Commitment, African

Despite a commitment to teach and conduct research, the overwhelming impact of isolation sometimes affects confidence. Many interviewees did not have opportunities to interact with other chemists of color until they went to professional meetings. Sometimes, even professional meetings failed to provide an opportunity for meaningful discussions and networking among African American chemists. An interviewee from an historically black college comments ... 

Realizing the positive impact mentors and role models have on students, and having committed himself to increasing the number of African Americans in the chemistry community, one Cohort III interviewee who left industry to take a position at an historically black college did so because it was a chance to give back to black people something that I had - research skills and industrial experiences. ... 

Iraj B. Nejad That is not representative of the Louisiana population, which is 30 percent African American. My question is, with all the efforts that you have in place—mentors, a committed faculty, a committed department, self-sustained recruiting—what else would it take to bring that percentage up ... 

To add complication to their later lives, Hodgkin became active in African studies, which required them to have a residence in Ghana as well as England. Despite her work commitments, Crowfoot always found time for her children, being able to switch between roles as mother and scientist with total ease. Fortunately, Crowfoot s social life improved, particularly through a friendship with Max Perutz, another of Bernal s former students, who was still at Cambridge.60 Perutz would bring his wife and children to Oxford, where the two families would walk beside, and sometimes swim in, the Isis (the local name for the Thames).61... 

Paul Richards, Indigenous Agricultural Revolution Ecology and Food Production in West Africa (London Unwin Hyman, 1985), p. 160 in this chapter I rely heavily on this brilliant book. Richards is committed to scientific agricultural research but insists that it examine, without prejudice, the existing practices of African farmers and that it reflect the actual problems and goals of local cultivators. 

Fear of hospitalization and involuntary commitment is often the reason given for avoiding treatment (Sussman et al. 1987). Unfortunately, there is some truth in that belief. African Americans are more likely to be hospitalized or involuntarily committed (Flaherty and Meagher 1980 Lawson et al. 1994 Lindsey et al. 1989 Paul and Menditto 1992 Strakowski et al. 1995). Consequently, African Americans have a different perception of the mental health system, often not seeing it as a resource for consensual treatment. 

See Central African Republican Crisis war crimes committed, BBC News (6 June 2014) http //www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-27727465 (accessed 15 June 2015). 

Membership in local specialty chambers of commerce like women s chambers, gay and lesbian chambers, Hispanic chambers, or African-American chambers can raise the organization s visibility and foster in employees the sense that management is committed to diversity goals. It can also lead to new candidates or business parmers, directly or indirectly. For instance, although the people and groups supported may not be civil engineers, a presence in the community may lead to new diversity candidate referrals. 

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