Mamie Phipps Clark

Mamie Phipps Clark (October 18, 1917 – August 11, 1983) was a social psychologist who studied how young Black children developed their sense of self. She was born and raised in Hot Springs, Arkansas and later studied at Howard University, where she earned both her bachelor's and master's degrees.

Her most famous work focused on how segregation affected the self-esteem of young Black children. For her master's thesis, Clark conducted experiments with dolls to see how race influenced children's preferences and self-perception. She found that many children preferred white dolls over black ones, showing the harmful effects of segregation on their self-image.

Her research became very important in history. It was used as evidence in the landmark Brown v. Board of Education court case, which helped change laws about racial segregation in schools. Together with her husband Kenneth Clark, Mamie Phipps Clark made a lasting impact on understanding the psychological effects of racism.

Early life

Mamie Phipps Clark was born on October 18, 1917, in Hot Springs, Arkansas. She attended segregated schools, including a Catholic elementary school. Her father was a respected physician from the British West Indies, and her mother was a homemaker.

Clark graduated from Langston High School and later attended Howard University, where she studied math and physics. It was at Howard that she met her future husband, Kenneth Clark, who encouraged her to study psychology. She graduated magna cum laude in 1938 and began a graduate program in psychology at Howard. Her master's thesis focused on how black children become aware of their racial identity. Later, she earned her Ph.D. in experimental psychology from Columbia University, becoming the first Black woman to do so.

Doll study

Mamie Phipps Clark's doll study built on her master's thesis research. With her husband Kenneth Clark, she used four dolls that looked the same except for their skin color to learn about young children's ideas about race. Children were asked to pick which doll they liked best, which looked nice, which looked bad, and which looked like them or a white or Black child. The study found that children often preferred the white doll and thought it was nicer, showing that segregation and prejudice could make Black children feel inferior.

The doll study became important evidence in the 1954 Brown v. Board of Education case, helping to show that segregation hurt children. Phipps Clark also asked children to color drawings to match their own skin, and many chose lighter colors. This work was one of the first to show how society can shape children's ideas about race before they can fully understand it.

Additional research

Mamie and her husband did many studies before their famous doll study. In 1939, they studied when African American children start to understand their race. They showed children ages 3 to 5 pictures of white and colored children and animals and asked the kids to pick which ones looked like them or someone close to them. They found that some 3-year-olds picked animals, but by age 4, children started to pick humans, showing they knew they were people. The study also showed that children around age 4 began to notice their race, with more 4-year-olds picking colored pictures than 3-year-olds.

Their work helped other researchers learn more about how young children understand race. Later studies used similar methods and found that white preschoolers liked white girls and non-white preschoolers liked non-white girls, showing that young children often prefer others who share their racial background.

The Northside Center for Child Development

In February 1946, Mamie Phipps Clark started the Northside Center for Child Development in the basement of her family's apartment in Harlem. With a small loan from her father, she created a place where children could get help with their feelings and families could find support. The center was the first in Harlem to offer special care for children and their families.

The Clarks used the center to study how racism affects children’s minds and feelings. They offered many services, including counseling, school help, and advice for parents. Over the years, the center grew to include more programs like tutoring, nutrition workshops, and training for parents. Clark worked at the center until she retired in 1979.

Harlem Youth Opportunities Unlimited project (HARYOU)

Mamie Phipps Clark worked with her husband on many projects, including the Harlem Youth Opportunities Unlimited project (HARYOU). Started in 1962, HARYOU aimed to help young people in Harlem by offering education and job opportunities. The project also taught residents how to work with government agencies to get funding and support. Although there was a suggestion to use busing to integrate schools, this idea was not accepted due to protests from parents.

Personal life

Mamie Phipps married Kenneth Clark soon after she graduated. They remained married until her passing in 1983, and they had two children named Kate Harris and Hilton Clark.

Clark was very active in her community. She helped lead a housing company that built apartments in New York City. She also served on the boards of many important organizations, such as the American Broadcasting Companies, the Museum of Modern Art, the New York Public Library, The Phelps Stokes Fund, Teachers College at Columbia University, and the Palisades Interstate Park Commission. She also worked with advisory groups like the National Head Start Planning Committee.

Legacy

Mamie Phipps Clark's work in psychology continues to be important, even though she sometimes didn’t get as much attention as she deserved. She faced many challenges because of her gender and race, but she kept working hard. She was known for being modest and for balancing her career with her family life. In 1983, she received a Candace Award for Humanitarianism from the National Coalition of 100 Black Women.

Mamie Phipps Clark passed away from cancer on August 11, 1983, at the age of 66.