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Growing up, I was often the subject of the stereotype that Asians are good at math. But I would look around me, and hardly anyone looked like me, and none of my teachers were Asian. I didn't have an Asian teacher until college. And even today, as an instructor, sometimes I look around my classroom at my students and around my campus at the others walking around and think to myself, "None of these people look like me." And it never dawned on me why that is until recently when someone told me that Asians are underrepresented among two-year college professors, particularly among two-year college mathematics instructors. My entire career, I've had this doubt that I didn't belong as a two-year college math instructor because I didn't see many others like me when that was never the case that I didn’t belong.

Now that you've heard my story, think about all of your students over the years, particularly the black students during this Black History Month, who likely felt the same way I felt most of my life. If we don't make black students feel more welcome and noticed in our classrooms, then it's likely that they are going to feel as if they don't belong at all. And I don't mean just in the role of a two-year college math instructor or a STEM field, but they might easily take our ignorance of acknowledging their culture to feel as if they don't belong in college. This is why I genuinely believe it is important to celebrate Black History Month, even in a math class. It's important because it helps our students feel more welcome, noticed, and represented in our classrooms and more likely to continue in college.

So, to that end, I'd like to share some resources that I hope you'll take the time to look at and share with your students. 

AMATYC Diversity Dialogues — Our very own AMATYC Diversity Dialogues series features many great stories of black mathematicians: Katherine Johnson, Mathematician and Spaceflight Analyst; Lonnie Johnson, NASA Engineer, and Toy Inventor; David Harold Blackwell, First African American Member of the National Academy of Science; Sadie Bragg, Woman in Mathematical History and former AMATYC President.

Mathematically Gifted and Black — In December 2016, Erica Graham, Raegan Higgins, Shelby Wilson, and Candice Price had a conference call discussing the creation of a website that would highlight the contributions and lives of Black mathematicians. Inspired by the work of Lathisms and emboldened by the film Hidden Figures, they created the website "Mathematically Gifted and Black." The name not only pays homage to the song so well known and loved within the Black community but is itself a tribute to those whose story may never have been told. Mathematically Gifted & Black honors a different Black Mathematician every day each February.

MΣΣT a Mathematician! — MΣΣT a Mathematician! is a collection of video interviews with mathematicians. The mission of MΣΣT a Mathematician is to share stories of mathematicians from different backgrounds, especially from historically excluded groups, with the aim of introducing students to role models and fostering a sense of community. If you're a teacher, use these videos with your students and share them on Social Media. But watch the videos for yourself so you can see how mathematicians like Candice Price got to where they're at so that you can better motivate your own students in the classroom.

TODOS Podcast Season 2, Episode 9 — In Season 2, Episode 9: Advocate for Black Women in STEM with Nicole Joseph of the TODOS Podcast, we are introduced to Dr. Nicole Joseph. Dr. Nicole M. Joseph is an assistant professor of mathematics and science education in the department of Teaching and Learning at Vanderbilt University. She is also the founder of the Tennessee March for Black Women in STEM, an event held every fall which seeks to bring together the Tennessee community to raise awareness of the gendered racism, Black women and girls experience in STEM. She spoke with host Maria Zavala in December 2020 on the topics of advocacy, her new research lab, and her new book project.

As you acknowledge Black History Month this year, I hope you take the time to share with your students.