Woman who was told ‘Blacks are not good at Science’ earns a Ph.D in Physics

Monifa Phillips is no ordinary woman. Recently, she shattered the glass ceiling by becoming the first black woman to graduate with a Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Glasgow, and Dr. Monifa Phillips did this while being told that black people were just not good at science. It is rather rare to see a woman dominate in the field of physics.

Woman who was told 'Blacks are not good at Science' earns a Ph.D in Physics | 1

But Phillips was determined to carve out a niche for herself in the physics arena, which is dominated mostly by men. According to statistics provided by the National Science Foundation, only 5.4 percent of Ph.D. recipients are black. But the racism is too real, and that’s something that Phillips experienced first-hand. She shared one particular experience on Twitter when she was told: “Black people aren’t good at science, they’re just better at music.

Woman who was told 'Blacks are not good at Science' earns a Ph.D in Physics | 2

“Even when it came to companies hiring her, Phillips said that she would go through the organization’s website to check if they hire persons of color. She revealed that even in this case, she has to ask a very obvious question: “Do you hire black and brown people? For there is no evidence.” The lack of diversity in her field has been noted by Phillips. “I’m a proud Black British woman from (London). I made space for myself in a predominantly white, male field,” she wrote on Twitter. “It was hard, but with the support of my family & my community, I did it.”

Her stellar achievement has also been recognized by the University of Glasgow’s School of Physics and Astronomy. They congratulated on her accomplishment and made a promise they intend to stick by. A Tweet congratulating Dr. Phillips says: “We recognize that Physics suffers from a lack of racial diversity; although Monifa is the first, we are determined she will not be the last Ph.D. awarded!”A hearty congratulations to Dr. Monifa Phillips!

Content Credit: thegedsectionj


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Ellis Ferdinand
Ellis Ferdinand is a Journalist, Blogger and Founder of Ellis Multimedia, a parent company of EducationGhana.org, an Online Education News Blog, PoliticsGhana.com and GhanaNaija.net.Ellis Ferdinand is a Graduate of Accra College of Education and the University of Cape Coast, where he obtained a Diploma In Basic Education and a Bachelor of Education in Accounting. He is currently Reading his Master of Philosophy in Curriculum and Pedagogic Studies at the University of Education, Winneba in Ghana.Ellis Ferdinand won Blogger of the Year at the 2018 National Students’ Awards and was also adjudged 14th Best Ghanain Blogger in 2018 among the Top 50 Ghanaian Bloggers of 2018.He introduced the Concept of Education Blogging in Ghana in 2014 with his famous blog EducationGhana.net. now EducationGhana.orgHis Blog won Best Media Promoting Education in 2017, 2018 and 2019 respectively, an Award organized by Neogenics Education Consult.In 2019, He adjudged the Most Promising West African Blogger of the Year in Nigeria. He won Writer of the Year at the 2021 EDUCOM AWARDS

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