My mother was a math teacher. One day she asked me, “Calvin, do you know a Universal?” She told me where he lived. I said that I knew a Tasheen, a Prince, a couple of other Five Percenters from over there but no Universal. I asked her, “Why?” She said, “He doesn’t show up to class… but look at his grades.” All I saw was a row of 90s. “Either he’s cheating or he’s smart!” My mother loved teaching. It was a calling for her. And, it was bigger than teaching math. It was about taking that little time you are given with the child and giving her or him that little push. Because, that’s all you can do. “Calvin, you’re coming up to Parents/Teachers conference.” I did NOT want to go. I had all the time in the world to do nothing and I didn’t want to waste it by going up to a school. But, to the school I went. Benjamin N. Cardozo!
Growing up, those are my most salient memories. Going up to schools with my mother, hanging out with my father and his friends, walking down the street with my grandfather… the human touch. It never leaves you. As far as students go, my mother used to talk about this young brother named X (that’s very “mathy” but it also serves its purpose as a known unknown). X and his brother Y from Hollis! There were brothers W and Z too, but that’s not important. My mother loved X and Y and they loved her. X and Y did well in her classes and she wanted me to see them.
So up to the school we went. Parents were coming in and out of her class. Chinese, Jewish, Italian, Black… and then a Black woman in particular walks in; at the door was her son X. “That’s him Calvin” she whispers. While my mother and his mother were vibing, I looked at X: Blue Kangol, rocking a Le Tigre or Izod polo, and probably some shelltop Adidas (he’s from Hollis after all). I thought to myself, “What? Too cool to come in.” And that’s where he lived, the space between two worlds. Well X and Y did some pretty big things in this world. Just on the other side of the world represented by the classroom. Luckily they are still here and still doing well. That life behind them. I was talking to my buddy the other day (one of their running partners) and he said what X and Y were doing. I laughed, “Well they were always good at math.”
It wasn’t until years later that I understood why my mother wanted me to see X. There was this notion, perhaps overstated, that going to school and doing well in class wasn’t cool. So she wanted me to see with my own eyes, somebody who was supercool (and he was) but who took, at least her class, seriously.
The other day, my youngest asked if I wanted to come up to the HS and speak to her math club – Mu Alpha Theta. “Of course” I said, “That’s my thing”. I think it should be everybody’s thing, especially, Black Men. I’ve found in life that the people who have the most to say to children, particularly Black children, are usually the people the children do not need to hear from. So every chance I get I’m there.
On the day of the event, my wife gave me the most memorable words of encouragement, “Don’t embarrass your daughter!” So up to the school I go. Looking old in my hoody, baggy jeans (tip off) and sneakers. I cue up the slides and off we go. I talk about: topology, mathematical models, instability of non-linear systems, homomorphisms, real world applications, the role of computers, how I use math at my job, and pure, applied and practical approaches to careers in mathematics. However, what I wanted them to understand is that the world needs the pure but doesn’t care or understand it; and loves the practical but those are done at the push of a button. There are opportunities in each, so patience you must have and choose wisely young Padawan. Everybody clapped. Asian (east and south), White, Latino and Black. Female and male.
Being Black, one of the skills you pick up is “the count”. How many Black people are in the room? Now in 2017, it’s also how many Black men? There was one. I asked a question to the audience and he answered. Throughout my talk, I felt his smile the whole time.
After talking with the teachers… I said to my daughter, “We out kid.” The next day my daughter gives me the report, “They thought you were cool.” I was like… “Yeah. But did they learn anything?”
When I was in grad school I used to volunteer. One mission took me up to an elementary school in Pittsburgh. It’s now closed but in its prime it checked off all of the boxes when it comes to high poverty, low performing, urban schools. One day they were having an assembly and wanted one of the volunteers to speak to the students. My man who was supposed to present, was late, and when he got there said that it was on me. I said, “What? And I have to get on stage? C’mon bro.” Now I do not remember too much about what I said but what I will never forget is a conversation between a small Black boy and his White teacher. While I was talking, I watched as he looked up at her and said, “Could I be a doctor in math?” and she said, “Yes you can”.
Calvin Hewitt,
BA Mathematics, Hampton University
MA, MS Industrial Engineering, University of Pittsburgh