Cultural Astronomy and Black History Month
Cultural Astronomy and Black History Month: February 2009
Black History Month is our nation’s time to honor the achievements of US citizens of African descent, many of whom are descended from slaves. Over forty African-American Astronomers are alive today in the United States. Not only are they active researchers but they also dedicate time to inspiring children, and adults.
Resources available to find out more about this unique population of astronomers are:
- On the internet
Who are the Black Astronomers and Astrophysicists? http://www.math.buffalo.edu/mad/physics/astronomy-peeps.html
- Articles:
Participation and Research of Astronomers and Astrophysicists of Black African Descent (1900–2005) by Hakeem Oluseyi and Johnson Urama. In African Cultural Astronomy: Current Archaeoastronomy and Ethnoastronomy research in Africa. Springer 2008.
Careers of African Americans in Academic Astronomy by Robert Fikes, Jr. In Journal of Blacks in Higher Education, v n29 p132-35 Autumn 2000.
Famous African American Astronomers include Benjamin Banneker (1731- 1806), solar astronomer Arthur B. C. Walker (1936-2001), Director of the Hayden Planetarium Neil deGrasse Tyson (1958 – ).
The American Physical Society’s speaker list includes many African-American Astronomers. APS grants $500 to centers that partner with physics departments to bring speakers. Each person on the list can only accept one grant per year so get your request in soon to make sure you get your first choice!
The Cultural Astronomy Working Group is creating a Saturday Academy module specifically for Black History Month, as a resource for interested educators. Please check this website in the coming months for more information.
