Mathematician

Every problem has a solution, and you are the one who is going to find it. Do not let anybody tell you math is not for you. Katherine Johnson did the math that put astronauts in orbit. Start saying it out loud today: I am going to be a mathematician. Then pick up the chalk and prove it.

About This Poster

This Mathematician motivational poster features a photograph of a young African American student solving a math problem at a classroom chalkboard, with the affirmation printed below the image. Part of the When I Graduate series, a set of motivational posters designed to introduce young people to careers that open up when they stay in school and work hard. The open edition poster is printed on paper and ready for framing or display as is.

The affirmation printed on the poster reads:

I'm going to be a Mathematician.

Why It Matters

Black mathematicians have shaped American science for generations. Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson calculated trajectories for NASA's early space missions, a story told in the book and film Hidden Figures. Representation matters in the classroom; a student who can see themselves in a career is more likely to reach for it.

About the Founder

D'azi Productions, now Motivational Product Depot, was founded by William Armstead to create motivational art with an emphasis on the African American cultural experience. His posters invite viewers of every background to learn from the past and to apply its lessons to their own goals today.