Neil deGrasse Tyson -- trying hard to Keep Looking Up - Wednesday, June 3, 2020

[qwlauren35]

At a Physics conference I attended long ago, while sipping wine left over from the final dinner, a dozen of us peeled off and started arguing about fun, geeky things. Why does Superman need a cape? And why do cans of Diet Pepsi float while cans of regular Pepsi sink? And how would the Star Trek transporter actually work? As the evening progressed, just after a discussion of momentum transfer in car accidents, one of us mentioned a time when the police stopped him while driving.

We went on for two more hours. But before we retired for the night we searched for common denominators among the stories. We had all driven different cars—some were old, others were new, some were undistinguished, others were high performance imports. Some police stops were in the daytime, others were at night. Taken one-by-one, each encounter with the law could be explained as an isolated incident where, in modern times, we all must forfeit some freedoms to ensure a safer society for us all. Taken collectively, however, you would think the cops had a vendetta against physicists because that was the only profile we all had in common. In this parade of automotive stop-and-frisks, one thing was for sure, the stories were not singular, novel moments playfully recounted. They were common, recurring episodes. How could this assembly of highly educated scientists, each in possession of the PhD — the highest academic degree in the land — be so vulnerable to police inquiry in their lives? Maybe the police cued on something else. Maybe it was the color of our skin. The conference I had been attending was the 23rd meeting of the National Society of Black Physicists. We were guilty not of DWI (Driving While Intoxicated), but of other violations none of us knew were on the books: DWB (Driving While Black), WWB (Walking While Black), and of course, JBB (Just Being Black).

https://www.facebook.com/notes/neil-degrasse-tyson/reflections-on-the-color-of-my-skin/10158481422496613/

[cayugafalls]

1. Here is his audio of that post for those who like to hear his voice.

[qwlauren35]

2. THANK YOU!

He is so respected. I hoped that his experiences would make a powerful statement.



He is truly my hero. As an engineer, it is SO rare to find us excelling in science. There is so much disbelief that we can succeed and achieve in the sciences.

Do you know that even today, organizations like the society of black physicists still exist BECAUSE we need, maybe just once a year, to see that we are numerous and capable, when, in our jobs, we are the only ones in a sea of white.

Yes, he is my hero.

[cayugafalls]

3. Your so welcome. He is truly a brilliant man.

Everyone needs to listen to this and read the text in the OP as a follow along so you can click the links!

[FM123]

4. Wow. Powerful piece he wrote.

Even after everything, he sends a message of hope and positivity - Lastly, when you see Black kids in the street, think of what they can be rather than what you think they are.

[qwlauren35]

5. Yes.

Any one of them could be the next Neil deGrasse Tyson. Any one of them could be the next Barack Obama.

Believe in our children, believe in our young men. See how far we can go.

[FM123]

6. Yes, so true.

On a personal note, my 92 year dad is just obsessed and enamored with NDT and listens to his lectures on youtube constantly. We promised to take him to see NDT's Cosmic Perspective show when it came to FL in February, but unfortunately it was cancelled because of the pandemic. He says his wish is to live long enough to finally see his superstar AND to see trump leave office. Our wish for him is the same!

[bobbieinok]

7. Strongly recommend reading entire linked essay!

[ismnotwasm]

8. K&R