As a graduate student, I was a teaching assistant for what I perceived and experienced as a transformative course: The Psychology of the African American Experience. This was a course unlike any other that I had been exposed to in my studies to that point. It was a learning space entirely focused on understanding the psychological nuances of Black people’s lives from the perspectives of Black scholars. I can remember each class meeting entering into that course and there being an energy among the students of constant curiosity and a desire to learn more. As the course progressed, I witnessed a shift in the students, particularly among Black students, as they learned about themselves and their communities through the lens of Black psychology—a lens that not only centers the experiences of Black people but one that identifies history as foundational to how a person shows up and moves through the world. It was humbling to witness and also experience the deep pride, determination, collective grieving and uplift, critical consciousness, frustration, and connection born out of discussions about who Black people are and have been in this world.

Fast forward years later to a meeting with a colleague who asks, “How is history relevant to the psychology of Black people?” Given my experiences as a teaching assistant, I recall feeling a little stunned by the question. At that moment, I also realized this question reflected a particular orientation to the study of........

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