Annual Anderson "AJ" Franklin Unity Against Racism Lecture
The Institute for the Study of Race and Culture (ISRC) is proud to present the Annual Anderson “AJ” Franklin Unity Against Racism Lecture, in recognition of Dr. Franklin’s work combating racism as a civil rights leader, community organizer, scholar, and leader. From his involvement in the famous 1960 Richmond 34 sit-in to his appointment at Boston College, Dr. Franklin has displayed an unwavering commitment to the fight against racial oppression. The lecture provides a platform for leaders to present unifying approaches to the ongoing dismantling of racism.
Upcoming Lecture
Healing the Wounds of Racism
Thursday, April 24, 2025
7:00 - 9:00 pm
Boston College Campus
Merkert 127 Auditorium
Reception to follow. This event will be live-streamed.
Previous Lectures
Indigenous Historical Trauma: Alter-Native Explanations for Mental Health Inequities
Tuesday, April 23, 2024
Boston College Campus
Faculty Director, Native American Program
Harvard University
The Inaugural Anderson "AJ" Franklin Unity Against Racism Lecture
Speaker: Anderson "AJ" Franklin
“Even in spite of the progress, there are still many, many things that haven't changed. So the work is still there. The mantle and the torch is going to be passed.”
About Dr. Anderson J. Franklin
Dr. Anderson J. Franklin is a Professor Emeritus of Boston College in the Department of Counseling, Developmental, and Educational Psychology at the Lynch School of Education and Human Development. He served as the Honorable David S. Nelson Professor, and was Director of the Nelson Chair Roundtable for Networking Community-Based Programs and University-Community Partnerships. Dr. Franklin, who holds a Ph.D. from the University of Oregon, is also Professor Emeritus at the City University of New York (CUNY).
He received a Master's degree in psychology from Howard University, and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Virginia Union University.
Dr. Franklin’s research and scholarly interests are in the mental health and psychological well-being of people in the African American community and the African diaspora. Much of his research is on the resilience of African American and South African males, as well as out-of-school-time factors impacting youth development. He has written extensively on his concept of the “invisibility syndrome” of African American men: he is co-author of Boys into Men: Raising our African American Teenage Sons (Dutton, 2000) and Research Directions of Black Psychologists (Russell Sage Foundation). His book, From Brotherhood to Manhood: How Black Men Rescue Their Relationships and Dreams from the Invisibility Syndrome (John Wiley & Sons, 2004), was named to Essence magazine’s bestsellers list.
Dr. Franklin is an Honorary Professor at Nelson Mandela University's Center for the Advancement of Non-Racialism and Democracy (CANRAD) in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. He has spent time in various leadership roles within the American Psychological Association (APA) and the Association of Black Psychologists.
For over 30 years, Dr. Franklin served on the Advisory Board for the Program of Research on Black Americans at the Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan. He has served in roles on the New York State Board of Psychology, Lexington School for the Deaf, and the Harlem Interfaith Counseling Center, and was an official delegate at the United Nations World Conference Against Racism, Discrimination, Xenophobia, and Racial Intolerances.
Dr. Franklin has received several commemorations for his civil rights legacy as a member of the “Richmond 34,” a group of 34 students arrested in the 1960 sit-ins that led to desegregation in Richmond and throughout Virginia. The State of Virginia established an official state historical marker in Richmond, and he was selected for a Distinguished Alumni Recognition in the 150th anniversary publication of Virginia Union University (2015). He has received countless awards and accolades for his education, mentorship, and advocacy for social justice. Please review Dr. Franklin's faculty profile for a more complete list of his awards, honors, and achievements throughout his lifetime.