For a Black Mathematician, What It’s Like to Be the ‘Only One’

[Dark Horse]

I'm a CS major. At my school, CS is more math and theory heavy than at other schools where CS is more like an applied programming certificate.

No real analysis for me, thankfully. Finished my math reqs, took Calc 1, Calc 2 (covered some DiffEq and a little Calc 3 stuff), Number Theory, Linear Algebra, Graph Theory, Probability, Statistics.

You probably would be fine in real analysis with your background, truth be told. But I wouldn't advise anyone to take that course for shyts & giggles. Maybe the reason I found it so challenging was because proof writing at that level, is similar to programming (which I suck at).

 

[Amerikan Melanin]

I look at math equations and my eyes start spinning in my head. I am terrible in math. I still can’t divide fractions and shyt. My kids come to me with math homework and I say point blank I can’t help y’all.

 

[Nobu]

You probably would be fine in real analysis with your background, truth be told. But I wouldn't advise anyone to take that course for shyts & giggles. Maybe the reason I found it so challenging was because proof writing at that level, is similar to programming (which I suck at).

Yeah, I'm not taking any more math courses for fun. Just happy to be done with it

I look at math equations and my eyes start spinning in my head. I am terrible in math. I still can’t divide fractions and shyt. My kids come to me with math homework and I say point blank I can’t help y’all.

Wolfram pretty useful for step-by-step for a lot of math questions, $4/mo for step-by step. Used it alot in college. I think if you buy the app you just pay once and thats it.

Pricing Plans: Wolfram|Alpha Pro for Students

 

[DrBanneker]

Is advanced calculus/real analysis in your future, or are you doing the applied math route? That was easily the most difficult I've taken bar none. I've kept the book after almost ten years...and couldn't do that shyt now if you put a gun to my head.

Nonlinear differential equations, bifurcation theory, and chaos theory are some hard core shyt too when they are theoretical. I took it my senior year (only breh in class) and had a take home final for a weekend. I got a friggin 79 and still my professor told me I was one of the top students

 

[DrBanneker]

Not everyone can handle it. Takes a special breed.

This is also why I don’t tolerate Obama slander.

A lot of his critics couldn’t do 30% of what he did.

That's why joining Black science groups by NSBE (engineering), NoBBChe (chemistry/chem engineering), NSBP (physics), NAM (math) etc. are so important. Congregating and meeting those like you helps you see the struggle is so much more worth it.

Hard science types in my experience are either really liberal and helpful towards Black students or don't know how to deal with Black people and I say this majoring in the hard sciences. A lot of them reify their intellect and have justified Blacks just aren't cut out (culturally or genetically) for their line of work. Because of the heavy Asian presence they are ironclad convinced there is no racial bias. I remember meeting a Black theoretical physicist at a conference and he told me after a talk some White dude complimented him on 'speaking the White man's language so well.'

 

[TheAnointedOne]

bump

 

[IVS]

My right hand man and roommate from undergrad did his EE/CompE PhD there at Purdue. Him and his wife despised the whole experience. I'm not shocked.

 

[Neuromancer]

This is not surprising.