|
|
|
African-American History
Think About It
The African-American Engineer in the 21st
Century: A Burden, Challenge, and Opportunity
by Calvin Mackie, Ph.D.
Existing as an African-American engineer in the next century will
present many burdens, challenges, and opportunities for the eager
souls willing to accept them. In the 21st century, African American
engineers should play a demonstrative role in defining the future
and creating a legacy for the social and technological agenda
in America. As the information super highways are continue to
be designed and constructed, African-American engineers must ensure
that there are on-ramps in the Black community.
Presently, as in the past, lawyers, politicians and ministers
lead the many battles African Americans continue to fight in this
country. In the future, the greatest problem for African-Americans
will be the lack of or the lack of access to information, for
the "next revolution will not be televised," it will
occur via the Internet. Therefore, African-American scientists
and engineers must play a more integral role in the discussion
and determination of any national agenda for Black America. More
so than ever, engineers must be well versed in subjects beyond
their technical area and enter nontraditional jobs and posts where
understanding and employing technology will transform the world.
Engineers must take leadership roles in the community, for we
have seen and created the future, and it is NOW!
The Burden!
Whether one recognizes it or not, there is a "cultural tax"
for being a Black professional. This tax may manifest itself as
heavy committee work on the job, as excess work to destroy "affirmative
action" stereotypes, or as substantial community service
in an effort to remain attached to or give something back to the
community. Regardless, there is a tax borne by Black professionals
that does more harm psychologically than it does monetarily.
The Black professional has always struggled with the duality's
that race introduces to his daily life. However, the duality cannot
be escaped, for America, and especially Corporate America, is
not blind. When one strips himself of race and ethnicity, racism
flourishes and grows. Great minds are denied access to resources
necessary to make the discoveries of tomorrow.
How many Imhoteps or Einsteins possess menial jobs because access
to quality education was not a choice in their community. How
many Black owned high-flying technology companies like Netscape
and Yahoo could have been created, if access to capital was equally
available in this country? How many senior level executive managers
would there be in Corporate America if there was no glass ceiling?
W.E.B. Dubois was a prophet when he wrote that the problem of
the color line will occupy America in the 21st century.
With such a high tax to pay, many in the Black community have
achieved, and their accomplishments are the headlights for the
engineer to enter the foggy atmosphere of the 21st century. Reginald
Lewis purchased Beatrice Foods. Robert Johnson brought the Black
Entertainment network to Wall Street. Dr. Ron McNair took the
National Society of Engineers to space. Now, someone must boldly
lead us into cyberspace. The burden is that the mainstream is
polluted, and it is the responsibility of Black engineers to not
only swim in it, but to decontaminate it for all those who may
follow. Texaco is paying a very small price for its pollution.
The Challenge!
Regardless of the nurturing and edification one may receive in
life, the decision to challenge the status quo is ultimately that
of a person. Socioeconomic and cultural factors influence such
decisions, but individual responsibility must outweigh all extenuation's
that may be derived from the harsh conditions of living in poverty,
growing up "disadvantaged."
For the practicing engineer, there exists the possibility of social
and cultural isolation on the job. In an attempt to explain the
challenge faced by Black engineers, consider the stress and burdens
of work as the heat experienced on any humid summer day. Every
day for the Black engineer the HEAT is on. The question is, how
are you going to respond?
Practically, one cannot readily define heat, but it is present
in all dynamic systems. In the dynamic system of life, heat is
related to a certain numerical scale called temperature. At home,
a thermometer is used to measure the temperature of the surroundings;
a thermostat is used to set the temperature of the surroundings.
In the next century, African-American engineers will have to decide
to be thermostats rather than thermometers.
