Dr. Williams is regarded as a pioneer in the study of African American Psychology.
Education - Ph.D. 1961
Dr. Williams received a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Washington University in 1961
Co-Founder National Association of Black Psychologists - 1968
He co-founded the National Association of Black Psychologists in 1968, later serving as its second president.
Co-Founder of the Washington University Black Studies Program - 1969
In 1969 Dr. Williams co-founded the Washington University Black Studies program and became the first full-time director in 1970. It is now the Department of African and African-American Studies.
BITCH Test (1972)
His 1972 Black Intelligence Test of Cultural Homogeneity (BITCH) challenged racial bias in standardized testing, illustrating that the IQ’s of minority children were being misevaluated by the use of standard intelligence tests which did not represent their culture and environment.
Coined the Term “Ebonics ” (1973)
Dr. Williams coined the term “Ebonics” in 1973, combining the words “ebony” and “phonics.” He edited the collection, “Ebonics: The True Language of Black Folks” (1975), which refuted the assumption that Ebonics was slang or deficient English.
U.S. Congressional Testimony on Ebonics, January 23, 1997
Dr. Williams testified before the U.S. Senate, Subcommittee On Labor, Health And Human Services, And Education, And Related Agencies, Committee On Appropriations. “There [had] been considerable controversy and concern, as to whether ebonics is a separate language, and as such undesirable or whether it is a teaching skill and a bridge for some to perfect and learn language skills.”
Conference – Tribute to Dr. Williams, “Foundations of Diversity at Washington University and Throughout Academia” (September 12, 2014)
Washington University honored the legacy of Dr. Williams in 2014 by hosting a conference which paid tribute to his impact on science, education, society, and the pursuit of justice and equality.
Legacy Award (2017)
In 2017, he received the Legacy Award at Washington University’s 2 nd Annual Trailblazers ceremony, in recognition of his contributions as a trailblazer on campus, in St. Louis, and throughout the nation as one of the leading African American psychologists of all time.
Interview (38 min) with Gerald Early, the Merle Kling Professor of Modern Letters (2019)
In early 2019 Dr. Gerald Early, sat down to interview the unit's founding director, Dr. Robert L. Williams, to mark the 50th anniversary of Black Studies at Washington University in St. Louis. This would be Dr. William’s final interview before his passing in August 2020.
Portrait Commissioned (2020)
The Department of African & African American Studies, with the support of the School of Arts & Sciences, commissioned Professor Jamie Adams (Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts) to paint a posthumous portrait of Dr. Williams. The portrait was unveiled in a ceremony in Holmes Lounge on May 15, 2022.