The theme of this Sixty-Seventh conference of the Association of Social and Behavioral Scientists, Inc. is "Looking to the Future of the United States: Social, Political, Economic and Moral Priorities." This theme ref1ects our acute awareness that the post 9-11 United States has been forced to reexamine its major social, political, economic, and moral priorities as she actively fights against terrorism. ASBS conference participant will present and discuss their perceptions of these critical issues, and some will undoubtedly focus their scholarly perceptions specifically on which priorities might be most advantageous or disadvantageous for the heterogeneous grouping of African Americans. I hope that these presentations and discussions will heighten our knowledge and understanding of these issues, and that they wil1 prompt our members to increase their active participation in helping loca1, state, and federal governments to establish and to effectively and fairly enforce these priorities in various areas, including immigration reform, racial profiling, and protection of First Amendment and all other rights guaranteed to all American citizens under our nation’s Constitution.

ASBS was founded as the Association of Social Science Teachers in 1935 when Dr. Theophilus McKinney, Sr., then Dean of Johnson C. Smith University, Charlotte, North Carolina, invited and conferred with 52 attendants about how they might improve substantially the social science courses at their Negro colleges and universities.

Many of these professors faced many professional obstacles, most of which might broadly be attributed to the prevailing racial segregation and discrimination of the day. The efforts of those initial conferees and later ASBS members helped in drastically improving, over time, course offerings in the social sciences at the historically black institutions. ASBS members who are employed at predominantly white institutions, also have contributed in various ways by including historical, social, economic, psychological, and other data about African Americans within their courses. This, I think it is a notable accomplishment.

Dr. W. E. B. DuBois was one of ASBS’ early members, whose memory we honor in our annual DuBois Award. We are extremely privileged this year that Henry Frye, J.D., a former member of the North Carolina State Supreme Court, and now a member of North Carolina Agricultural and Technical University’s faculty, is our 2002 recipient of this award. I think that Dr. DuBois would have characterized Attorney Frye as a member of the "talented tenth," who clearly recognized his racial obligations and effectively fulfilled them.

As the 2001-2002 ASBS President, I clearly recognize that, "No man is an island unto himself." Thus, I acknowledge and applaud the contributions to this conference of Dr. McKinley Alexander, Jr., President-Elect and Program Chairman; Dr. Alton Thompson and Dr. Donald McDowell, Co-chairmen of the Local Arrangements Committee; and Dr. Mary B. Myles, Executive Secretary. I would also like

to give special thanks to Mrs. Marilyn Brewington, without their hard work, dedication, and commitment, this conference would not have materialized.

Finally, I am deeply grateful and profoundly thankful to all of the ASBS members for giving me the privilege of serving as your 2001-2002 President. I hope that I have helped to promote our organizational goals. I hope to participate in your provocative and meaningful discussions in the years ahead as we continue to try to critically impact the social, political, economic, and moral priorities of the United States and her various local and state jurisdictions, including the forthcoming 2002 local, state, and federal elections.

Alton R. Kirk, Ph.D.

ASBS President, 2001-2002

Associated Psychological Service Center