Shirley Ann Jackson, First Black Woman PhD in Physics at MIT
In honor of Ada Lovelace Day, an international day of blogging to celebrate the achievements of women in science and technology, I have decided to highlight a group very close to my heart: Black women in physics and astronomy.
Individual Successes
Willie Hobbs Moore was the first African-American woman to earn a PhD in physics, which she received in 1972 from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. Rennsalaer Polytechnic Institute President Shirley Ann Jackson went on to become the second the following year at MIT. (More about her.) Since then, there have been just under 60. The most comprehensive list is maintained by the National Society of Black Physicists, although unfortunately the last time it was officially updated was in early 2008. Since that time, Dr. Teri Robinson has earned her degree in experimental physical chemistry at historically Black university, Jackson State. And in a few months, my name can be added to the list, too!
To learn more about the experience of Black women in physics, you can read about the first Black woman to earn a PhD in physics from University of Colorado at Boulder, which was just in 2007.
You can also read about rising stars on the NSBP Blog, Vector.
A Successful Institution
Spelman College, the historically Black women’s college in Atlanta, Georgia, graduates four degrees in physics every year. Spelman College is also the number 2 producer of Black bachelor degree holders in Science and Engineering who go on to PhDs. In fact, the top 8 universities in this list are all Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). It is clear that in 2010, HBCUs continue to play an important role in breaking down barriers for Black women and men in academia and higher education.
Final Thoughts
The numbers are outrageously low for all people of African descent in physics, but particularly for women. On average only 1 or 2 PhDs in physics or astronomy in the US per year go to Black women. By comparison, there were 653 PhDs in physics awarded in 2007 to US Citizens. 572 (87%) of went to white Americans, 36 (6%) went to Asian Americans, 13 (2%) to Black Americans (with 1 woman), and 13 (2%) to Hispanic Americans (with 1 or 2 women).
By the way, it’s actually quite hard to get numbers that are broken down along gender AND race lines. I am currently involved in pushing for a change in the accounting, but it’s been kind of an uphill battle. Getting the white the folks who control most of the data-gathering to understand that yes, Black women want to be counted, even if our anonymity has been compromised, has been surprisingly hard!
On a personal note, I’m tired. I’m tired of being the only woman in the room. I’m tired of being the only Black person in the building. I’m not ashamed to admit that I’ve called my mother in tears, telling her how tired I am of having to deal with the fall out of being the only one. From the racist comments to the ignorant comments to the loneliness, it’s not fun.
If you’re interested in learning more about what you can do to improve the situation for me, and others like me, please check out my guest post on Diversity in Science at Cosmic Variance where you’ll also find lively discussion in the comments section. And remember, when I finish my PhD this year, it’s not just a personal victory for me. It’s a proud moment for an entire community, and I’m thrilled about that!!!
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hey, congratulations for getting your phd soon! on a positive note, you are going to add to the number of black women with a physics phd, so hopefully we’re on a good way in that respect. i find it seriously troubling how few black women are in ph.d. programs, let alone in science programs.
keep up the good work. and happy ada lovelace day!
I’ve read your article and I highly disapprove of the message you’re attempting to convey. As a black male studying physics at a majority white institution I can say with 100% certainty that the divisions between black and white people in any sector are great enough. Having some person come along and attempt to further divide does not increase or ensure later prosperity. As you may already know, the work done in physics produce’s basically all of the technological advancements our society has and will see. By doing a headcount of who is doing physics you are too doing a headcount of who is producing and creating most of the useful goods in our society. The simple fact that blacks ,either man of woman, account for only 1-2% of these persons is not something you want to place on a billboard. (TRUST ME! ) Taking tally of such horrible facts will not produce any more of a positive upheaval than it will produce negative outcome. If you want to be counted good for you, but remember you speak for yourself. I wrote this response on behalf of my girlfriend who is a black lady majoring in physics. She has a hard time with the whole race thing right now as a whole ,she’s only 20, so when I see someone publish such trash statistics I understand just how much damage they’re doing.
Jeremiah, I think the message you’re drawing from this post is very different from what Chanda intended or what other people might conclude. I don’t agree with the premise that physics produces “all the technological advancements our society has and will see.” And even if that premise were true, your conclusion doesn’t logically follow.
Chanda’s statistics are real, and I don’t think ignoring them will make it any easier for anyone. I know that you disagree with that, but I think you would agree that the level of underrepresentation suggests serious problems in the system. It sounds like both you and your girlfriend have had some bad experiences along the way. I don’t know if this is part of the context for your remarks, but I’d like to hear more. At the very least it might explain why you felt so strongly about this post.
As for me, I’m really happy that Chanda is getting her Ph.D., and I think there’s lots to celebrate about that. You’re almost there, Chanda. See you at the finish line…
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