Journeys of Black Mathematicians: Forging Resilience

Synopsis

Severely underrepresented in mathematics, African Americans have played important roles as researchers and educators in the field. Journeys of Black Mathematicians: Forging Resilience, the first of two documentary films, traces the history of the individuals who worked as pioneers in expanding the presence of African Americans in mathematics. In addition to the rich histories to be covered and compelling stories of contemporary Black American mathematicians, Forging Resilience showcases innovative educational programs in math for African American students at every level from grade school through undergraduate and postdocs, portraying their experiences, struggles and accomplishments. The historical characters and their stories will be interwoven to support themes identified in the lives and experiences of the students and aspiring mathematicians we plan to follow in various institutional settings as they explore the field and possibilities for future careers in mathematics.