While completing his master’s degree in zoology at the University
of Maryland College Park in 1984, Dr. David Jett’s advisor and several
faculty members told him that he was not Ph.D. material.
Discouraged by their disapproval, Jett needed months, helped by the
support of a close-knit group of fellow African-American science
graduates, to regain his confidence. In 1992, Jett received his Ph.D.
in toxicology from the University of Maryland School of Medicine and is
now a tenured assistant professor at Johns Hopkins University.
“I wanted to show them that I had the makings of a Ph.D.,” says the
38-year-old Jett, who contends that racism by his white professors
colored their view of his Ph.D. potential.
Jett’s persistence enabled him to join a select group of African
American scientists. Though African Americans number 12 percent of the
population, only 5.6 percent of American scientists in 1990 were Black,
according to Bureau of Census statistics provided by the National
Science Foundation. And in 1992, only 3.9 percent of all doctoral
degrees in science were granted to African Americans.
Roosevelt Calbert, director of Human Resources Development at the
National Science Foundation, attributes the dearth of Black scientists
to a variety of factors including: the inadequate science requirements
and teaching in most K-12 urban schools attended by most African
American students; the lack of financial grants and scholarships
bestowed on Black students in science; and the scarcity of mentors who
can serve as role models and show African American youngsters how to
handle the competitive aspects of science.
Moreover, Calbert attributes the lack of minority male scientists
to peer pressure in which Black students interested in science are
mocked for “not being macho.” He also observed that many African
Americans opt to become medical doctors because of the opportunity to
earn more money.
“Some problems are financial. Another has to do with mentoring. Too
many Black students don’t have proper mentoring as undergraduates. And
often parents don’t offer enough support. Parents play a major role in
a student’s life who is interested in math or science,” says Calbert.
