The Psychology of Sexual Racism and Aids

African (Black) psychology has rightly challenged the paradigms of Eurocentric psychology to the extent that a stance of suspicion toward Euro-American science has become a sign of health (Akbar, 1985; Baldwin, 1986; Nobles, 1980). The continued misuse of history and science to perpetuate racism and blame toward ethnic minorities in this country is cause for alarm (Aptheker, 1971; Gould, 1981; Higham, 1971; Williams, 1972). The current AIDS epidemic adds more drama to the continuing story of how African Americans perceive themselves to be at risk for gross scientific misinterpretation (Dalton, 1989). Research assumptions must be challenged because they can harm efforts toward culturally competent and sensitive research and intervention programs. Besides, history is replete with stories of racism involving physical or psychological attacks on the sexual identity of African Americans (D'Emilio & Freedman, 1988; Finkelman, 1992; Higgenbotham, 1978).