21st-century African-American academics

4 quotes found

"My parents believed that education was the only avenue through which an African American man or woman could better them selves [sic]. Therefore, they encouraged all of their children to attend college, While we were not wealthy, by the standards around us, I always thought we were middle class. I was proud of the fact that my parents could vote in the presidential election. Not everyone could in those days."

- Gloria Conyers Hewitt

• 0 likes• African-American women mathematicians• 20th-century American mathematicians• African-American mathematicians• 21st-century African-American academics• 21st-century American academics•
"Some of my fellow graduate students did all they could to help and encourage me. They included me in most of their activities. I know this situation was not the norm for a lot of Blacks studying mathematics, but I was fortunate enough to be at the right place at the right time"

- Gloria Conyers Hewitt

• 0 likes• African-American women mathematicians• 20th-century American mathematicians• African-American mathematicians• 21st-century African-American academics• 21st-century American academics•
"In short, my life in mathematics was, and still to a great extent is, shaped by opening doors. I have always taken advantage and walked in"

- Gloria Conyers Hewitt

• 0 likes• African-American women mathematicians• 20th-century American mathematicians• African-American mathematicians• 21st-century African-American academics• 21st-century American academics•
"I remember when I took calculus in college the only book I took home over the Christmas holidays was my calculus book. I wanted to do those word problems. I worked on one problem for the whole two weeks before I solved it. It wasn’t that hard, but I just didn’t understand the process involved. When the light dawned, I was so happy! I don’t believe I ever felt so rewarded. It was a major breakthrough. I was hooked. After that, to the amazement of my fellow students, I recall sitting on campus doing calculus problems for recreation."