Time for space at the table: an African American ‐ Native American analyst‐in‐training’s first‐hand reflections. A call for the IAAP to publicly denounce (but not erase) the White supremacist writings of C.G. Jung

Abstract

This article provides an African American‐Native American analyst‐in‐training’s first‐hand reflections on Jung’s firm depiction of Blacks of African descent and America’s First Nations People (the Red man) as inferior, through a theory of primitivity that unveils Jung’s belief in and support of White supremacy. With no intended disrespect or neglect intended toward America’s First Nations, this article focuses primarily on Jung’s apparent disdain for Blacks (the Negro). Utilizing writings from Frederick Douglass, W.E.B. Du Bois and Na’im Akbar, this article highlights ways in which Jung’s biases align with the White supremacist perspective of the Negro as a problem, detrimental to social order. The paper concludes with an Appendix which outlines a call to the International Association for Analytical Psychology (IAAP) to take corrective action and to publicly denounce those facets of Jung’s writings that diverge from the core of his theory and that promote toxic attitudes of bigotry, perhaps discouraging many people of colour from enrolling in analytic training.

Go Set a Watchman: revealing phantom narratives and shattering projections in the era of Black Lives Matter

“…Although many have asked why so few black people and people of other ethnicities begin and complete training, perhaps it is time we believe those few who have told us why, such as Samuel Kimbles (2014), Fanny Brewster (2017, and most recently, Christopher J. Carter (2021). Do we fear that Jungian theory is not strong enough to withstand directly addressing Jung's racist writings?…”

“…Those of us in positions of power need to serve as watchmen, observing and proclaiming when we are colour‐blind or when we flatly deny the additional and unnecessary obstacles that non‐whites encounter in analytic training. Although many have asked why so few black people and people of other ethnicities begin and complete training, perhaps it is time we believe those few who have told us why, such as Samuel Kimbles (2014), Fanny Brewster (2017), and most recently, Christopher J. Carter (2021). Do we fear that Jungian theory is not strong enough to withstand directly addressing Jung’s racist writings?…”