Humanity - Dr Mamie Phillips Clark

Mamie Phillips Clark and her husband Kenneth Clarke were the first African Americans to achieve doctorate degrees in psychology. Together, they contributed to the civil rights movement through their psychological research into how young black pre-school children viewed themselves. Known colloquially as “the doll tests”, their famous doll experiments conducted in the 1940s were brought up as evidence in court cases against segregation in schools.

In their experiments, they demonstrated the negative impact segregation was having on children’s sense of self. Children were given the choice of whether they preferred a black or white coloured doll. African American children consistently chose the white doll over the black doll, often saying that the black doll looked bad and the white doll looked more like them. This finding was used successfully in court to argue for the abolition of segregation in schools.

 On top of this, the couple worked tirelessly to help children in the disadvantaged area of Harlem by providing support services and advocating for improved school systems.

Their bravery and trail blazing ways should not be underestimated or forgotten.