A thermometer is a passive device designed to measure the temperature
of the surrounding environment. It cannot change or adjust any
of the attributes of the environment, which may be harmful to
the occupants. A "thermometer" is one who chooses to
just accept faith as he or she sees it. It is the engineers and
business persons accepting racism and sexism for a promotion or
because of fear of losing their job, which is inevitable anyway
in this culture of corporate downsizing. It is the kid on the
street selling drugs because he wants nice things now, without
seeing the circle of violence that will eventually kill him. Many
people are pursuing engineering degrees with the hope and aspiration
of becoming a "thermometer." One may be studying to
be an engineer, doctor, or lawyer who just wants to become part
of the status quo! The ultimate goal of the "thermometer"
is to adjust to the environment and determine the best way to
assimilate into the culture of a new career. John F. Kennedy was
speaking of the "thermometer" when he stated that conformity
is the jailer of freedom and the enemy of growth.
A thermostat is a pro-active device which determines and prescribes
the temperature of the environment around it. To be a "thermostat"
requires energy unnecessary to be a thermometer, because the thermostat
is the gage which turns on the engine and pumps to make the necessary
changes in the surroundings. The thermostat has a responsibility
to the environment to maintain it in a state where all occupants
are comfortable. If it fails, the results may be catastrophic
for some, while others may be unharmed. In an environment of racism
and sexism, with no thermostat to measure them, some people will
actually thrive, while women and minorities are literally choked
to death by the toxic temperature of the environment enclosed
by the "glass ceiling."
The challenge for Black engineers in the next century is to design
and implement programs that not only confront the ills of society
that affect our daily lives, but to be at the forefront challenging
their businesses and institutions in an effort to lead this new
generation. The methodology is personal, but just accepting such
as life's fate is unacceptable. Malcolm X stated, "As long
as we agree on the objective, we should not argue over the methodology."
The objective must be to make our daily surroundings civil and
livable by being agents of change ("thermostats") and
not just reporters ("thermometers"). Many leaders of
today are just "thermometers," reporting on the temperature
of the day without the power or knowledge to change anything.
Martin Luther King Jr. was not killed because he had a dream of
changing America. The leadership and effort to bring about change
led to his untimely death. Workers at Texaco chose to be "thermostats,"
and again, America is claiming to be shocked. Being reasonable
and smiling never have and never will solve our problems.
George Bernard Shaw said, "The reasonable man adapts himself
to the world; the unreasonable man continuously forces the world
to adapt to him. Therefore, all measurable progress comes via
the unreasonable man." The "thermometer" is reasonable.
The "thermostat" is unreasonable.
Remember, Rosa Parks was unreasonable. She set the tone for the
day!
The Opportunity!
The opportunity is that the present leadership in the Black community
lacks the necessary vision and broad training to build the bridges
and infrastructure needed in the future. The time has come for
the engineer trained as a doctor, lawyer or businessman to answer
the call of the leadership and to develop technological and economical
infrastructures that will serve as foundations for institutions
in the next millennium.
There is an adage that states, "In the land of the blind,
a one-eye man is king." As a matter of fact, a one-eye man
does not thank God until he meets a blind man. Many have eyesight
but are blind in the sense that they do not possess the vision
or foresight necessary to prepare for the obstacles yet to be
created. As engineers in the 21st century, no longer can African-Americans
afford to be blind or myopic. Technology is changing more rapidly
than ever, and the silent marauders of racism and sexism have
been transformed and still flourish. Engineers with vision and
determination are necessary if destruction of such ramparts are
to ever be destroyed. Without visionary leaders coming from the
ranks of the engineering community, the Black community may find
itself as homeless sign-carrying hobos on the super information
highway in the 21st century!
Often one does not realize the price that has been paid for him
or her to participate in society as a functional citizen. Many
men sacrificed their lives and futures so that the generation
of today may pursue great heights and achievements, and there
is a price to be paid! The adage, "From him or her to whom
much is given, much is expected," should weigh heavily on
the hearts of this generation. In the face of death and annihilation,
ancestors fought for full citizenry. With lessor burdens and fewer
challenges, African-American engineers must stand on the shoulders
of their ancestors and seize the opportunity to make this a better
world for all. Life is an education in and of itself, and the
world the classroom. African-American engineers must teach the
world a better way in the 21st century!
Calvin Mackie, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor of Mechanical
Engineering at Tulane University in New Orleans, LA. He is the
co-founder of Channel ZerO, an educational and motivational business.
|
