for a transformative day of learning, discussion, and empowerment. Held at the historic Spelman College, the symposium focused on presenting research that directly relates to the lived experiences of Black women, bridging the gap between academic theory and real-world application. The event provided a space for Black women to deepen their understanding of how psychological research intersects with their lives, offering practical insights into mental health, resilience, identity, and empowerment. The symposium not only showcased groundbreaking research but also fostered a sense of solidarity and shared purpose among the attendees, who left inspired and equipped to continue shaping the future of Black womanhood in both academic and everyday spaces.

PSYCHOLOGY OF BLACK WOMANHOOD PRE SYMPOSIUM HAPPY HOUR

The Establishment- Midtown Atlanta
February 19, 2025 in Atlanta, GA

The 2025 Psychology of Black Womanhood Pre-Symposium Happy Hour at The Establishment restaurant in Midtown Atlanta was nothing short of electric. The vibrant energy filled the air as attendees, ranging from scholars and students to community leaders and mental health professionals, gathered in one of Atlanta's most stylish spots. The gathering  was a true reflection of the beauty, joy, and strength of Black women, setting the tone for the meaningful conversations that would follow at the symposium itself. It was more than just a happy hour—it was a celebration of culture, unity, and empowerment that left everyone eager for what was to come.

WRITING OUR STORIES, OWNING OUR SPACE

Hosted by Patmos Chapel Community Series

January 18, 2025 in Orlando, FL

Part of the Patmos Chapel Community Discussion Series, this event offered a powerful and thought-provoking conversation on the importance of Black women reclaiming their narratives. Dr. Dionne Stephens delved into themes from the book, The Psychology of Black Womanhood, which is uniquely crafted to address the complexities of the Black womanhood experience. The discussion highlighted the urgent need for Black women to take ownership of their stories, especially in this pivotal moment in American history. Attendees were invited to engage with the work, which not only amplifies Black women's voices but also empowers them to shape a future where their experiences, identities, and contributions are central to societal ongoing narratives.​​

ADDRESSING BLACK WOMANHOOD IN HIGHER ED CURRICULUM

International Conference on Urban Education

November 6, 2024 in Cancun, Mexico 

Of all the higher education degrees earned by Black people, Black women received two-thirds; the majority earning degrees in traditional fields that rely upon research centering comparative approaches. Developing concrete steps for integrating knowledge Black womanhood from a non- deficit lens through these traditional fields’ curriculum is critical for supporting one of the largest populations on campuses today and increasing knowledge about their diverse experiences across other populations. This presentation addressed the voids in knowledge about Black womanhood in traditional psychology courses at both HBCUs and urban predominately white institution contexts. We provided concrete insights into ways faculty can center intersectional understandings across these settings.

AMPLIFYING OUR VOICES OF AUTHORITY: THE PSYCHOLOGY OF BLACK WOMANHOOD TEXTBOOK'S ROLE IN THE FIELD

 Hosted by the Association of Black Psychologists- South Florida Chapter

October 12, 2024 

This presentation for the Association of Black Psychologists - South Florida Chapter, delivered via Zoom, focused on a critical gap in psychology education: the lack of diversity and cultural relevance in mainstream psychology textbooks. he discussion centered on the importance of The Psychology of Black Womanhood textbook as a crucial resource for filling these gaps. The presentation emphasized how such resources are essential for promoting a more inclusive and accurate understanding of psychological concepts, ensuring that students across all demographics can see themselves reflected in the curriculum while also fostering more culturally competent mental health practices.

SOCIO HISTORICAL FACTORS INFLUENCING OUR HAIR-STORIES ACROSS PROFESSIONAL SETTINGS
Interrogating Black Women’s Natural Hair: Trauma, Tresses & Truth Conference

August 10, 2024
Natural hair, whether in the form of braids, afros, dreadlocks, or other natural styles, has always been political. Who in our society gets to author the prevailing constitution of professional appearance? How do we, as Black women (and Black men) encourage course correction and alter the prism through which our hair is interrogated? This session aims to situate the fact that, despite structural denials to the contrary, our natural hair remains a heretical war zone. Dr. Stephens presentation specifically focuses on the socio historical factors that inform Black women's hair experiences in the workplace- including the differential emotional, economic, health and educational costs.

