#BlackinMathWeek #BlackinMathRollCall is upon us and I have an important PSA:

I AM A BLACK GIRL WHO LOVES MATH.

My name is Anna Gifty, I graduated with a B.A. in Math @UMBC, and I love math especially Real Analysis and Calculus 2. Math is for EVERYBODY. A thread/

As a Black girl who loves math, I have received two kinds of reception: 1) people supporting me and being willing to answer my MANY many questions...and 2) people dismissed my ability with a tinge of racism and sexism.

Unfortunately (2) is too common of an occurrence.

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There is this misconception that math and using numbers to tell stories about our world is reserved for [old] white guys who are geniuses at birth. I don't know where this prevailing opinion came from, but it's a lie.

Black people can and DO math. Let's get into it.

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There is evidence that African ethnic groups knew math and African-Americans specifically made huge strides in math. Case in point, Katherine Johnson and Dorothy Vaughn... not mention Dr. Sadie T.M. Alexander.

Black people have KNOWN math for CENTURIES. Don't be fooled.

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Let me do you one better, there is actually evidence that Black people INVENTED foundational concepts in math such as geometry.

I know some of y'all like to forget the fact that certain ancient groups, e.g. Egyptian, were Black. Don't let that revisionist history get you.

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Bringing it back to the present, here is why I love Black people who math. Almost always, Black people who math do it for the betterment of humanity. From Katherine Johnson to Dorothy Vaughn to Benjamin Banneker, Black people who math SHIFT OUR WORLD for the better.

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So you might be wondering, where are the Black people who math today? Even though the trend shows a steady decline, we're still here. And we have entered other fields like @BlkInEngineerng @BlkInData @BlkInComputing.

We are everywhere because math is a universal language.

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I'll end this thread by shouting out educators who fostered my love for math @UMBC @glenelgcountry:

Mr. Vasold: Algebra I and Pre Calc (H)
Dr. Nanes: Calc I & III, Linear Algebra
Ms. Tighe: Calc II
Mr. Cicollella: Algebra II

Thank you for seeing this Black Girl's Mathgic.

8/8

Completely forgot that the wonderful cartoon of me in my kente suit jacket is from none other than @Blackmudpuppy and our banner is by @lexijrobinson!

He's amazing. Make sure to follow #BlackinMathWeek all this week and @BlackInMath!!

Y'all I forgot my favorite math educator to date in the list: DR. GOWDA from @UMBC. He taught me and a bunch of my friends Real Analysis I and never came to class with notes. He is an exceptional educator.

Fun fact: He was a pupil of Rudin, father of real analysis.

10/8

#throwback to when I broke down the importance of celebrating and encouraging Black girls who math: https://twitter.com/itsafronomics/status/1293511795219607552?s=20

IT'S #NationalSTEMDay!!!!!