Why Wakanda is Important: The Psychological Impact of Racial Representation in Media

Upon completion of this training, the individual is awarded one (1) APA/NBCC/ACE/APT CE Hour of Completion. 

About this Event

Movies and Television have long provided a method of entertainment, as well as provided information about places audiences may never see, or people they may never meet. These avenues of exploration have gifted audiences information about current events, fantastical stories, and amazing narratives, since their invention. However, for a long time, the avatars of these stories have often not been representative of their viewership, and this resulted in a world where those who did not see themselves in the media they consumed felt left-out, unheard, and voiceless. Through this one hour presentation, Dr. Rougeaux-Burnes will offer a brief history of cinema and racial representation, as well as a deeper dive into the mental impact of racial representation in media and how it informs how both majority and minority individuals think of themselves, and each other.

Disability Accommodations

It is the responsibility of the Individual to contact Geek Therapeutics to request disability accommodations at Hello@geektherapeutics.com.   

Geek Therapeutics is committed to helping each student reach his/her academic potential and to providing every student equal opportunity to participate in and engage with the course.  In keeping with this commitment, effort has been made to develop accessible learning materials that provide equal access.  Please contact Geek Therapeutics immediately if access to course materials is restricted due to a disability so the issue(s) can be resolved in a timely manner.

Learning Objectives:

1. Discuss a brief history of African American representation in cinema

2. Identify three important aspects of racial representation in media, 

3.  Identify three aspects of how damaging a lack of representation can be, psychologically. 

Course Instructor:

Gaston Rougeaux-Burnes, PsyD, is a Licensed Psychologist who specializes in working with children, couples, and families in a variety of capacities through his private practice, The Family Center for Therapy and Assessment (tfcenter.org), located in Lubbock, Texas. 

Educationally, Dr. Rougeaux-Burnes is a native Texan and graduated highschool in Cypress, Texas. From there, he attended Baylor University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Neuroscience. Dr. Rougeaux-Burnes then pursued higher education at the Forest Institute of Professional Psychology, where he attained his Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy, as well as his Doctorate in Clinical Psychology. 

As an African-American Mental Health Provider, Dr. Rougeaux-Burnes is passionate about empowering couples and families to find the solutions that work for them, as well as reach the goals they have for themselves. Additionally, Dr. Rougeaux-Burnes strives to continue his awareness of how race, class, and access to resources impact success, and uses his professional abilities to help bridge those gaps through his community service.

Continuing Education Credits:

Psychologists: Geek Therapeutics is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Geek Therapeutics maintains responsibility for this program and its content

Counselors: Geek Therapeutics has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7042. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Geek Therapeutics is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

Social Workers: Geek Therapeutics, #1769, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB)Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. Geek Therapeutics maintains responsibility for this course. ACE provider approval period: 05/19/2022 – 05/19/2025. Social workers completing this course receive 1 continuing education credits.

Play Therapists:  Geek Therapeutics has been approved by APT as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, No. 21-649. Programs that do not qualify for APT credit are clearly identified. Geek Therapeutics is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

Other Professions: This activity qualifies for the specified number of hours of instructional content as required by many licensing boards and professional organizations. Save your course outline and certificate of completion, and contact your board or organization for specific requirements. Completion of the course(s) with a post-test score of 80% or better is required to receive continuing education credit; there is no partial credit.