Who is Roderick Jeffrey Watts? Discovering the Life of Isabel Wilkerson’s Husband

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Roderick Jeffrey Watts is a name that many people may not know, but his work in psychology and social justice has helped thousands of people. Many people know Isabel Wilkerson as the famous writer who won the Pulitzer Prize. But not everyone knows about Roderick Jeffrey Watts, the man she was married to in 1989. While Watts may not be as famous as his former wife, he has made important contributions to psychology and helping communities fight against unfair treatment. This article will help you learn about who Roderick Jeffrey Watts is, what he does, and why his work matters.

Table of Contents

Quick Bio Table

Category	Details
Full Name	Roderick Jeffrey Watts
Profession	Psychologist, Professor, Social Justice Advocate
Field of Work	Clinical Community Psychology
Education	Ph.D. in Clinical Community Psychology from University of Maryland; Bachelor’s degree from Oberlin College
Known For	Research on social justice, African American psychology, youth empowerment
Notable Work	Co-editor of “Human Diversity: Perspectives”
Universities	City University of New York (CUNY), DePaul University, Yale University, Stellenbosch University
Marital Status	Previously married to Isabel Wilkerson (1989)
Father	Robert K. Watts (Health Planner for New York State)
Mother	Eva Lacy Watts (Office Manager at Black Dimensions)

Growing Up With Social Justice

Roderick Jeffrey Watts grew up in a family that cared deeply about helping others and making society better. His mother worked as an office manager at Black Dimensions, which was an organization focused on helping African American communities. His father worked as the main health planner for New York State, dealing with important health issues.

Growing up with parents who talked about social problems at the dinner table helped shape Watts’ future. He learned early on that society’s systems can affect people’s mental health and well-being. These family influences pushed him toward studying psychology and helping communities.

Education and Early Learning

Watts attended Oberlin College for his undergraduate studies, where he developed a strong interest in understanding human behavior. He then went on to earn his master’s and Ph.D. degrees in Clinical-Community Psychology from the University of Maryland.

Clinical-Community Psychology is different from regular psychology. Instead of only looking at one person’s problems, it looks at how neighborhoods, communities, and society affect people’s mental health. This field was perfect for Watts because he wanted to understand how unfair systems hurt people and how to fix these problems.

Teaching Career and Universities

Throughout his career, Roderick Jeffrey Watts has taught at several well-known universities. He has been a professor at:

City University of New York (CUNY) Graduate Center – where he taught courses on African American psychology and personality psychology
DePaul University – where he worked as an assistant professor early in his career
Yale University School of Medicine – where he contributed to research and teaching
Stellenbosch University in South Africa – where he was a visiting professor

In his classes, Watts teaches students about how race, culture, and social systems affect the way people think and feel. He challenges his students to think deeply about fairness and to use psychology to help create a better world.

Important Work and Research

One of Watts’ most important contributions is co-editing the book “Human Diversity: Perspectives.” This book explores how culture, race, and social factors shape human behavior and personality. It has become an important resource for students and professionals who want to understand diversity better.

His research focuses on several key areas:

Youth Activism – How young people can become leaders and create change in their communities
African American Identity – How Black Americans develop their sense of self in a society with racism
Liberation Psychology – Using psychology to help oppressed groups break free from unfair systems
Community Organizing – How neighborhoods can work together to solve problems

Watts believes that psychologists should not just study people from a distance. Instead, they should work directly with communities to understand their struggles and help them find solutions.

Working With Young People

Beyond teaching in universities, Roderick Watts has spent years working with young people, especially African American youth. He has helped create programs that teach teenagers how to become leaders and stand up against unfair treatment.

These programs focus on giving young people the confidence and skills they need to make changes in their neighborhoods. Watts believes that when young people understand how systems work, they can become powerful forces for positive change.

His community work shows that psychology can be more than just therapy sessions. It can be a tool for building stronger, healthier communities where everyone has a fair chance.

Marriage to Isabel Wilkerson

In November 1989, Roderick Jeffrey Watts married Isabel Wilkerson at Oxon Hill Manor in Maryland. At that time, Isabel was working as a national correspondent for The New York Times, and Watts was an assistant professor at DePaul University.

Isabel Wilkerson went on to become the first African American woman to win the Pulitzer Prize in journalism in 1994. She later wrote famous books like “The Warmth of Other Suns” and “Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents.”

Both Watts and Wilkerson shared a deep commitment to understanding and fighting against racial inequality. Their marriage brought together two people who used different methods – journalism and psychology – to address the same social problems.

However, their marriage did not last forever. Wilkerson later married Brett Kelly Hamilton in 2009.

Philosophy and Beliefs

At the heart of Watts’ work is a simple but powerful idea: you cannot separate mental health from social justice. He believes that when people face racism, poverty, or other unfair treatment, it affects their psychological well-being.

Instead of just helping individuals cope with these problems, Watts thinks psychologists should also work to change the unfair systems that create stress and suffering in the first place.

He uses his research and teaching to show how strong community support, fair systems, and personal empowerment can improve mental health. His approach is both practical and driven by a desire for social change.

Legacy and Continuing Impact

Roderick Jeffrey Watts has already made a lasting difference through his research, teaching, and community programs. His work has influenced countless students who have gone on to become psychologists, teachers, and activists themselves.

He continues to push forward new initiatives aimed at breaking down barriers to mental health care and promoting fairness in society. His legacy is built on combining serious academic research with caring and compassionate advocacy for people who face unfair treatment.

Conclusion

Roderick Jeffrey Watts may not be a household name, but his contributions to psychology and social justice are significant and lasting. Through his teaching, research, and community work, he has shown how psychology can be a powerful tool for creating positive change in society.

His story reminds us that important work does not always come with fame. Sometimes the people making the biggest difference are quietly working behind the scenes, helping communities become stronger and healthier. Roderick Jeffrey Watts is one of those people, and his legacy will continue to inspire others for years to come.