Article archive / February 1, 2013
Originally published: . Volume 4, No. 6. Source pages: 10, 11.
Dr. Ivory Lee Toldson died suddenly on December 25, 2012, in Baton Rouge. He was 69.
Throughout a rich and diverse career, Dr. Ivory Toldson illuminated the paths of African-American men and women with his wisdom and humanity. As educator, clinician, philosopher, friend and colleague, he offered his insights with a deep understanding and a poetic style that honored differences. He shared his creative gifts with those he taught, expressed compassion for those who suffered, and nurtured the ideals of character and discipline for those he treated.
His understanding of the journey in this country of African-American men and women was profound, and this depth and respectful knowledge inspired his writings, teachings, and his psychological and clinical services.
Among his many professional duties, Ivory was Chair of the Behavioral Studies Department at Southern University in Baton Rouge, where he later became Dean of the College of Education.
“He was my colleague,” said Dr. Kenneth O’Rourke, Interim Chair of the Behavioral Studies Department, “but … he was my friend.” And he said, “If I had to sum it up, he was quite a person, quite a human being.” He knew Ivory for over three decades.
Dr. ValaRay Irvin, licensed psychologist, current Director of the University Counseling Center at Southern University, and adjunct professor for the Psychology Department, was both Ivory’s student at one time and later became his colleague. “He was wonderful at understanding emotionalism and spirituality and rhythm, and how people relate to that,” she said, describing Ivory’s exceptional talent in language and expressionism. “I can’t even count how many people he taught and affected.”
Dr. Harry Albert, who also served as Chair in Behavioral Studies and was friend and colleague for 36 years. “I can picture him as a concerned, serious minded, adventurous black male,” Dr. Albert said. “If you met him initially, you would have thought him shy, reserved. He said little that was wasted, but he always had a punch- line.”
Dr. Ivory L. Toldson earned his bachelor’s degree from Southern University and A&M College in Education in 1966 and began teaching in Indianapolis, Indiana that same year. He went on to earn a Master’s in Educational Psychology from Butler University in 1968 and Doctorate of Education in Counseling Psychology from Ball State University, Indiana. He taught as assistant professor of counseling psychology at Temple University.
In 1975 Dr. Toldson accepted an associate professor position at Southern University in Baton Rouge. He remained at Southern for the next 36 years, as full professor, as Chair of the Behavioral Studies Department from 1975 to 1988, and as Dean of the College of Education from 2000 to 2005.
He was a licensed psychologist in both Louisiana and Pennsylvania, and provided expert testimony in forensic and medical cases. He was also certified in school psychology, and held a secondary teaching certificate.
Roots of Soul
In 1982, Dr. Toldson coauthored with Dr. Alfred B. Pasteur of City U. of New York, the the pioneering work, Roots of Soul: The Psychology of Black Expressiveness, published by Doubleday.
In Roots of Soul, Toldson and Pasteur introduced an original theory of African-American expressiveness, and looking at emotionalism, spontaneity, and rhythm. They examined how these characteristics run through the fabric of Black culture, and presented a holistic view of the connections between music, dance, poetry, drama, oratory, folklore, and how these expressions in the AA community have influenced the world’s culture.
The work was “An Unprecedented and Intensive Examination of Black Folk Expressions in the Enrichment of Life,” and affirmed the Black culture with chapters such as, “On Havin Been to the Mountaintop,” “Do Blacks Have a Natural Rhythm?” and “Do You Have Your Head On Straight?” as a description of the healthy personality and Black expressiveness. “Rock Steady Baby,” examined expressive movement and, like the entire text, explained and celebrated differences.
Dr. Toldson coauthored Roots of Soul, an unprecedented look at African-American expression and meaning.
The authors wrote, “Our primary purpose is to present new explanations regarding the nature and characteristics of black expressiveness. We define ‘black expressiveness’ as the readiness and predisposition to express oneself in a manner characterized by vital emotionalism, spontaneity, and rhythm. Often these traits act in combination with one or more other essential characteristics close to naturalistic attitudes, style, creativity with the spoken word, and relaxed physical movement. These interact to produce human behavior that, when expressed or perceived registers images, sounds, aromas, and feelings of beauty to the sense. It is the intensity, duration, frequency, and utilitarian features of the behavior, resembling those of traditional African people, which make it unique.”
“He was a very prolific writer, it was very interesting working with him,” said Dr. Albert. “Roots of Soul was a very good book because it deals with black expressiveness. When we deal with different cultures we can’t mold them in to one another,” and this book helps us to see that, he explained.
Part III of Roots of Soul focused on “Express Your Way to Good Health and Happiness Guides for Positive Living and Learning,” and it was these type of ideas about emotionalism, rhythm, and spirituality that Toldson brought to his techniques.
“He was very immersed in using methods from the black culture,” said Dr. Irvin. “He simply brought in all sorts of methods, he was wonderful at that.”
Ivory’s applications merged with his enjoyment and involvement in music. “He had a collection of music that many people would envy, from the classics to rhythm and blues,” said Dr. O’Rourke.
