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"To be young, gifted and black"; a common phrase used in the Black community. It comes from a song famously sung by Ms. Nina Simone and co-written by Weldon Irvine. To me, the first few lines of the song always felt like a love song written to those of us in the Black community:
To be young, gifted and black,
Oh what a lovely precious dream
To be young, gifted and black,
Open your heart to what I mean.
Since 2020, every October there has been a Black Heroes of Mathematics Conference. Its vision is to celebrate the inspiration contributions of Black role models in the field of Mathematics and mathematical education. This is how we "open people heart to what it mean".
In the past I have been asked to write spin off articles such as the Black Heroes of Science and the Black Heroes of Operational Research. Hence it feels very appropriate to write an article entitled the Black Heroes of Mathematical Education. All of these role models, I have either work with, collaborated and/or have inspired my mathematical journey.
Professor Nira Chamberlain OBE - President MA
Mamokgethi Phakeng is a leading researcher into mathematics education in South Africa and was the first black female South African to gain a PhD in Mathematics education. As well as producing world famous research on mathematics education, Mamokgethi Phakeng has also devoted her life to helping some of the most underprivileged students in her country.
In 2004 she founded the Adopt-A-Learner Project which provides annual scholarships to learners who are outstanding in mathematics, but cannot afford to study. In recognition of her many achievements in 2014 CEO magazine named her as the most influential woman in Academia in Africa.
Erica N. Walker is an American associate professor of mathematics education at Teachers College, Columbia University. A former public high school mathematics teacher from Atlanta, Georgia, her research focuses on social and cultural factors that facilitate mathematics engagement, learning, and performance, especially for underserved students. She collaborates with teachers, schools, districts, and organizations to promote mathematics excellence and equity for young people. Her work has been published in journals such as American Education Research Journal, Educational Leadership, and The Urban Review.
Walker was the AWM/MAA Falconer Lecturer for 2015, speaking on "A Multiplicity All at Once: Mathematics for Everyone, Everywhere". In 2019, she was recognized by Mathematically Gifted & Black as a Black History Month 2019 Honoree.
Nicole Michelle Joseph is an American mathematician and scholar of mathematics education whose research particularly focuses on the experiences of African-American girls and women in mathematics.
She was the winner of the 2023 Louise Hay Award of the Association for Women in Mathematics, "recognized for her contributions to mathematics education that reflect the values of taking risks and nurturing students' academic talent".
In her own words, Nicole Joseph said this on Mathematically Gifted and Black
"As a teacher, I had one goal–to help all my students, who were mostly Black, fall in love with mathematics, especially my Black girls.