I Dr. Ronald Beavers being a native of South Los Angeles born and raised in particular times have been blessed to first hand been a part of history having eyewitnesses many things and have experienced the blatant yet sometimes subtle oppressive (racist) system, both riots and/or civil unrest Watts-Riot in August 1965 and the Civil unrest in April 1992 Rodney King ordeal. This system we live in gives the illusion to most that one is free and has the ability to make decisions that are not influenced by the dominant culture; always remember freedom isn’t free. My generation has also witnessed the Korean War, Cuban Blockade, Vietnam War, Granada, Persian Gulf, Somali, Iraqi War, and Afghanistan; needless to say it has been the most turbulent time in modern history. Today I salute any Black male that is over the age of forty (40) and not in prison or stricken with any of the life threatening disease, i.e. AIDs, STD’s and cancer for you are truly a miracle. Those sisters that have endured the test of time and haven’t given up hope (praise be to God). It is our secrete duty to dispel the stigma that has negatively highlighted our very being and negates the Black spiritual essence (Mafaa).

As one of the ancestors and founding fathers of the Association of Black Psychologist-ABPsi Brother Dr. Bobby Wright as one of the few Black people who dared to ask the penetrating questions and demand answers and corrective actions to the racial situation in the United States and the world." In these essays, psychologist Dr. Bobby Wright coins the term "mentacide" which he defines as the "deliberate and systematic destruction of a group’s minds with the ultimate objective being the extirpation of the group." "Mentacide," says Dr. Wright, is a worldwide phenomena being implemented against the entire Black race. "Therefore," he says, "Blacks in Africa will begin to manifest the behavior of Blacks in the United States. Dr. Wright "was a thorn in the brain of Black men and women posing as leaders." And his last words were a warning to his friends and associates, "Watch the leadership, especially those proclaiming their God-given answer to the problems of Black people." "Dr. Bobby E. Wright was a "Black" psychologist, so labeled not just because he was both Black and a psychologist, but because he used his education, training, intellectual knowledge and skills always in the best interest of Black people all over the world." As the Positive Imagery Foundation founded by Dr. Ronald Beavers here in South Central Los Angeles is to increase the awareness of those that live in and out of the community about the systematic and deliberate disproportionate mental/health care treatment of the Blacks that reside in South Los Angeles.  

Dr. Wright poignantly begins the title essay, The Psychopathic Racial Personality, with the following narrative;

"In a bullfight, after being brutalized while making innumerable charges at the movement of a cape, there comes a time when the bull finally turns and faces his adversary with the only movement being his heaving bloody sides. It is believed that for the first time he really sees the matador. This final confrontation is known as "the moment of truth." For the bull, this moment comes too late."

According to Dr. Wright, the experience of Black people all over the world presents an analogous situation. For hundreds of years, our European (white) matadors have been holding up the capes of democracy, capitalism, Marxism, religion and education and for hundreds of years we have been charging at the movement of these "capes." Like the bull, we too are suffering from near fatal wounds and "indeed have arrived at our "moment of truth." Sisters and brothers, it is time for us to look at the matador and Dr. Wright tries to sharpen our vision.

He defines a psychopath as "an individual who is constantly in conflict with other persons or groups. He is unable to experience guilt, he is completely selfish and callous, and he has a total disregard for the rights of others." Dr. Wright says Black leaders are reluctant to measure psychopathic traits of the White race in their dealings with Blacks when there is a threat involved. "For example", says Dr. Wright, "everywhere one finds Whites and Blacks in close proximity to each other, Whites are in control, whether it is Chicago or Zimbabwe." And our leaders rarely question this "extraordinary universal phenomenon" which Dr. Wright says "defies every known statistical law of probability." He also analyzes some of our so-called intellectual leaders and comments that, "Black intellectual enlightenment does not always lead to genuine insight and it can be very damaging to the intellect as reflected by the behavior and attitudes of many eminent Black scientists."

As a result of the confusion, Dr. Wright concludes that Blacks have become disoriented and the result is various inadequate and dangerous behavioral patterns. "Some have become catatonic and do not move at all but wait for divine intervention; others place their faith and energies in charismatic guides who are just as lost as they." Dr. Wright tells us that the answer to Blacks’ problems can be found in the works and lives of people like Chaka, Martin Delany, Marcus Garvey, H. Rap Brown, Malcolm X, Chancellor Williams and others. For they all looked at the matador or psychopath for what he was and is and moved against him."

The "other essays", deal with Black Suicide, Educating the Black Child and The Black Child: A Destiny in Jeopardy. These excellent essays reinforce the notions discussed in the title essay. Dr. Wright quotes the African proverb that warns the traveler of life, "if you don’t know where you are going, any road will get you there." He says a social theory determines the destiny of a people by establishing guidelines of life and Blacks should therefore develop a "Black Social Theory." He warns, however, the ultimate achievement of a Black social theory would be the recreation of Black culture and that is a very difficult task. Professor Jacob Carruthers, who reviewed the book said, "brainwashed Blacks who are awestruck by European theory and theorists cannot accomplish this task……and Bobby Wright’s concepts of the ‘psychopathic racial personality’ and ‘mentacide’ are major contributions to this culture recreation process."

Since its publication in 1984, The Psychopathic Racial Personality has proved to be a revolutionary, groundbreaking work on race relations. It is one of the works that should be read by serious minded Africans everywhere who are dedicated and committed to rebuilding the African world order.