African American Mathematicians

"I remember that the advanced calculus course was taught by a graduate student and met at 7 A.M. every morning, and not only was I the only woman, I was the only black in the class. I sat right next to the door and I was truly isolated. I had no one to talk to in the class; even though there were two other girls in the class, they avoided me like I was some sort of plague, because if you're not a white woman, you can't associate with anybody except maybe handicapped men."

"Was my vacuum created because I was black or female or both?"

"She just explained to me that this was the way the world was, and we had to accept it, and there was nothing we can do about it, and we had to just sit there and adjust to it."

"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."

"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."

"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"

"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"