Dr. Toldson’s biography is published in the book, Successful African-American Males: Teachers Make a Difference, published by Educational Resources Press in 1998. Served as contributing editor to the publication Community of Caring (a teenage pregnancy curriculum), authored by Eunice Kennedy Shriver and published by the Joseph P. Kennedy Foundation
During his career he also authored two book chapters, over twenty articles published in scholarly journals, numerous papers, seminars, and symposia at professional societies. He traveled extensively on, including on behalf of the Rockefeller Foundation. He was awarded the International Counseling Award and the Research Award by the Association for Multicultural Counseling and Development, among others.
Dr. Irvin explained that her training in cognitive behavioral therapy was important, but her training and connection with Dr. Toldson allowed her to integrate evidenced-based methods with these multicultural techniques. “It helps,” she said. “The connection is better, and respectful.”
It was when Dr. Irvin was at the Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women, in her master’s program studies that she was introduced to Toldson’s methods. “It was then that I worked with ‘spoken words,’ visualizing with women in prison. She had learned from Dr. Toldson the ways to “Give voice to the feeling,” she said. “Ivory talked about it as –poetry, spoken words, and journaling.”
The Center
Dr. Toldson designed and developed a comprehensive center with outpatient and residential treatment services, in Baton Rouge called the Center for Psychological Health Care, Inc. He based the Center on a commitment to capitalize on the richness of human differences.
Guided by Ivory’s principles, the Center’s residential treatment program, “Manhood Training Village,” is a multiple modality approach, providing a “structured, value-based, rule-governed, safe environment …” for young males. The residential services include individual, group, and family therapy, and the program staff “comprise a surrogate parental system …” with rewards, consequences, and a “regimented system of adaptive values inculcation aimed at developing character for successful manhood.”
“Values clarification, empathy, anger man- agement, school adaptation, sex education/ awareness, age-relevant hygiene and grooming, conflict resolution with emphasis on alternative to violence, character education.” And the approach includes involving in “Tutored library study, visits to museums, planetarium, historical sites and monuments.” These were just some of the approaches Toldson used.
Dr. ValaRay Irvin talking with Dr. Toldson at a state psychological convention.
Dr. Toldson’s therapeutic book for and about children.
Dr. Murelle Harrison, Professor and Chair of Psychology at Southern University in Baton Rouge, told the Times, “What a worthy contribution to the Baton Rouge metropolitan area Dr. Ivory Toldson made both as an educator who trained students from Southern University as well as supervised them to become professionals.”
“Our Department, as well as my home, continuously receive calls for information about an African American psychologist and Dr. Ivory Toldson was our only referral. Despite being our only resource, we were confident that he was capable and culturally sensitive to provide the most appropriate services available.”
Stolen Innocence
Along with Roots of Soul, Dr. Toldson authored Stolen Innocence: Preventing, Healing, and Recovering from Child Molestation, a work providing help for children who have been sexually victimized and a text to “raise the awareness of children to prevent sexual abuse victimization.”
It is a story of “Kiki,” a story that helps answer questions in the minds of children and informs caregivers about the many symptoms a child may exhibit. The work also provides understanding about the “tragedy of life that befalls some children and their heroic pathways to healing…”
Ivory wrote, “Many questions arise in the minds of young people who are hurting. More questions arise when there has been the discussion about taking child victims to a professional to get help. This book helps to define what a therapist is and what he or she does. It untangles, with humor and agony, what happens in the therapy room. Hearing what your child has to say bout relationships and events that occur in the story certainly can be useful because it helps you communicate with your child about thoughts and feelings the story might arouse.”
Dr. ValaRay Irvin told the Times, “I do a lot of work with women from abusive backgrounds. After our time together, when I felt she was ready to develop a healthy relationship with a male, I would refer her to Dr. Toldson. He did a wonderful role for women to bridge that gap, for women to find trust. His book was having to do with childhood abuse. He did wonderful work.”
“If there was a lesson that I learned early on from him it was that emotion deserved expressing,” said Irvin. “I think that’s really what he did in his book, Stolen Innocence, for young people who come from an abusive background.”
Along with all its other services, Dr. Toldson’s Center addressed treatment for the adolescent sex offender, based in taking personal responsibility and honesty. “The issue is to help the offender come to terms with his behavior, to look at and own responsibility for the worst in himself. It cannot be done without extensive, ongoing confrontation,” wrote Toldson. “We believe that victims are never, under any circumstances, responsible for their victimization.”
Dr. Ivory Lee Toldson brought his compassion, creativity, and humanity to his roles of teacher, clinician, administrator, author, and friend. He embraced some of the most profound issues of our times, gracefully sharing his wisdom, insight, and strength of character, to teach and to heal. He will be deeply missed.
Dr. Ivory Lee Toldson is survived by his wife Frances Muse Toldson; daughters, Nicholy Johnson and Kilah Toldson; sons, James (Linda) Haynes, Dr. Ivory Achebe (Marshella) Toldson, and Ivan Toldson. He is preceded in death by daughter Angela Adjoa Toldson.
(The Times wishes to thank Ms. Toldson for her assistance with this article.)
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