Resistance or Existence as Protest: Humanizing Black Men in <scp>STEM</scp> Education

ABSTRACT Black Men continue to be underrepresented in STEM fields. In recent years, scholars have argued that current issues with retention in STEM majors have less to do with Black students' mastery of STEM topics and are more related to the hostile environments they experience in their effort to obtain STEM degrees. Statistics show that Black Men leave STEM majors in record numbers, which can in part explain their relatively low representation in STEM fields. In this study, we document the experiences of 50 Black Men who held careers in STEM fields, acknowledging and amplifying voices that commonly experience erasure in these settings. Moments when these men exercised resistance to maintain their placement in STEM environments and remained in their respective fields are highlighted. We sought to answer the research question: What experiences shape the career trajectory of Black Men STEM professionals, and how do those experiences and their response to them lead to career persistence? We present 3 major findings: (1) Existence as Protest: Black Males Occupying STEM Spaces, (2) Acknowledging Hurdles, Surpassing Low Expectations, and (3) Making Broader Impacts. Future implications for research and suggestions for the broader STEM education community are discussed.