Growing up in Hampton, the face of science was brown like mine.
Interpretation
Margot Lee Shetterly reflects on her experience of seeing diverse representation in the field of science during her upbringing.
In this quote, Margot Lee Shetterly emphasizes the importance of representation in the sciences, particularly for people of color. Growing up in Hampton, she was surrounded by scientists who looked like her, which played a crucial role in shaping her identity and encouraging her aspirations in a field where diversity has often been lacking. This statement affirms that seeing oneself represented can inspire individuals to pursue careers in fields they may have thought were inaccessible to them.
In practice
In a speech addressing young students, this quote can inspire them to pursue careers in STEM fields.
A lot of times, we talk about black people as if being black is all they are. They get up, go to work... and are as complex and interesting and variable as any other group of people. We don't often capture that or write about it.
I feel like, in a lot of ways, 'Hidden Figures' is the book that I wrote and have been waiting to read since I learned to read.
For too long, history has imposed a binary condition on its black citizens: either nameless or renowned, menial or exceptional, passive recipients of the forces of history or superheroes who acquire mythic status not just because of their deeds but because of their scarcity.
Science is the captain, and practice the soldiers.
The human race may be the only intelligent beings in the galaxy.
I'm in favor of changing the destination of humans. There are a lot of manned missions that can be done, but not in the direction of the moon.
Statistical science is indispensable to modern statesmanship. In legislation as in physical science it is beginning to be understood that we can control terrestrial forces only by obeying their laws. The legislator must formulate in his statutes not only the national will, but also those great laws of social life revealed by statistics.
Although the theory of relativity makes the greatest of demands on the ability for abstract thought, still it fulfills the traditional requirements of science insofar as it permits a division of the world into subject and object (observer and observed) and, hence, a clear formulation of the law of causality.
The greatest service which can be rendered any country is to add a useful plant to its culture. --The Fruit Hunters
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