Black, Brown, Bruised: How Racialized STEM Education Stifles Innovation

I just started this book, but I’m honestly feeling a little annoyed by the generalized statements with little backup data or explanation for these statements. Mind you they do provide references at the end, but I’m trying to actually learn more about the topic through this book, what is the point of just listing vague statements about papers which might or might not have been made in those papers? Also, this statement is just plain incorrect “For Mexicans and Puerto Ricans, two of the largest Latinx groups,...”, are you serious? There are 19 countries in Latin America more densely populated than PR.Will continue reading and might change my mind and update the review accordingly but wow, this is painful to read.

For those who have lived a minoritized life in STEM, most of the stories will be familiar and affirming. While centered in Engineering (the author's discipline), there are a lot of similarities to other areas of STEM. This is a rare book that covers STEM equity within higher education. It would be useful if readers are familar with privilege as well as stereotypes and microaggressions. If you need a primer on such terms, I highly suggest Ijeoma Oluo's So You Want to Talk about Race?In Winter 2021, a group of about 12 STEM faculty members at my community college chose to read this book together. What was really striking was how many of our white faculty were shocked and surprised, not only at student experiences, but at how the author gracefully laid the truth bare for them. I highly suggest reading this within a group, We covered a variety of different reader-led topics; those of us with more knowledge around equity and inclusion issues could help educate and clarify, but also were able to have more nuanced and complex conversations.It was a great way to dig deeper in not only the culture of STEM in general, but also start addressing some if the inequities we see at our institution. Lagely due to the conversations in this group, my office will likely host a bridge program in a year to support Black and Brown students. Dr. McGee, you are changing lives of students!

This is a powerful, well-written text that examines the racialized (and gendered) experiences of Black, Indigenous, and Latinx individuals in postsecondary STEM environments. Dr. McGee brings to the fore the importance of an "equity ethic" that many individuals have in their approach...but often cannot find support for in STEM programs in higher education and fields. If you are interested in better understanding the lived experiences of minoritized individuals in STEM fields and how you might work to improve them, this book is a gem! It's easy to read and uses evidence to illustrate her points beautifully. Already looking forward to her next book!!!

As an associate professor of diversity and STEM education at Vanderbilt’s Peabody College, Dr. McGee has spent more than a decade researching racialized experiences and racial stereotypes that adversely affect the education and career trajectories of underrepresented groups of color.Her book presents a clear portrait of the struggles of under-represented or minoritized scientists, with a focus on Black scientists. She goes on to explain how inequitable power structures are holding back discovery, and presents a beautiful vision for how culturally affirming science could invent the flying car--I’ll leave it to you to read the book to understand that reference.Dr. McGee writes with a frank, sometimes humorous voice that is distinctly her own, which makes this book a joy to read. I hope it will especially appeal you for its beautiful weaving of data, ethnographic interviews, and Dr. McGee’s own personal experience.Dr. McGee thank you so much for sharing your work with us. I hope we can all benefit from reflecting on your vision for a better STEM enterprise and considering our individual roles in bringing about that future.

This book was an eye opening for STEM Education in many areas to include how racialized experiences do harm groups as a whole!! The section on the importance of mentorship and highlighting of the different forms of mentorship is compelling and is definitely worth reading... Overall this book is a power-punch of reality and remedies for STEM students and professionals.

I felt that this book was great at weaving together psychology and education research. To date there is a lot of things written on test performances, which miss the systematic barriers that impede minority students. In the book the author dives into the goals of STEM education and how racial ideologies impact students. Then she makes a call to action for widening STEM opportunities in ways that would create more responsible STEM social justice advocates. I thought this book was really impactful and would recommend.