Universalism is not White: Commentary on Sue et al. (2024).
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: This commentary responds to Sue et al.'s (see record 2025-04512-010) claim that principles such as universalism, individualism, objectivism, and empiricism are pillars of White epistemology. Drawing on W. E. B. Du Bois's embrace of Western intellectual traditions, this commentary argues that such ideals are not inherently racialized but rather central to human flourishing. In their critique of universalism, Sue and colleagues conflated the misapplication of universalism with the intended meaning of the concept. Rather than characterizing universalism in racial terms, this commentary contends that its accurate application promotes fairness and inclusivity and aligns with civil rights and human rights movements. Defining valuable concepts like universalism through a racial lens risks alienating scholars and undermining ideas that could advance mental health and psychological research across all demographics. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).
Source: American Psychologist
DOI: 10.1037/amp0001489
Author: Michael J. Strambler
Institution: Yale University
Language: English
Subfield: Sociology and Political Science
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
SDG: Reduced inequalities
Open Access status: gold
OpenAlex ID: W4414126500