The world often looks to philosophy and the social sciences as opposed to the mathematical sciences to discuss and explore topics related to equity, collective action, and justice. Since the late 19th and early 20th century, however, African American scholars have taken social theories, which are strong in intuitive content, and expressed them in more formal terms using mathematics and data. Despite recent advances in discourses at the intersections of mathematics and social justice, the narratives and legacies of many of these African Americans who used mathematics to understand society, especially in the American South, have been lost. In addition to a discursive approach to their historical contributions, this talk will explore the mathematical foundations of models used by African Americans to examine inequities in history with the intention of developing more just futures. More specifically, this talk will connect the intuitive aspects of a global experience to understand the means through which mathematics served as an integral tool for African Americans to not only speak to their experiences but also to the logics of democracy, race, and racism.
Nathan Alexander is an assistant professor at Morehouse College, Department of Mathematics, Division of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.
