Meet Felecia T. Dunson, PsyD | Psychologist & Diversity Coach/ Consultant

We had the good fortune of connecting with Felecia T. Dunson, PsyD and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Felecia T., what’s one piece of conventional advice that you disagree with?
For a long time people, especially white people, believed that if they didn’t openly acknowledge diversity (race, sexuality, gender) then it meant they were accepting it and being kind and absolved from the accusations discrimination (racism, sexism, prejudice, hate, etc). They were told “do not see color.”

I never agreed with this principle because I was on the receiving end of the invisibility cloak. I found that anything about me that didn’t feel comfortable, aligned, or similar to the majority crowd was ignored, discounted, or even denounced.

I once had a friend tell me that I wasn’t really black. When I looked at her incredulously she explained because I was “smart, nice and good.” She did not realized how racist her statement was and I, as a high school student, did not know how to explain the pain inflicted by her statement. My response was simply, “I am black.”

You see when you state “I don’t see color” you imply that there is an inherent hierarchy of color. This is of course not true. But we are socialized, or flooded with constant messages, that suggest certain colors are wrong, bad, and worthless. So without realizing it we ingest these messages and they are perpetuated everyday through micro-aggressions such as these.

Now that I have the language to express and explain what is happening, I chose to offer this opportunity for anyone to discuss, debate and learn through discourse.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
What sets my business apart is that it’s helping parents introduce diversity topics to their children. Another big difference is that I emphasize the importance of children identifying with an accepting their own uniqueness and diversity. I help parents teach children to “Shine, Vibe and Represent.”

Currently my business offers free to the community discussion groups for adults, adolescents, school age children, and preschool age children. These groups offer developmentally appropriate information regarding diversity topic and an opportunity to express thoughts and feelings in a supportive environment. Additionally I offer two Facebook groups (for Adults and Parents) for more interaction regarding different topics of diversity, usually with regard to current events. And I offer courses, webinars, workshops to educate parents about these topics and help them share the information with their children.

I am most proud of the open dialogue and discussion that participants across age groups have been able to achieve. I‘m equally proud when children, teenagers, and adults seek me out to ask when another virtual meeting will occur because they found the discussions a productive use of their time.

I am still in the process of addressing challenges of starting a business. I have continued to pursue this because i am passionate about the outcome and impact I am seeking.

I am learning to push on and persevere. I am learning continue sharing so my message can reach the people it can help.

I’m on a mission to intercept the cycle of discrimination that has been passed down for generations in the United States and across the world. I believe that together parents and children can break the cycle and change the world.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If, hypothetically, we weren’t still in the midst of a pandemic then there are lots of places around town we could visit.

With three boys, you’ll often find me around town attending practices and/or games. I’m sure any friend of mine would want to attend these activities. And if my friend is visiting with their children, very likely, then we would go to some kid friendly places such as Play Studio, Botanical Gardens, Ft. Worth Museum, Perot and the African American Museum of. Dallas.

There’s certainly no point in visiting Texas and not eating good. My favorite local spots include: Smoky John’s and Home Cooking (Best BBQ in Dallas), Whataburger (I mean duh!), NY Pizza Deli (Local pizza spot with east coast swag), Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen (It’s the XL fried catfish for me), and my special occasion chains (Cheesecake Factory & Melting Pot)

I like to get in some culture with my entertainment so the perfect week for me would include a music concert at the House of Blues, a comedy show at Grand Prarie Theatre, a play at Fair Park, and a Cultural Street Fair/Community Festival.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’d like to shoutout my family, for inspiring me to pursue this path. I was really moved to try to make a difference after the sickening and tragic death of George Floyd. I have three brown-skinned sons and I’m motivated to intervene to help us fulfill the promise of justice and equality for all.

I am also grateful for the friends, family members, colleagues, co-workers, and community members who have participated thus far. Their engagement and support has validated and propelled me to continue pushing towards the goal of making an impact that changes the world.

Website: FeleciaTDunson.com

Instagram: @FeleciaTDPsyD

Twitter: @FeleciaTDPsyD

Facebook: @FeleciaTDPsyD

Other: Clubhouse- @FeleciaTDPsyD Face Book Groups- Diversity Parenting-https://bit.ly/3dkUhlv Diversity Workshop-https://bit.ly/3uPaRzw

Image credit: Lakin Sterns Photography