Author
The published volumes of Dr. Akbar’s works are excellent illustrations of the unique and special approach he has taken to the role of an activist scholar. His volumes are targeted to a mass audience. Though the concepts that he presents are highly sophisticated, they are presented in a concise and simple way that readers with minimal education and possibly no familiarity with mainstream psychology will be able to comprehend the ideas from his books and increase their understanding of themselves. Though his scholarly status is unquestioned this area of his work is targeting a much broader audience than would likely encounter his works prepared for advanced students, professional colleagues and for the dialogue of the academy. He feels very strongly that truly relevant ideas should be available to as wide an audience as possible in order that they may study these ideas and apply them to their lives and to their communities. The measure of success for this aspect of his scholarship becomes the number of people from various walks of life that have been able to study these ideas, change their lives and their world.
Educator Scholar
Na’im Akbar was trained as a scientist and practitioner in the field of Clinical Psychology. This is an area of study in traditional psychology that is involved with the evaluation of human mental functioning and the practice of psychotherapeutic processes to improve mental health. Early in Dr. Akbar’s career, he decided to devote his skills of research and practice to the increased understanding of the cultural basis of African-American mental functioning and the development of techniques to address the unique mental health needs of African-Americans. As an Activist Scholar, he has done considerable research, teaching, theory-development and critical analysis in this area.The recognition of his significant work and leadership in these areas of scholarship have resulted in his being asked to serve on the Editorial Boards of the Journal of Black Studies, and the Journal of Black Psychology, where he served as Associate Editor for over 10 years. His recognition within the academy as an important scholar is evidenced by the award of the prestigious Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Distinguished Scholar Award at Florida State University and the honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters by the Edinboro University of Pennsylvania.
The concepts from Dr. Akbar’s writings have been extensively quoted, required reading in the syllabi of psychology and Black Studies Courses nationwide and included in a variety of volumes of collected readings on African-American mental life and functioning. In addition, the concepts from his writings have been used as the foundation for the establishment of a wide variety of Rites of Passage programs for youth, Substance Abuse Treatment Programs and Personal Development Programs throughout the United States, and in other parts of the world.
Na’im Akbar is clearly recognized as being a major contributor to the scholarly understanding of African people and of humanity in general. He is a luminary on the horizon of rebirth of true Afrocentric scholarship.
Introduction
He is what they call a Black Psychologist, an Afrocentric Scholar, sharing his thoughts on national issues with the entire population through books, articles, lectures, seminars, radio talkshows and Internet chatrooms. His message is clear and simple, yet provocative and well grounded: Black people in America are "crazy." Not so much individually, but culturally. This scholar, psychologist, author, business owner, and lecturer was acclaimed by Essence Magazine as “one of the world’s preeminent psychologists and a pioneer in the development of an African-centered approach in modern psychology."His name is Dr. Na'im Akbar and his ideas have penetrated most aspects of progressive thought affecting the minds of African people throughout the world. His insight and his analysis of the social concerns affecting African-Americans in particular and humanity as a whole is soul stirring, superbly rational and highly informative. Actively quoted and interviewed in print media, broadcast media and the Internet; and celebrated on five continents, Dr. Akbar is one of the greatest Thinkers and Orators of our time.
Background
Dr. Akbar was born and received his early education in the segregated South prior to the desegregation of public and educational facilities. In his late adolescence, he left this exclusively African-American social environment to become a college student at the University of Michigan. He remained at the Ann Arbor campus of the University of Michigan for the completion of his B.A., M.A. and Ph.D., degrees in psychology.
Upon completion of his Ph.D. from the University of Michigan, he was invited to join the Psychology faculty at prestigious Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia. He rapidly progressed from an Assistant Professor to the position of Department Chairman within two years and remained at Morehouse as a model teacher and administrator for a total of five years. In 1975 he left Morehouse College to become the Director the Office of Human Development for the (then) Nation of Islam in Chicago and gained international prominence for his publications and ideas which were projected from this post. He subsequently served on the faculty of Norfolk State University and eventually joined the psychology faculty of Florida State University where he has remained since 1979.
Dr. Akbar is a Life Member and has remained active in the Association of Black Psychologists since two years after its founding in 1968. He served on the Board of Directors of this prestigious professional organization for numerous terms and was elected president of the Organization in 1987. This international organization, which is the largest Black mental health professional association in the world, has bestowed all of its most prestigious honors on this distinguished psychologist and scholar.
In the late 1980’s Dr. Akbar formed his own publishing company, Mind
Productions and Associates
Education
Memberships
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Career