Being a Black woman so early in my career, I often feel hypervisible and invisible at the same time. Wanting to attract career opportunities, I continually put myself out there and have discovered wonderful groups such as STEMNoire and Afrotectopia that have allowed me to network with Black STEM visionaries and have supported creative paths of a resistance.
In Black feminist fashion, the team at STEMNoire has created an empowering atmosphere for Black women in math and science. The safe space that the organization continues to be houses conversations that may not be available anywhere else. Afrotectopia truly allows for Black radical imagination, as activism is seen as a design priority instead of an afterthought. Engaging with both of these groups has left me feeling more connected to professionals who are not just melanated and innovate, but innovate futures for Black people.
I had bought this shirt as soon as I saw what it said!
Sidenote: Check out my STEMNoire Tee! While we search for publishable findings, we often put value into the results of our experiments. Our value becomes attached to what we do, and not who we are. That is why when I saw a shirt saying "Sis, your p-value is < .05," I had to cop immediately. You are significant, no matter what the results.
P.S. Fractal Fête is going on right now! After engaging with the Imagineer fellows during the Imaginarium, I learned how decolonized innovation is not only possible, but taking place all over the world.
P.S.S. Dr. Malika Grayson has recently released a book called Hooded: A Black Girl’s Path to PhD! I highly recommend as someone entering graduate school under doubling isolating conditions (being the only Black woman in my PhD program and a pandemic). I met Dr. Grayson through STEMNoire wellness Wednesdays and am excited to have such a nice role model to look up to!