Are African Americans Really Underrepresented in STEM Fields, Underreported or Both?

This weekend I had the pleasure and privilege of nominating a friend who is a great scientist for an award, where if selected to receive the award, she will be honored for the strides she has made in her career and the difference she is making in her community. As we were discussing her career,I was proud of the impact that she had made in her field and how her career has turned out. She is well respected in her field and making a great contributions to it. She is also giving back to her community and encouraging minority graduate, undergraduate and K-12 students to pursue careers in her discipline by proving research, professional development and career exploration opportunities for them.

In education, you always hear how African American are underrepresented in STEM disciplines in several venues. However, when I think about my friend and reflect upon my network, I realize that half of my network are STEM professionals or have STEM backgrounds. I could just have this unique experience because I am an African American woman with a STEM background. However, I wondered if African Americans are really underrepresented in STEM fields or are our stories underreported. There are arguments for both and it could be a combination of the two that is the reality.

Yes,it is true people my network can tell the stories of being the only black person in the lab or plant. However, I hear those same stories from many of my friends that have chosen to work in corporate America that don't have STEM backgrounds. Based on the 2000 US census, African Americans represent 12.1% of the population, with most of African Americans living in the southern states and urban areas. With us representing such a small portion of the population, does that translate to us automatically a small number of the workforce in any career path we choose. I wonder if anyone has done research if the number of African Americans that pursue STEM careers is proportional to the population? If you chose to work in a rural area or the Midwest, does that increase your chances of being as some people would say "the fly in the buttermilk". Or if you live and work in a city like Atlanta, would you work in an environment where you have plenty of African American counterparts?

I can definitely say that the story of African Americans contribution to the STEM fields is underreported. The knowledge in getting better,but I remember while in school most of the African American scientists and inventors they taught us about were deceased. I wasn't until I began reading on my own that I learned that throughout the history of this nation, even before we were officially a nation African Americans were making a great contribution to the STEM fields. The contributions never stopped. But how often do you hear or a story on the news about a STEM professional and the contribution they are making to their field. I personally think it is a shame that LeBron James, Lil Wayne and other athletes and entertainers are household names, but you don't know about a Dr. Mark Dean, Dr. G. Dale Wesson, Dr. James Grainger, Dr. LaToya Myles, Dr. Jean-Marie Dimandja, Ms. Niara M. Adero, Dr. Leon Dyers Jr, Ms. Kimberly M. White, Mr. John R. Moore, III, Dr. Natasha Browner Dr. Undra Graves-Guyton and many other African American scientists,technology, engineering and mathematics professionals that are doing an exceptional job in their respective fields and some even doing work that is making our society better with groundbreaking research.

I don't know that answer to my question. However, I do know that we can't rely on mainstream media to tell our stories. So if we want the story to be told, we must tell it ourselves. So if you are a STEM professionals make sure that your story in told outside of the scientific community and your professional networks. If you know a STEM professional make sure you tell and/or listen to their story. Local media outlets are always looking for great stories to be told, especially some of the small local independent publications. You can also tell their story through social media. Also talk to people in your network about what you do, your path to get where you are and where you want to go next; especially to youth. It is my desire that every child, but especially African American children since they have been identified as underrepresented in STEM fields, realize that they are capable of pursuing STEM careers. But they will never know if the stories of people who look like them aren't told or if they never meet people who look like them in those fields. That is what "unveiling potential through exposure" is all about; given children a vision of the what is possible for them and creating an environment for them to do so.