Dean, an electrical engineer who happens to be Black, is co-creator of the personal computer. He’s a major reason why computing entered our everyday lives.
When we talk about encouraging more Black men and women to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and math, we should talk about Mark Dean. He is among the greatest examples of African-Americans who have succeeded in STEM.
Sadly, he is also a rarity.
For every 100 American jobs in STEM fields, six are held by Blacks, the U.S. Census Bureau reports. Small wonder, given that the percentage of Blacks earning STEM degrees had fallen to 7.5 percent as of 2009, the most recent year government statistics are available. Of the more than 5,000 Ph.D.s in physics, astronomy, chemistry and physical sciences that year, only 89 were awarded to Blacks.
We shortchange ourselves as a country if we fail to remove the obstacles facing all Americans in their pursuit of STEM. We place our future at risk if we do not provide new incentives and support for such a pursuit.
Where is the national urgency to address the issue? A growing body of evidence suggests that bringing more Black men and women—as well as other underrepresented segments of the population—into STEM fields would make the U.S. more competitive.
