Seeing more black women in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) careers would be great; with the hiring of women of color low in these jobs, it's refreshing to know that black women and girls are finding their way into these fields!
Black women and women of color are valuable because they bring inspiration for little ones who think "science" means being a white male like Albert Einstein or Stephen Hawking. The media shows only those men as representative scientists/ Mathematicians throughout history.
This subject has been challenging to talk about; after reading several articles and finding references to back up this subject. Is there a place for black women in these areas? Where are we in Computer and Information, Research Scientist and biomedical engineering?
These industries are one-sided, and the tech industry is dominated by white men, with black women making up only 3% of stem jobs. When black women are repositioned, we are promoted less than their counterparts.
There's a need to push businesses like STEMBoard, which is a multi- million dollar company founded by Aisha Bowe. This company is minority owned and used to solve complex issues for US government and private sectors she has created a space for people of all backgrounds to show their gifts. Aisha Bowe a former NASA rocket scientist.
Aisha was an aerospace engineer who started her degree in a community college; Aisha's mission is to help youth break stereotypes and stop internalizing false narratives about their capabilities. She wants the youth to be aware and believe in themselves enough to pursue STEM careers She is showing minority youths what doors open in these careers. These opportunities lead to outstanding life accomplishments and groundbreaking areas where very few Black and Brown women are introduced.
As black women are the most educated women they earn less and are less likely to be consider for high-paying tech jobs. You would think black women would quickly break into stem jobs. We all see the world is changing rapidly, with digital currency, NFTs and Metaverse vastly ushering in new technological fields. Are we training our girls to look only in places where we think they fit better? Honestly, we don't know what area we can hold and not blow it out of the water if giving the chance, but if we expand our knowledge in those hidden fields, the door will open for our younger girls and young women to look beyond what they are told they can do.
Black women are faced with very unfair advantages in the stem industry. Organizations like Black Girl Code understand the disparities with black and brown women in stem and actively build the relationships between our young girls and stem. All young people need to be prepared to become educators, researchers, and innovators the world is looking for and being the leaders in this career path because the lane is open for us to be a part of.
Diversity is essential in this field; people of all backgrounds need a quick seat at this table.
Black people have always been leaders in the innovator realm—women like Dr. Shirley Jackson, an African American physicist, the first black woman to earn her doctorate in nuclear physics. Her theory paved the way for caller Id, call waiting, and the fiber optic cable.
The real women behind the 2016 movie Hidden Figures showed gifted Black women fighting to be a part of innovation at NASA in the '50s when being black was challenging.
Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson were Mathematicians, scientist and engineers changing the world. Sadly, not many people knew that these women paved the way for us because they were left out of textbooks.
Women of color like these fight against all odds to find their place in an area where no one wants them. It's 2022, and we still fight for that space to be noticed for our gifts. Black Girls Code and STEMBoard takes the first steps in bringing our young girls into tech across the nation. The future is very bright for our girls to kill in the field. It's not an easy task; I've heard the stories about how counterparts judge women of color as if they know nothing, using stereotypes And underlining racist views of black women. Not thinking if they have gotten this far, they have what it takes. It always takes that black woman to put her big girl panties on and give them a run for their money.
Black women are magical, resilient, bright as the sun in the sky. Our girls will be replacing those who said they could not be a part of the STEM careers in the years to come.
Until Next Time ! Stay Blessed Less Stressed
