Written by Tarah Yared
“Since enslaved people were first brought to this country, promoters of anti-Black racism and white supremacy have co-opted the authority of science to justify racial inequality.” [1]
On January 1st 1861, the Emancipation Proclamation was signed signaling that all enslaved people in Confederate States were declared legally free. Union soldiers, many of whom were
Black, marched onto plantations and across cities in the South reading the Emancipation Proclamation spreading the news of freedom to Confederate States. However, it took a full two years after for the enslaved people of Texas to hear of their freedom, when 2,000 Union troops arrived in Galveston Bay, Texas. On this day, June 19th 1865, 250,000 enslaved people were finally freed by executive decree, and celebrated that new found freedom in what would become known as Juneteenth.
On this Juneteenth, it is important for us as scientists to learn, understand, and remember the long history of systematic scientific racism and the role we play in it to this day. It is our responsibility to listen to and raise up the voices of our fellow Black scientists. We should all take a moment to read the following article by A. Mays et al. [2] written by 52 Black scientists about the reality of the fields of STEM and their prevalent institutional racism. The article eloquently states, “Institutions should work toward creating a culture of inclusivity and support where all scientists feel valued, protected, and respected. This involves implementing diversity and inclusion initiatives, providing tailored mentorship and networking opportunities, and fostering a sense of community and belonging.”[2] It is our individual responsibility to educate ourselves and pursue changing the racist institutions that we are a part of.
For the remainder of this article, I will be quoting the 52 scientists in hopes that you will understand the struggle of Black scientists as a result of the system that was never built to protect and promote them. I hope that reading these statistics and facts will make us all take up the fight for anti-racism in STEM.
“While some may find it easy to view the 150 years since Juneteenth as a long time, we should remember that Jim Crow laws lasted into the 1960s, and the individuals who helped to enact these laws might still be alive today or have exerted considerable influence over institutions governing science.” [2]
“After emancipation, many Black individuals were at an immediate economic disadvantage due to generational wealth lost from unpaid labor during slavery. Because of this initial gap and continued barriers to income attainment, the wealth gap between White and Black Americans continues to increase. This is not simply a matter of ‘‘work ethic,’’ as even when adjusting for a multitude of factors, including education, socioeconomic status, gender, and geographical regions, Black individuals have lower income achievements and life spans.” [2]
“In STEMM, it is a common view, among both mentors and trainees, that science should be above culture or race… however, race is not a biological concept but rather strictly a social construct. Nevertheless, it is applied to biological topics to promote racist ideologies.” [2]
“Juneteenth can stand as a beacon for scientists to refuse the misuse of racist ideology based on pseudoscience, and it promotes hope and freedom. However, Juneteenth should also be a day of reflection on how science has racism problems as well as the potential mechanisms to fix it.” [2]
“Given the academic barriers Black students face, they are at risk for burnout and depression, even more so than majority students, a phenomenon linked to a lack of advisors and mentors who look like their mentees or who at least display cultural humility and expertise in mentoring students outside of their own race.” [2]
“As US state legislators ban Black-written books in their states, Black scientists might easily begin to wonder if their scientific discoveries might be next. This highlights the importance of Juneteenth in reaffirming the freedom of science and discovery for all individuals in STEMM. Racism can quickly cause science to devolve into pseudoscience.” [2]
“Importantly, Black individuals need mentors who look like them and can offer support at every career level. This requires promoting Black faculty and offering them the resources they need to succeed, including mentor networking and a clear pathway to leadership. While DEI is important, it places diversity at the forefront rather than equity. Diversity is only transformative when the underlying institutions are inclusive and equitable.” [2]
“All scientists must pursue and accomplish anti-racism efforts to achieve change at the system level. Juneteenth can remind us of what we still need to change, but doing so requires action from funding bodies, institutions, and the wider community.” [2]
“Juneteenth recognizes independence, but for it to reach its full potential, including in STEMM, we must enshrine true equity and equal opportunity.” [2]
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