Even the Rat Was White: A Historical View of Psychology (Allyn & Bacon Classics Edition) (2nd Edition) |  | Author: Robert V. Guthrie
Publisher: Allyn & Bacon
Category: Book
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Rating:  73 reviews
Sales Rank: 67,613
Media: Paperback
Edition: 2
Pages: 304
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.8
Dimensions (in): 8.9 x 6.1 x 0.6
ISBN: 0205392644
Dewey Decimal Number: 150.8996073
EAN: 9780205392643
ASIN: 0205392644
Publication Date: April 7, 2003
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Product Description
Even The Rat Was White views history from all perspectives in the quest for historical accuracy. Histories and other background materials are presented in detail concerning early African-American psychologists and their scientific contributions, as well as their problems, views, and concerns of the field of social psychology. Archival documents that are not often found in mainstream resources are uncovered through the use of journals and magazines, such as the Journal of Black Psychology, the Journal of Negro Education, and Crisis. The historical role of African-Americans in psychology. History of Psychology, Psychology of Prejudice.
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Showing reviews 1-5 of 73
 Even the Rat Was White: A Historical View of Psychology January 18, 2003
Nathaniel X. Arnold
27 out of 29 found this review helpful
I read this book as a psychology major in the late 70's. It was facinating then and timely. Now it is even more so. The perspectives it shares are critical to understanding racism in its full capacity. Racism is not merely a side issue or cultural anomaly, it is the centerpiece of American life and European culture in general. It goes beyond simply naming behaviors as racist or non-racist. It allows you to understand and label the components of racism and to understand the mechanisms of the disorder. Only then can you cure yourself and help others.
Critique March 22, 2004
Aron D. Gerhart (Chillicothe, MO (USA))
24 out of 26 found this review helpful
Robert V. Guthrie's classic novel, Even the Rat Was White: A Historical View of Psychology, is an excellent historical document that views psychology from multiple perspectives. Guthrie cites many archival documents that are not found in typical, mainstream resources, which exposes students and educators alike to not only elusive but also informative material. It is an excellent source for informing and intriguing readers and inquiring minds about the impact that African-American psychologists have had on the field of psychology.
The first part, or section, of Guthrie's literary work focuses on the "scientific" measure of race and racial differences. From physical appearance (e.g., Shaxby and Bonnell's photometer) to mental aptitude (e.g., the Stanford-Binet and Wechsler-Bellevue scales), there existed a myriad of measurement devices and instruments for measuring racial differences. Of course, the majority of these measurements indicated the racial inferiority of American minorities (viz., African-American inferiority). The spurious results were the product of three major factors: (a) experimenter expectancy, which was due, for example, to the previous research of eugenicists such as Francis Galton and Charles Davenport, (b) culturally-biased instruments or measures, and (c) suspicious statistical analyses (e.g., Charles Babbage noted the unethical practices of "trimming" and "cooking" data sets.).
As stated previously, the result of the measure of racial differences led to an assumption of minority inferiority. Even though much research has been conducted to invalidate and repudiate these claims (e.g., M. J. Mayo and Horace Mann Bond have produced literature in support of racial equality.), the segregation of ethnic groups, which was supported by prominent psychologists such as Henry Garrett, has existed in the past, and stereotypes and negative opinions about minorities continue to plague American society today. It is clear that not only the field of psychology but also society held beliefs about racial inferiority and/or superiority. As the title of Guthrie's book, Even the Rat Was White, indicates, this belief was even generalized to animals (in this case, rats). Ignoring the fact that characteristics such as intelligence are multifaceted variables that cannot be sufficiently measured with one test or instrument, research supporting the congenital abilities of animals (e.g., Robert Choate Tryon's "maze-bright" and "maze-dull" rats study) was generalized to humans. Just as the majority of researchers and theorists were White, which subsequently produced "White" theories, and measurement instruments were culturally biased in favor of European Americans, experimental rats were also white.
The second part of Guthrie's book enlightens the reader of the early trials and tribulations of African-American scholars. The author describes the systematic manner in which black scholars were denied the opportunity to study psychology, publish their work, and receive recognition and financial aid. He also pays tribute to many Black scholars by providing short bibliographies, which includes a list of contributions. Some of these scholars include Francis Cecil Sumner, the first African American to receive a PhD in psychology, and Joseph White, a founder of the Association of Black Psychologists (ABPsi).
This historical overview of many prominent, African-American psychologists was interesting and insightful. It enables the reader to develop an appreciation for the problems faced by Black scholars and discover important contributions such as Kenneth B. Clark's research on the detrimental effects of racial segregation, which eventually influenced the 1954 Supreme Court decision that required public schools to racially integrate their classrooms. Without this resource, one would encounter much obstacle in acquiring such information.
The final section of Guthrie's book is briefly discusses the implications of previous chapters. The author demonstrates that the "myth of mental measurement" and eugenicist philosophy (as demonstrated by William Schockley) continue to exist and stereotype. This is unfortunate; hopefully, society can learn from Guthrie's writings and subsequently make progress. In conclusion, the author states, "While at present it is difficult to justify the existence of a Black psychology, there is a theoretical basis for it." Hopefully, this book will not only advance the existence of Black psychology but also will serve as evidence of its existence, purpose, and need.
History and systems in psycholgoy December 6, 2009
Stacy Campbell (Riddle, Or)
Very informative and gives a better understanding of the contribution made to psychology by persons of color.
Eye Opening Research February 28, 2006
Valerie R. Smith
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
Dr. Guthrie's book is a detailed account of African American contribution to psychology in the past century. I could not put it down. It reveals another side of history- a side that we are not taught about in public school, but a side that exists none the less.
Even The Rat Was White synopsis April 5, 2006
Melanie Banzer (Louisville, Ky)
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
Melanie Banzer
3 April 2006
"Even The Rat Was White" Synopsis
Robert V. Guthrie's book "Even the Rat Was White" explores in depth the impact of African Americans on psychology as well as how the field of psychology affected African-Americans. Guthrie looks at how the overall image of African-Americans affected by the Zeitgeist, or the culture of the time, which paved the path for the "great men" allowed to shape societal thinking. He reviews the "science" that existed which supposedly proved the inferiority of blacks and also how this "science" has affected African-Americans to this very day, even though it has been disproven. Shaking off such stereotypes, blacks have made remarkable contributions to the field of psychology and various other fields of study as well.
Guthrie traces the history of blacks, emphasizing the major difference between the "great men" of the past and those of the present and explaining how this difference would affect the lifestyles of blacks. Once, the "great man" was Sir Frances Galton, who twisted the theory of evolution contrived by Charles Darwin to apply it to human socialization. Galton's I.Q. testing were used as a tool to defend racial inferiority, ignoring the likelihood of environmental effects on the test results. The "great men," fortunately, were replaced by such men as Herman Canady, who started the first psychology course for blacks, and Francis Sumner, who led a major school of psychology at Howard University.
Guthrie notes that we as a society have come a long way in terms of racial stereotyping. As the times changed, we allowed our great men to change as well. As a result of this open-mindedness to change, we have allowed great African-American thinkers to make contributions to psychology that only someone with their experience could have shared. Previous definitions of psychology were revisited and revised and African-Americans today impact the field with amazing insight.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 73
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