The number of students of color in STEM fields has been surprisingly low for a quite a while now. According to recent federal data, only 7 percent of people who earn STEM degrees are Black. This number didn’t change much from 2008 to 2018, but it did rise by 5 percent for Hispanic college graduates. In the workforce, the amount of Black people working in STEM fields is even lower than those who earn STEM degrees.
John Urschel is a Black former professional football player (Baltimore Ravens) and the author of Mind and Matter: A Life in Math and Football. Urschel is determined to get more students of color interested in STEM fields, especially math. In an interview, Urschel reflected on the time his 1st grade teacher wanted to hold him back a grade because she saw him as a typical minority student. After his mom insisted on testing him, his scores were well above his peers. Urschel went on to talk about how he still sees similar biased assumptions regarding race and skin color still happening in recent days.
One question that was asked to Urschel during the same interview was “How can educators help kids learn to embrace hard work in areas like STEM?” Urschel responded by saying the biggest thing for educators to focus on is making a slight shift in focus on what the goal is and what is important. He also says that getting the right answer isn’t always the most important thing, but rather to learn something from the experience. Urschel concluded the interview by suggesting that “educators should make sure that parents have proper access to educational materials that show them what their child is learning, what they’re covering, and how these things work.”
John Urschel has dedicated his time to helping younger generations gain interest in STEM fields. His efforts to help others can make a positive impact on many lives and help more students become engaged with STEM and its various fields. In conclusion, increasing diversity in STEM has always been a challenge. Fortunately, with role models like John, more students can gain interest and start joining STEM related fields.
Written by: Abishek Kanthan
Date: May 1, 2022
Sources:
Article – Bushweller, K. (2021, June 29). How to get more students of color into STEM: Tackle bias, expand resources. Education Week. Retrieved May 5, 2022, from https://www.edweek.org/technology/how-to-get-more-students-of-color-into-stem-tackle-bias-expand-resources/2021/03
