ABOUT THE WEBSITE

       The Black Mathematician website was created to bridge the educational gap by combatting the negative fallacies and perceptions concerning both mathematics and African-Americans. Despite making up more than 13% of the population, blacks receive only 6% of bachelor's degrees, 4% of master's degrees, and 2% of PhDs in the area of STEM. Some African-Americans believe that math is impossible to master, and as a result, will give up on it. Some people also believe that African-Americans have never excelled in math and will always be too unintelligent to do so. I want to break these stereotypes and dispel these myths. I want to inspire African-Americans, especially African-American children, to become excited about math and the endless opportunities that are possible with a solid foundation in math. I want to provide a rich history of Africans in mathematics that shows that black people have excelled in the mathematical sciences since ancient times. I want to provide resources for African-Americans to gain a competitive advantage in the job market.

      Speaking from experience, I have always excelled in math since a young age. When I was four years old, my parents enrolled me in the Kumon Mathematics program. I have stuck with this program ever since, and it is a major reason why I have excelled in math up to this point, and why I intend to pursue Actuarial Science in college, a very math-intensive degree. I plan to work professionally as an actuary, which requires the use of a lot of financial math. I feel that education is the key to success and is instrumental in overcoming economic and social inequalities.

      In the History tab, you will find a comprehensive detailing of the history of mathematical advancement in ancient Africa. In the Hidden Figures tab, you will explore the black and African-American pioneers who spearheaded key advancements in mathematics. In the Careers tab, you can browse the wide range of careers that involve the use of mathematics. In the Organizations tab, you can learn more about the professional organizations that facilitate the advancement of black professionals in mathematics and STEM. In the Suggested Readings tab, you can find information on books that cultivate mathematical thinking from an early age and books that provide deeper coverage of black mathematicians.