William E. Cross Jr.

William E. Cross Jr.
Born
William E. Cross Jr.

1940 (age 83–84)
Evanston, Illinois-United States
Alma materUniversity of Denver (BA)
Princeton University (Ph.D)
Known forClinical psychology, nigrescence model, racial identity development
AwardsAPA Award for Lifetime Contributions to Psychology (2022)
Scientific career
FieldsClinical psychology
Africana Studies
InstitutionsPrinceton University, Cornell University, Penn State University, City University of New York, University of Nevada-Las Vegas, University of Denver

William E. Cross Jr. (born 1940) is a theorist and researcher in the field of ethnic identity development, specifically Black identity development.[1] He is best known for his nigrescence model, first detailed in a 1971 publication, and his book, Shades of Black, published in 1991. Cross's nigrescence model expanded upon the work of Black psychologists who came before him and created an important foundation for racial/ethnic identity psychology.[2] It has proved a framework for both individual and collective social change. Throughout his career, Cross has been concerned with racial/ethnic identity theory and the negative effects of Western thought and science on the psychology of Black Americans, specifically the need for “psychological liberation under conditions of oppression.”[3][4]

  1. ^ "William Cross Faculty Bio". City University of New York.
  2. ^ "Speakers / Facilitators". The Blackboard Jungle 6 Symposium. 20 Feb 2013.
  3. ^ Karenga, Maulana (1996). "Black Psychology" (PDF). In Monteiro, Kenneth P. (ed.). Ethnicity and Psychology: African-, Asian-, Latino-, and Native-American Psychologies (Revised ed.). Dubuque, IO: Kendall/Hunt. pp. 21–39. ISBN 978-0-7872-2423-3. Retrieved 23 February 2017.
  4. ^ Vandiver, Beverly J.; William E. Cross Jr; Frank C. Worrell & Peony E. Fhagen-Smith (2002). "Validating the Cross Racial Identity Scale". Journal of Counseling Psychology. 49 (1): 71. doi:10.1037/0022-0167.49.1.71. S2CID 37760038.