L.A. Amber - 101 Black Women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics: Leaders in Black History

Introduction

Why We Wrote This Book

Today, black women are working in every industry imaginable and doing jobs that, just a generation or two ago, we could only dream of. Education in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) careers helps to bridge the ethnic and gender gaps found in todays society.

Yet the number of women working at senior levels in STEM fields remains distressingly low. While there has been significant progress for womens representation in sciences since the 1990s, black women are among the most underrepresented groups in STEM, which means these disciplines are losing potentially talented workers who can contribute new and important perspectives.

Even though initiatives have been established to increase the roles of women and minorities in STEM-related fields, it is never enough. We would like to do our part in changing this reality, incentivizing and motivating our kids in general, and girls in particular, to consider choosing a career in science.

Children shouldnt grow up thinking that STEM learning means boring textbook reading. Instead, this book will get them excited about science through fun and motivational stories. Our main goal is to introduce STEM-related concepts and present STEM-associated careers in an inspiring and entertaining way.

We feel that any kid, teenager, or adult would benefit from this book, no matter their gender, race, or age.

About the Book

This book honors incredible and inspiring black women who pushed past the bounds of human knowledge and broke down the thought barriers of their and our time.

We have selected 101 of the most extraordinary black women across all the sciences from the 1800s to today, and fortunately there are many more left for future volumes.

We celebrate these leaders from the past through today who paved the way for future generations of black women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Spotlighting their stories is about more than just augmenting black history. Its about understanding the cultural attitudes, historical forces, and social realities that made science what it is todayand what it will be tomorrow. If just one of these women had

gotten fed up and quit, as others do, the history of science would have been poorer for it.

The achievements of these women are detailed in the pages that follow. To read their stories is to understand how important it is that the barriers facing women, minorities, and particularly black women in science be broken down as quickly and entirely as possible.

We have included within the stories STEM concepts and definitions in order to enrich understanding, but we have left other concepts for your child to discover on their own or to engage adults in conversation about. We hope this will improve discussion and quality time between parents and kids.

Hopefully these science snippets will spark curiosity and motivate children, as well as adults, to look for more information.

At the end of the book, we have included an exploration journal for children to describe their learning experience.

Why Is STEM Education Important?

Preparing todays children to become the innovators and inventors of tomorrow begins with STEM education.

With the world becoming an increasingly complex place, its important for children to understand STEM concepts. It is clear that most jobs of the future will require a basic understanding of math and science. Improving their STEM-related knowledge will prepare children to participate in the future workforce and understand how technology and the world work.

Developing critical thinking skills is an important part of growing up. Kids must learn how to evaluate information and figure out how to use it. STEM learning helps children to get better at using the technology that powers the world, which is particularly useful in preparing them for their adult lives.

This book is just the start of a lifelong learning experience. We just want to ignite the fire of curiosity. We encourage you to learn more about STEM-based education programs for children.

Did You Know...?

According to the US Department of Commerce, STEM occupations are growing at percent, while other occupations are growing at . percent. STEM degree holders have a higher income even in non-STEM careers. Employment in science occupations has grown percent since , from . million to . million, outpacing overall US job growth.

A Message to Parents and Educators

Studies have shown that the best predictor of a childs success is not intelligence (IQ), neither emotional intelligence (EQ), although they are important. The best predictor of a childs success is gritcourage and resolve; and strength of characterdrive, passion, and perseverance toward a long-term goal.

It is essential that parents and educators encourage kids to follow their interests and passions and maintain their curiosity. Take them on trips to botanical gardens, nature reserves, wildlife refuges, biospheres, museums, aquariums, zoos, libraries, and other learning centers.

Help us to encourage your kids to use the exploration journal at the end of this book, writing down their own discoveries and learning experiences. It will help them to find their passion early on in their lives.

A Message to Children and Teens

Be humble and never lose your sense of wonder in your learning experiences on your exploration journey. Even if you feel that you already know a concept, there is always a new level, a new layer of understanding.

Learning is not about acquiring knowledge and more knowledge. Learning is about seeing things from a higher perspective. From a higher peak, you can see an entirely new world; the best view comes after the hardest climb!

However, as high as you may think you have reached, there is always another peak above, and you can only reach that higher peak once you realize you are still in the valley.

Never stop learning. The world is yours to explore.

NOW GO OUT THERE AND
EXPLORE THE WORLD,
HAVE FUN, AND MAKE HISTORY!

Rebecca Lee Davis Crumpler

R ebecca Lee Davis Crumpler grew up surrounded by healing. From a young age, her days were spent helping her aunta woman who had opened her home to treat sick patients who couldnt go to the hospital. Rebecca ran to the store, helped elderly patients, and watched every procedure closely, learning all kinds of useful skills.

Rebecca wanted to heal people, just like her aunt. She knew this wouldnt be easy, but she studied hard and earned scholarships that enabled her to complete high school and attend college. At the time, it was rare for women to attend medical school. For an African American woman to attend medical school was unheard of. In spite of this, in 1864, after studying at the New England Female Medical College, Rebecca became the first female African American physician in the United States.

Rebecca knew that just as many people had needed her aunts help, many people could use her help too. So she left her home and moved to Virginia, where she felt there was the biggest need for doctors. There, Rebecca worked for the Freedmens Bureau to provide medical care to freed slaves who were denied care by white physicians.