DECONSTRUCTING THE IVORY TOWER: CENTERING BLACK WOMEN'S EXPERIENCES IN PSYCHOLOGY COURSES
Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues Annual Conference

American Psychological Association: Division 9.
June 22, 2024, Philadelphia, PA
Developing concrete steps for integrating the psychology of Black womanhood through the curriculum is critical for supporting one of the largest populations on campuses today- Black women. Through the use of the Psychology of Black Womanhood textbook, Drs. Danielle Dickens and Dionne Stephens highlighted how instructors can address this void in knowledge and teaching pedagogy. Beyond simply providing a rationale for integrating this specific book this interactive discussion provided a space to discuss gaps in teaching knowledge, and varied pedogeological approaches that can be used in diverse course offerings. Finally, they presented applied assignments, and discussed how to implement support resources for faculty lacking expertise on these areas.

RESEARCHING OUR "REAL LIVES": CONSIDERATIONS FOR BLACK WOMEN CONDUCTING BEAUTY & BODY IMAGE RESEARCH
Africa & African Diaspora Studies Graduate Student Speakers Series

April 15, 2024 at Florida International University- Miami, FL
Psychological research has typically prioritized majority populations' outcomes, using these results as the norm against which Black women and other marginalized populations are compared. FIU Professor of Psychology and author of The Psychology of Black Womanhood, Dr. Stephens discussed the unique issues that inform research examining Black women's beauty and body images. Using an intersectional lens, she outlined the ways in which this work is nuanced and embedded in socio- historical realities that must be assessed beyond typical psychological quantitative approaches. 
 

REIMAGINING LIBERATION: PSYCHOLOGY OF BLACK WOMANHOOD & IMPLICATIONS FOR RESEARCH PRACTICE AND POLICY
JFK School of Psychology and Social Sciences Annual Conference

February 9, 2024 at the National University-  San Diego, CA

Dr. Danielle Dickens was the invited keynote speaker for the annual JFK School of Psychology and Social Sciences Virtual Student Research Conference at National University. Spelman College Associate Professor of Psychology and author of The Psychology of Black Womanhood, Dr, Dickens addressed
 

BLACK BARBIE: BEAUTY STANDARDS AND CHILD'S PLAY
Black Beauty as an Act of Resistance Community Conversation

January 25, 2024 at the Historic Dunn's Josephine Hotel. Miami, FL 
This event dove into the captivating world of Black Beauty as an act of resistance in our special event series, focusing on Black Barbies and challenging beauty standards during childhood play. In collaboration with FIU Professor and author of The Psychology of Black Womanhood, Dionne Stephens, and the insightful contributions of Imani Warren, artist, and curator, this talk paid homage to the groundbreaking Sunlight School of Beauty Culture in Miami and Black beauty culture for women in the Magic City. 

Sponsored by the Wolfsonian Public Humanities Lab (WPHL) and Florida Humanities Program 

ONE MILLION BLACK WOMEN
The Power of Advocacy in Atlanta

January 10, 2024 in Atlanta, GA
Dr. Danielle Dickens, Spelman College Associate Professor of Psychology and author of The Psychology of Black Womanhood, was an invited panelist for the Goldman Sachs Power of Advocacy event in Atlanta. She shared the stage with Goldman Sachs Managing Director Joyce Brayboy and Occupational Therapist Dr. Normanie Ricks. This event is part of Goldman Sachs One Million Black Women project which include the seminal Black Womenomics report detailing the dual disproportionate racial and gender gaps Black women have faced for decades. This event attracted political, social and community leaders from across the State of Georgia to discuss next steps for empowering Black women.
Sponsored by Goldman Sachs 

CENTERING OURSELVES
Psychology Textbooks by and about BIPOC Lived Experiences

June 26, 2023 at the SPSSI Annual Conference. Denver, CO

Reading books by Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) authors is especially important in a world where the voices of scholars from these communities have historically been excluded from mainstream media and publishing. This symposium was presented at the American Psychological Association Division 9: Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues (SPSSI) annual conference. The first presentation examined this phenomenon by first reviewing the applicability of this trend across psychology textbooks, then highlighting two current efforts to in response to this void- the forthcoming the Psychology of Black Womanhood (Dickens & Stephens) and LatinX Psychology in the United States (Rios & Marino).