Thinking about hidden figures this morning and how one of the ways white supremacy works in astro/physics is hiding the work of people who opened doors for the students of today. I’d like to highlight some names I haven’t seen this week as part of #BlackInAstro.

Before I name some names, I want to point out that the way the Black physics community is setup, that often the people who have played a role in my #BlackInAstro journey were not astronomers.

Like James Lindesay, string theorist at Howard U.

Lindesay is the one who told me to take quantum field theory, as if it was a given that I could do it.

Today my #BlackInAstro research involves using quantum field theory and connecting it to structure formation to study dark matter.

Many of the people who helped me along on my journey — including talking astronomy with me even though it wasn’t theirs expertise have left the field. Sometimes by choice, sometimes because of lack of support. #BlackInAstro

For example, Willie Merrell:

Willie is not an astronomer and worked in strings but he read papers on topics that were of interest to me so I would have someone to talk to in grad school. He is part of my #BlackInAstro journey.

Lisa Dyson is, I think, the last Black woman to earn a PhD in physics from MIT. That was over a decade ago. She is now a wild success in another field but before that, she was the person whose footsteps I tried to walk in. Her work in string theory spurred me as a #BlackinAstro.

Lisa always always always made the time for me and would talk to me about the things I was interested in, not just what she was interested in. #BlackinAstro

One of the heartbreaking losses on my journey was Dr. Beth Brown, who was the 1st Black woman to earn a phd in astro from U of Michigan. I knew very few Black women working in the field in perm positions. When she died I was crushed. What a loss for NASA & us all. #BlackinAstro

There are the people who are still around. Dr. Tehani Finch is one of the only people from my student peer group of young Black theorists still working in the field. Tehani was working w/ James & Beth on black hole theory work when Beth died. #BlackInAstro https://www.jmu.edu/physics/people/all-people/finch-tehani.shtml

Tehani was also, like me and Willie, a NASA Postdoc Program Fellow in the early 2010s. I don’t think I’ve seen any history of Black people’s participation in that program.

Tehani has always been ready to talk Physics with me even when we were working on diff stuff. #BlackinAstro

Dr. Dara Norman is one of the few Black women to ever reach senior ranks in astronomy. An astronomer at NOAO, she helped me with my postdoc applications, the year I won a NASA fellowship. Dara and I often disagree on tactics! But I know she has worked hard for us. #BlackinAstro

Then there is @astroholbrook, who first suggested to me that I could do some sociology and history of astro/physics too. Her work on contemporary and historical African astronomy is a major contribution to African American studies. #BlackinAstro

There is @astromime, who has made it her life’s work to support students in astronomy. After her masters, she turned to working full time to hold us up. I know Jess is always just a phone call away. Thank you, sis. #BlackinAstro

And @JedidahIslerPhD. The tough thing here is to pick an accomplishment. And also to pick a photo!! Jedidah has made it her life’s work to understand black holes (not as cool as neutron stars but I digress). She’s also built @VanguardSTEM. Wow. #BlackInAstro

Remember that afrofuturism is now. That we’ve been here the whole time. From the continent to North America to Europe, #BlackinAstro are not a new phenomenon. And we are not only a matter of history. We are in each present. Sometimes with different titles. But here.

One thing that jumps out about so many of these people is how interdisciplinary we are. How many of us did theory and experiment. Quantum gravity and astronomy. Astronomy and sociology. #BlackInAstro

If you’re going to do highlights and history, make sure you’re not creating hidden figures by being selective. #BlackinAstro

I think a lot of white faculty have an investment in highlighting Black students that they feel they have promoted or supported in some way. Easier to do that than to highlight the people who didn't get jobs while you did or who got jobs in spite of you. #BlackInAstro

Students really need to not fall for that mess.