Scientists: Most Influential People in America?

Time Magazine’s TIME 100 People Who Shape Our World features 5 categories of the most influential people in the world: Artists & Entertainers, Leaders & Revolutionaries, Heroes & Pioneers, Scientists & Thinkers, and Builders & Titans. Ebony Magazine ran a parallel article Ebony’s Power 150 Most Influential Blacks in America. The categories of most influential blacks in America included Politicians, Arts & Entertainment, Public Service, Education, New Power Generation (Hip-Hop Generation emerging leaders), and Organization leaders.

An interesting contrast exists between these lists. 1) Time magazine includes a category for scientists and the Ebony magazine doesn’t have one at all. 2) The Time list for Scientists includes 19 influential scientists (Al Gore is the other candidate. He’s a scientifically literate politician). Ebony magazine only lists 1 scientist (and no engineers). Interesting, both lists name the same person, Dr. Neil DeGrasse Tyson, Physicist. He must be damn influential (and articulate). Plus, the Time list actually names 2 black scientists; the other candidate is Dr. Monty Jones of Sierra Leone, West Africa.

Does this mean that the African-American community values science and technology as a less important part of our life compared to larger society? Or are we so easily seduced by popularity? Why can’t Black Media outlets communicate the role, benefits, and importance of science, technology and engineering advances? Why can’t Black media showcase talented and influential black scientists and engineers?

Kudos to TIME Magazine for noting the importance of scientists and thinkers. Black Media companies, take a page. Science is the driving force of all modern life and Black Americans are apart of this story.

Aren’t the contributions of African-Americans as scientists and engineers important for shaping America and inspiring members of our community? Aren’t these types of professionals worthy of portraying in printed word and images? The lack of coverage of Black scientists and engineers sends a message to Black America (and all of America, frankly) that being a black scientist or an engineer is an exceptional career, atypical. It would seem that being an entertainer or athlete is more valuable among Black communities,. And that is not at all true.


I would really like to see Black Media such as Ebony/Jet Magazine, Essence magazine, BET, TV One, and local black newspapers include more science and technology related stories in their line-ups. It would also be a great treat and service to showcase Black Scientists, Engineers, and Mathematicians to its readers/viewers.

Perhaps such positive stories about successful African-Americans might encourage pride in achieving academic success. It might serve as a beacon that Black people “can do math and science”. It might even inspire some students to excel in math and science at such a rate that education achievement gaps close. The lack of coverage of Black scientists and engineers, in media outlets and in your magazine in particular, sends a message to Black America that being a scientist or an engineer is an unimportant job and being one means that you are less valuable to society than say -- an entertainer. And nothing can be further from the truth. Science is the driving force of all modern life and Black Americans are apart of this story. We can’t possibly hope to have more black scientists and engineers if the public is largely unaware of the existence of black scientists and engineers.

I would really like to see Ebony Magazine include more science and technology related stories in its line-up. It would also be a great treat and service to showcase Black Scientists, Engineers, and Mathematicians to your readers. Perhaps such positive stories about successful African-Americans might encourage more of our community to take pride in their academic success and close some of the education achievement gaps that exist.

In short, one way to increase the number of black students in the pipeline is to inform the public that black scientists and engineers do exists. And that they, too, can pursue such careers.