“Freedom without opportunity is incomplete—this Juneteenth, we commit to empowering Black women in STEM to innovate, lead, and shape the future.” 🚀

Juneteenth commemorates the delayed but hard-won freedom of enslaved Black Americans in 1865. It’s a day of reflection, resilience, and recommitment to justice. At JerseySTEM, we believe that true freedom includes the power to innovate, to lead, and to shape the future. That means ensuring Black women are not just present in STEM, but empowered within it.

 

The Numbers Tell a Story

Despite making up nearly 7% of the U.S. population, Black women account for only 2.2% of the STEM workforce and 6.4% of STEM bachelor’s degree recipients. In fields like engineering and computer science, the numbers are even more stark. These statistics aren’t just numbers—they’re missed opportunities, untapped brilliance, and persistent systemic barriers from classroom to career.

 

Why This Matters

STEM shapes nearly every aspect of our world—from the algorithms behind our devices to innovations in climate solutions and healthcare. When Black women are excluded from these spaces, the solutions created often reflect the blind spots of those at the table. 

For example, facial recognition software has shown significantly higher error rates for Black women due to biased training data. Medical technologies and research often overlook conditions that disproportionately affect women of color. These aren’t just oversights—they’re consequences of a system that lacks diverse voices in its design and decision-making.

When Black women are underrepresented in STEM, we don’t just lose talent—we risk building a future that reinforces inequality.

 

Changing the Equation

To close the STEM gap for Black women, we need more than good intentions—we need action:

• Start with culturally responsive STEM programs: Research from the Black Girls and STEM Education Research Initiative shows that culturally relevant, informal learning environments—like after-school or summer programs—can significantly boost Black girls’ interest and confidence in STEM.
• Build community, not just pipelines: Black women in STEM often face isolation. Programs that foster peer networks and community—like STEM sororities, affinity groups, or alumni mentorship circles—help sustain long-term engagement and leadership.
• Address systemic bias head-on:  Bias in classrooms, hiring, and evaluation must be addressed directly. Anti-bias training, equitable rubrics, and inclusive hiring drive better outcomes for underrepresented groups.

 

JerseySTEM’s Role

At JerseySTEM, equity is at the heart of our mission. Through after-school STEM programs, mentorship, and community partnerships, we provide spaces where Black girls can explore STEM with confidence and curiosity. Our volunteers serve as near-peer role models, helping students imagine futures they may never have considered. This Juneteenth, we don’t just celebrate freedom—we work toward it. Because freedom without opportunity is incomplete. And a future without Black women in STEM is one we refuse to accept.