Multicultural Psychology. Jennifer T. Pedrotti

If you are someone who is new to the concepts presented in the chapter, look to the Participation section to find things to try that suit a novice in applying some of these concepts in real life.Initiation: Others of you will have come across some of these concepts before, though perhaps not in depth, and if you find yourself here, the section called Initiation might assist you in acting on some of these new ideas in ways that fit with your level of understanding.Activism: Finally, if you are ready to take larger steps, the section titled Activism provides a guide to taking on new challenges, developing new behaviors, and perhaps deepening the courage to make greater change in the world.

      We hope you find these sections useful in your life as you learn this material, and we entrust this book to your hands to do with what you will. Our hope is that you will take this information and allow it to forge you into a stronger and more educated individual so that you, like our own students, can begin to make the kinds of changes that you and future generations deserve.

      Acknowledgments

      We would not have been able to complete this book without love and assistance from many, so we would like to close by each acknowledging the giants on whose shoulders we stand, those who give us inspiration, and the editors and others who made this book a reality.

      Thank you to Lara Parra and Emma Newsom for their editorial work from contract to publication and the care they took with this book. I would also like to thank my mentor, Shane Lopez, for telling me I was ready to write this book and for his advice through the contractual process. Though he died shortly after I began writing, I consider his advice daily. I would also like to thank the following individuals for their work during this process and their inspiration (whether they know it or not): Will Mitchell, L. J. Lumpkin, Ashley Kaseroff, Ryan Reed, Lyndse Anderson, Elle Harris, Melissa Peters, Marcos Ramirez-Santos, Mayra Mejia, Kristen Tran, Jeremiah Hernandez, Felipe Garcia, Allison Newlee, Carrie Langner, Blanca Martinez-Navarro, and Beya Montero Makekau. This book is for all of you. Thank you to my coauthor and dear friend, Denise Isom—I could not have done this without you, and our friendship is a gift to me every day. Thank you also to my parents, Yosh and Julie, for the values that instilled in me a strong belief that I could make a difference. And finally, to those to whom this volume is dedicated: Thank you for the coffee, the midnight talks, the “quiet Tuesdays,” the snuggles and comic relief when I needed it, for your love, and your enduring faith in my ability to write this book and to do anything I want to accomplish in the world.

      —Dr. Jennifer Teramoto Pedrotti

      With unflinching faith, love, authenticity, brilliance and strength, my grandmother has led us a mighty long way. To those who came after, carrying her legacy, and helping me do the same—my parents, Geraldine and Escoe Isom Sr., uncles Eli, James (Eddie), and Michael, and aunts Ernestine, Cheryl, and Carolyn, among so many others, I thank you. To my generation of the Isom/Williams clan, united and strengthened by the models our elders have shown us of how to live with hope and joy in the face of struggle, I thank you. To my brothers and sisters, who are my superpower, Escoe Isom Jr., Donniell Isom, Kali’ Isom-Moore, Scott Moore, Dannette Isom-Norman, and Josh Norman, I thank you. To the next generation in our family, I hope we love you into yourselves, and empower you the way that those who came before us have empowered us. To Jennifer Teramoto Pedrotti, without whom none of this would have happened, I thank you for the opportunity and for the friendship, support, and laughter that grew along and marked the way. To all the friends who form my beloved community, who provide inspiration and joy, and who endured months and months of canceled engagements, limited phone calls, and too much talk of textbook writing, I thank you—Alisa Bredensteiner, Jacque Rowe Fields, Dr. Anastasia Gentles, the Ewings, the Floreses, and the Queens, thank you. I want to recognize the team at Sage too, whose invaluable efforts are greatly appreciated: Thank you.

      —Dr. Denise Isom

      Thanks also go to the following individuals who provided feedback on our manuscript:

       Vanessa Hettinger, University of Wisconsin-Superior

       Carol Huckaby, Albertus Magnus College

       Chris Jazwinski, St. Cloud State University

       Kerry S. Kleyman, Metropolitan State University

       Shenan Kroupa, Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis

       Julie Lazzara, Paradise Valley Community College

       Rocio Rivadeneyra, Illinois State University

      About the Authors

      

Dr. Jennifer Teramoto Pedrottireceived her doctoral and master’s degrees in counseling psychology from the University of Kansas and her bachelor’s degrees in psychology and English from the University of California at Davis. She is currently associate dean for diversity and curriculum in the College of Liberal Arts and professor in the Department of Psychology and Child Development at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. Dr. Teramoto Pedrotti has taught Multicultural Psychology, Intergroup Dialogues, and other areas of psychology for over 15 years. Her research areas of specialty include the effectiveness of intergroup dialogues and other types of multicultural education, and the study of strengths within a cultural context. She is the lead editor on a volume titled Perspectives on the Intersection of Multiculturalism and Positive Psychology (with Lisa M. Edwards, Springer, 2014) and authored another undergraduate textbook, Positive Psychology: The Scientific and Practical Explorations of Human Strengths (with Shane J. Lopez and C. R. Snyder, Sage, now in its fourth edition, 2019). In addition, Dr. Teramoto Pedrotti’s work has appeared in multiple books and journals, including the Handbook of Multicultural Counseling, the Journal of Counseling Psychology, the Journal of Positive Psychology, Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, and Professional School Counseling. In her current role, she encourages students, staff, and faculty daily to use their strengths to make change toward a more inclusive and culturally competent campus.Dr. Denise A. Isomreceived her doctorate in sociocultural anthropology of education from Loyola University, Chicago, and is currently serving as department chair and professor in ethnic studies at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. Her master’s in curriculum and instruction with an emphasis in multicultural education, along with a BS in engineering and a BA in African American studies, were all completed at the University of California at Davis. Dr. Isom’s areas of expertise include racialized gender identity, ethnic studies, Whiteness, and sociology/anthropology of education.As a professor of ethnic studies, she teaches courses that include Race, Culture, and Politics in the U.S.; The Social Construction of Whiteness; Gender and Sexualities in the African American Community; research methods courses; and two recently codeveloped courses: Beyoncé: Race, Feminism, and Politics and Humor, Comedy, and the Politics of Identity.Her current research agenda includes racialized gender identity and the racialized nature of congregational life. Her work has been presented at numerous national and international conferences, published in journals such as The Urban Review and The Journal of Race, Equality and Teaching, and included in chapters on boy culture, teaching race, and African American female psychology and identity.

      Section I What is Multicultural Psychology?

       Chapter 1: What Is Multicultural Psychology?

       Chapter 2: Race: Historical Contexts and Contemporary Manifestations

      1 What is Multicultural Psychology?

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      Learning