The Black Alliance of Scientists and Engineers at San Jose State has helped Black students connect to professionals in the engineering field since 1977.
Folarin Erogbogbo, Black Alliance of Scientists and Engineers advisor and biomedical engineering professor, organized an event called Black Engineer Week.
The event aimed to exemplify one of the group’s goals: connecting Black engineering students with Black professionals in the field.
Erogbogbo said, although the idea was well received by others in the engineering department, he realized it would ultimately be up to him to take initiative in developing the event.
“I ran [Black engineer week] by some people and they thought it was a good idea and there was a potential to support, but no support came through,” he said. “So I figured either I don’t do it or I do it on my own.”
Erogbogbo said one of the first things he wanted to address was how he could recruit more Black students into the college of engineering.
In Fall 2022, the Black students enrollment rate in the college of engineering was 1.96%, according to a sjsu.edu webpage.
“So that means if there are 50 students in a class, on average how many Black students would be in a class? One,” Erogbogbo said.
The lack of Black students in engineering classes has not gone unnoticed.
The organization’s fundraising chair Hailey Smith said having no other Black students in her classes impedes parts of her learning process.
“In most of my classes, I’m pretty much the only Black person, if anything, Black female and sometimes only female,” She said. “Sometimes it’s very hard to connect with my classmates, to set up study sessions.”
The organization’s co-president Anaiya Williamson said race and gender-based isolation can impact a student’s thought process.
“Especially, as a woman, sometimes I was afraid that I wouldn’t be taken as seriously and people would disregard my ideas,” Williamson said. “They would make me feel less than just because of my gender and my race.”
Smith said she notices microaggressions in some of her classes, but being in the Black Alliance of Scientists and Engineers and meeting people who resonate with similar struggles makes being a Black student easier.
“There’s a lot of underlying racism that goes on in class, a lot of people might not realize it not being Black,” Smith said. “But being Black you see those microaggressions and it’s nice to be able to come together with people that have like minded spirits.”
Erogbogbo said he thinks Black students coming into the engineering program already have the ability to succeed, but cultural differences add another layer of intangible issues.
“But if you now add all these other factors and you don’t understand their cultural wealth, you might not know how to cater to that difference,” he said.
Erogbogbo said juggling cultural differences while being the sole Black student in classes creates a difficult duality that other students don’t have to deal with.
“For example, let’s say I come from a particular community and I like a particular kind of music and I like to do particular kinds of things,” Erogbogbo said. “I get into class and nobody likes to do that, what that means is I have to go build a social life outside of my class.”
Smith said being an engineering student has presented her with new stereotypes she doesn’t feel apply to her.
“A lot of people just think engineers are these nerds, and we just are into computers, Black people will tell people to have fun,” Smith said. “We like to party, we do all the regular stuff.”
Williamson said seeing Black female engineers speak offers a refreshing perspective on success and resonates with her deeply.
“For me when I see a Black female engineer, I can envision her struggling in college, just how I am,” Williamson said. “I can imagine her younger self and I can relate.”
Smith said the lack of Black people in science, technology, engineering and mathematics is discernible and makes seeing successful Black people in the field important.
“There’s not many Black people in the tech field and engineering,” Smith said. “So when I hear a fellow Black person [and] they’re in a very high position at their company, it is very resonating.”
He said it is important to acknowledge those who lost their lives as a way to combat public erasure of Black victims.
Travis Boyce, department chair of African American studies and director of Ethnic Studies Collaborative, shared his thoughts on the importance of Black history during the event.
Boyce condemned public schools that curtailed racial history for how it has affected the present.
“Today, parents can remove their children from Black History Month curriculum,” Boyce said. “School districts are considering banning or have already banned books by Black authors on topics that address systemic racism.”
Boyce says he advocates for teaching truth and education that’s inclusive of the full American experience.
Ada Ochuru, child and adolescent development sophomore with a double minor in African American studies and Black women studies, performed a dance at the event.
Ochuru performed a self-choreographed piece using elements of ballet, lyrical, contemporary and jazz.
Ochuru said she has been practicing ballet for 17 years and also teaches dance classes to youths at her studio and church.
African American studies junior Kiara Johnson performed a rendition of “Fight for You” by H.E.R., written for the 2021 film “Judas and the Black Messiah.”
The lyrics address racism, police brutality, and equality.
“I’ve been singing since preschool and I love jazz and R&B, which are the two main genres that I sing,” Johnson said.
Johnson said she is also a member of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. and that her sisters were at the event supporting her.
“The sisterhood was a big part of why I joined. It is empowering to be around strong and caring Black women,” Johnson said.
Johnson said Black History Month is about celebrating Black joy and to be proud of the history and culture.
B.L.O.C. Program Coordinator MyShaundriss Watkins reinforced the overarching theme of “Existence is Resistance.”
“We exist here and now in this very moment. Today, we are here to uplift and center our collective rights to freedom,” Watkins said.
