A Legacy of Struggle and Innovation
The story of African Americans in evolutionary biology is one of both profound exclusion and extraordinary perseverance, revealing how science transforms when voices long silenced finally find their audience.
Imagine a science that explains the breathtaking diversity of life on Earth, from the ancient origins of humanity to the adaptive radiations that have filled our planet with millions of species. Evolutionary biology stands as one of the most powerful frameworks for understanding the natural world, yet the diversity within this field tells a troubling story.
African American representation in biological sciences workforce
Estimated representation in evolutionary biology specifically
This striking underrepresentation isn't accidental. It reflects a complex history of exclusion, systemic barriers, and cultural factors that have shaped who gets to participate in the scientific endeavor of understanding life's history. The journey of African Americans in evolutionary science weaves together threads of scientific discovery, civil rights activism, and the persistent fight for inclusion in spaces where their contributions have often been overlooked.
The story of African Americans in evolutionary science cannot be understood without examining the historical context that limited their participation. Evolutionary biology coalesced as a formal discipline between 1936 and 1947, with the Society for the Study of Evolution (SSE) founded in 1946 1 . This was an era when Jim Crow laws enforced racial segregation throughout the American South, and white supremacy remained largely unchallenged in many academic circles.
The founding members of the SSE included prominent scientists like Ernest Mayr, Theodosius Dobzhansky, and George Gaylord Simpson, but none were African Americans or held positions at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) 1 .
Higher education itself was built upon unequal foundations. Many early American universities benefited directly from the slave trade, either through funding derived from enslaved labor or construction by enslaved people 1 3 .
Evolutionary biology itself has a complicated relationship with race. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, prominent evolutionary biologists and geneticists contributed to racist theories that were later used to justify everything from segregation to eugenics programs 1 .
At the same time, evolutionary biology also produced powerful anti-racist voices like Theodosius Dobzhansky, Richard Lewontin, and Stephen Jay Gould who worked to debunk biological racism 1 .
Despite formidable barriers, several African American scientists made significant contributions to evolutionary biology and related fields.
| Name | Year | Achievement | Field | Key Contributions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alfred O. Coffin | 1889 | First African American PhD in biology | Zoology/Anthropology | Taught at Alcorn A&M, research in anthropology 3 |
| Ernest Everett Just | 1939 | Internationally recognized biologist | Embryology/Cell Biology | "The Biology of the Cell Surface," theory of genetic restriction 1 6 |
| Joseph L. Graves Jr. | 1988 | First African American PhD in evolutionary biology | Evolutionary Biology | Evolutionary theory of aging, anti-racist scholarship 3 |
As a professor at Howard University, he faced systemic racism that prevented him from securing positions at major research institutions 1 .
He proposed Genetic Restriction Theory, emphasizing cytoplasmic factors in cell identity—ideas now validated by modern epigenetics 6 .
First African American to earn a PhD specifically in evolutionary biology from Wayne State University 3 . His journey illustrates both the barriers and the perseverance required to break through them.
One of the early African American PhDs in evolutionary biology who has made significant contributions to the field.
The first African American woman to earn a PhD in evolutionary biology, breaking multiple barriers in the field.
Between 1988 and 1999, only five others joined Graves as African Americans with PhDs in evolutionary biology: Scott Edwards (1992), Tyrone Hays (1993), Colette St Mary (1994, the first African American woman), Paul Turner (1995), and Charles Richardson (1999) 3 .
The underrepresentation of African Americans in evolutionary biology continues today, with complex factors maintaining these disparities.
| Group | Percentage in Biological Sciences | U.S. Population Percentage | Representation in Evolutionary Biology |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 69.5% | ~60% | Majority |
| Asian | 21.3% | ~6% | Significant minority |
| African American/Black | 3% | ~13% | ~0.3% |
Research indicates that the presence of role models significantly influences whether students from underrepresented groups develop interest in specific scientific disciplines 3 .
The problem creates a self-perpetuating cycle: without visible African American evolutionary biologists, students from these backgrounds don't see the field as a viable or welcoming path, leading to continued underrepresentation in the next generation 3 .
"Virtually no way other than by chance for a student from an underrepresented group to know that there are scientists in evolutionary biology that reflect their own experience" 3 .
Transforming evolutionary biology into a more inclusive field requires intentional, multifaceted approaches.
Institutions need to formally value and reward diversity labor in tenure and promotion decisions, as this work often falls to early-career faculty from underrepresented groups 3 .
Including diverse scientists in documentaries, textbooks, and educational materials inspires students from underrepresented groups and normalizes diversity within the field 3 .
Evolutionary biology must actively work to become an anti-racist discipline, confronting both overt biological racism and subtle forms like aversive racism or colorblind racism 3 .
The underrepresentation of African Americans in evolutionary biology isn't just a question of fairness—it impacts the quality and direction of the science itself.
Diverse perspectives bring new questions, alternative interpretations, and guard against the groupthink that can occur in homogeneous communities.
When the field includes researchers with diverse backgrounds and experiences, it becomes more rigorous, innovative, and socially responsible 3 .
| Research Approach | Function | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Experimental Evolution | Studies real-time evolution in controlled settings | Richard Lenski's E. coli experiment (65,000+ generations) 9 |
| Comparative Phylogenetics | Reconstructs evolutionary relationships | Analyzing diversification rates across the tree of life 2 4 |
| Population Genetics | Measures genetic variation within and between populations | Studies of human genetic adaptation 7 |
| Genomic Analysis | Identifies genes under natural selection | Research on high-altitude adaptation in Andean populations 7 |
The journey of African Americans in evolutionary science reflects broader patterns of exclusion and resilience in American society.
From Ernest Everett Just's groundbreaking work on the cell surface to Joseph L. Graves' research on the evolutionary theory of aging, Black scientists have made indispensable contributions despite facing extraordinary barriers.
The transformation of evolutionary biology into a truly inclusive field requires conscious effort from the entire scientific community. This means acknowledging the historical barriers, actively recruiting and supporting diverse students and faculty, and creating environments where scientists from all backgrounds can thrive.
As we now understand that most of Earth's biodiversity stems from rapid evolutionary radiations where new traits or habitats sparked dramatic diversification 2 4 , embracing diversity within the scientific community may spark an intellectual radiation—generating new ideas, questions, and discoveries that enrich our understanding of life's history.
The future of evolutionary science depends not only on the questions we ask of nature, but on who gets to ask them.