For more than a century, racist women and minorities have gone into access to education and employment opportunities once it was allocated exclusively to white men. life IPhone Yong “Yi” Clark It is a testament to the strength of perseverance in that battle. As a smart black woman who shattered the barriers imposed by race and sex, she made history several times during her career in academic and industry.
It is possible that she is known as the first woman to act as a faculty member intheCollege of Engineering at Tennessee State UniversityIn Nashville. However, her leading spirit extended beyond the classroom, as she was constantly coming out of new lands for black women and professionals in engineering. She accomplished a lot before her death on January 27, 2019 at her home in Nashville at the age of 89.
Clark is the topic of the latest biography in The famous IEEE-Alusa engineers in history series. “Don’t give up” It was her slogan.
Early passion for technology
She was born on April 13, 1929 in Houston, Clark moved with her family to Louisville,Ky. , As a child. I grew up in an academic family. Her fatherand Dr. Coleman M. Young Junior surgeons. Her mother, Hortens H. Young, a library and journalist. Her mother’s “topics” column, published Luisville defender Newspaper, dismissal, housing discrimination, civil rights issues, implant awareness of social justice in YY
Clark’s passion for technology has become clear at an early age. When she was a child, she secretly repaired her family’s holiday, surprising her parents. She was a decisive moment, indicating her family that she was heading to a profession in engineering – not in education like her older sister, and she is a high school mathematics teacher.
Carroll Soton Lewis, participation, hosting and producer for the third season of Podcast “Lost Women in Science”And on which Clark was identified. “What her family did, and what they will continue to do, is to make her interests be viable in a world that was not fair.”
Clark’s interest in studying engineering was through her passion for air navigation. She said that all the pilots with whom she had studied engineering, so she was determined to do so. I join Civil Air Patrol Air lessons simulated. Then I learned to fly a plane with the help of a family friend.
Despite academic distinction, though, racist barriers stood on their way. I graduated from the age of 16 from Luisfille Central Secondary SchoolIn 1945, her parents worried that she was younger than joining the university, sending her to Boston for an additional two years in Latin Girls School and Roxbaster Secondary Memorial School.
Then I applied to Louisville UniversityIt was initially accepted and a full scholarship was offered. When university officials realized that she was black, they canceled the scholarship and admission, Clark said in the Podcast, “The Lost Woman of Science”, which included clips from when her daughter met her in 2007. Howard UniversityA historical black college in Washington, DC, instead of integrating its university -funded university.
Breaking barriers in higher education
Although Howard provided an opportunity, he was not free from discrimination. Clark faced gender-based barriers, according to IEEE-Assa’s biography. She was the only woman among 300 mechanical engineeringStudents, many of whom were veterans in World War II.
“Yi’s family did not create her passion or talent. That was her property. – Carol Soton Lewis
Despite the challenges, in 1951 she proved the first woman to obtain a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the university. The school reduced its historical achievement. In fact, she was not allowed to walk with her graduation colleagues. Instead, she obtained a diploma during a special ceremony in the university president’s office.
A specific profession by the first
A contract to formulate a profession in engineering, and Clark has repeatedly faced racial and gender discrimination. in 2007 an interview with the Engineers Association (SWE)I remembered that when I applied for an engineering site with US Navy“I don’t think I can hire you.” When I asked why not, he answered, “You are a female, and all the engineers go out on a cruise,” the journey during which a boat It is tested before entering the service or after undergoing major changes such as repair. She said that the interview told her: “The omen is:” There is no female on the journey of Shaked. “
In the end, Clark fell with the American army Frankford Arsenal Measuring Laborators in Philadelphia, to become the first black woman set there. The scales and graphics of glossy products are designed for small weapons ammunition tools and manufactured tools there. However, tensions arose when some of her colleagues resented that she got more money due to additional work salaries, according to IEEE-Assa’s biography. To reduce tensions at the workplace, the army reduced its hours, which led it to search for other opportunities.
Her future husband, Bill Clark, saw the difficulty she was facing to get interviews, and suggested that she uses the neutral name between YY on her CV.
The tactic worked. She became the first black woman who rented her RCA In 1955, I worked in the company’s electronic pipeline department in Camden, New Jersey
Although it excelled in the design of the factory equipment, it faced more hostility in the workplace.
Unfortunately, IEEE-Elusa says, “She felt hostile to her colleagues and resenting her success.”
When Bell, who had assumed the position of faculty as a vital chemistry coach in College of Medicine In Nashville, the proposed marriage, accepted impatiently. They got married in December 1955, and moved to Nashville.
In 1956 Clark applied for a full -time center in Ford Motor Company‘sNashville is a glass, where she was training during the summer while she was a student in Howard. Despite its qualifications, it was deprived of the job because of its race and gender.
She decided to practice a profession in academic circles, and in 1956 she became the first woman to learn mechanical engineering at Tennessee State University. In 1965 she became the first woman to headTsuDepartment of Mechanical Engineering.
During teaching at TSU, I followed additional education, and obtained a master’s degree in the engineering administration from Nashville Vanderbilt UniversityIn 1972 – another step in its lifetime commitment to professional growth.
After 55 years with the university, as she was also a student adviser at most of that time, Clark retired in 2011 and was appointed as an honorary professor.
A legacy of leadership and advocacy
Clark’s effect extended beyond TSU. She was active in Engineers Association After becoming the first black member in 1951.
Racism, however, followed it even within the professional circles.
At the SWE 1957 conference in Houston, Al -Hadath Hotel initially refused to enter due to the separation policies, according to 2022 Clark profile. Under pressure from the community’s leadership, the hotel is at risk; Clark could attend sessions, but it had to be accompanied by a white woman at all times and was not allowed to stay in the hotel despite his payment for a room. It was compensated and instead it remained with relatives.
As a result of this incident, SWE pledged again to hold a conference in a separate city.
Over the decades, Clark remained a hero for women in STEM. In one SWE interview, future generations advised: “Prepare yourself. Do your work. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, and benefit by meeting other women. All you want, know that and follow it.
“The environment is what you make. Sometimes the environment is hostile, but do not worry about it. Be aware of that so that you are not full.”
Her contributions were awarded many awards, including SWE Prize for Teachers, distinguished engineering for the year 1998 and the Tennessee Association for Professional Engineers for the year 2001.
Permanent impression
Clark’s legacy was not limited to engineering; She was deeply involved in the service of Nashville. I served on a board The eighteenth family enrichment center And participate in Nashville Trade Chamber. It was active in the semester of Hendersonville from Links, Voluntary Service Organization for Black Women, and Chapter Nashville Alumni Delta Sigma Theta sorority. It also directed members Boy scoutsMany of them went to continue the engineering professions.
Clark spent her life expelling the barriers she tried to hinder. Not only did the glass ceiling be broken – she designed its way to the people who came after it.
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