"Make Black History Everyday!": Ivor Blackman

Meet Ivor Blackman, a 21 year old native from Brooklyn, New York. He makes history everyday through the knowledge of math. Ivor is currently a math tutor at Medgar Evers College located in Brooklyn, New York. History is all about a series of events connected to someone or something. Some people forget how important our professors, mentors and tutors are. How many of us have a specific educator that was patient with you even after you failed your exam? Who stayed with you and helped you until you knew the insides and outsides of the subject? And if you think about them now you can say "Yo, I'll never forget how [insert name here] helped me out!"?

"They have this connotation that black people don't like math. I want to break that stereo type in my community. Not only that, I feel like we are destined for greatness, and knowing a little algebra might be the key that we need." - Ivor Blackman

1. What role does education play in your life? Some people don't take higher learning seriously, why is it important to you?

Education for me started at a really young age. My father is the reason for me to be the math genius I am (he instilled my times tables in me, if you know what i mean) and my mother gave me the people skills I needed to get through school. Education is truly my key to freedom. I get to do most of the things I am able to do now because I am recognized for my comprehension. It is important for me to keep my education because that keeps me employed. That is incentive enough! I am at a age to understand what the struggle is like, so I won't add more bills to my parents. They do enough. I am blessed with my position and I am grateful for all that I know.

2. When did you begin tutoring students at Medgar Evers College? 

I started working not as a tutor really, but we call it Supplemental instruction. This was a different type of "tutoring" because it was not the typical one-on-one. This more pertains to a more group dynamic where instead of me being the dominant "tutor", we are all learning off of each other. I still do one-on-ones though. My subject of specialty is mathematics. I just love it. My session varies from class to class. I have plenty of students now though. Some days I am overwhelmed because I could have 10 students at once (and it isn't even around finals time). Some of them would refuse to go to any other tutor but me. I sometimes think my coworkers get a little jealous because they don't have nearly as any students as me. They do feel sorry for me at times sometimes though because they see how many students I have, but I actually am appreciative having so many,

3. Had you thought about tutoring before? When did you realize you could use your strengths to help others? 

I have never thought of tutoring before. I haven't thought in a million years I could teach this to the average person. I just needed a job at first, but then it became way more than that. It feels great to make a difference in someone else's life. Some of them would stubble and keep repeating a class over and over again, but then they meet me, and the rest is history. I tutor because I know people need it. Tutoring is important to everyone and you get to meet a lot of people. Even after hours, I would stay there just to make sure they get it. The money isn't as important to me as them passing the class. I think the fact that I care so much about them passing makes me different. I want to see people succeed in life. That is all I care about. Nothing is hard if you put your mind to it. I think maybe the hardest part is hearing that your student failed. Yea. It happens sometimes. It just isn't always your fault as the tutor though. The student just lacks motivation. but nothing is really hard about what I do.

4. Have you had your "Mr. Joe Clark" moment? What keeps you going session after session? I'm sure sometimes you may lose patience sometimes.

Actually, I've been blessed with patience. I realized it was worth it when you just hear the buzz of other students talking about you. I don't talk much , but my work talks for me. I have no idea what they say of me while I am tutoring them, but I do know I have done something when a complete stranger finds out my name and says "I've heard about you."

5. With tutoring you acquire a lot of experience helping others, where do you plan on applying such experience?

I see myself as a teacher someday, but that is still in the air. At the end of the day, tutoring helps me to polish up my "people-person" skills. I am looking at more of a financial perspective when I am older - maybe even help the United States economy!

6. Any last words?

I hear a lot of people say that they hate math. All I have to say is, you shouldn't. I always ask my students if they didn't love math, who else would count their money? Cause I know if i was counting their money , I would take some to teach them a lesson. My mentor has always taught me that 2+2 is 4 in any country! Math is just so universal.


Ivor has tutored over 40 students since he's began tutoring at MEC. That's 40+ students one step closer to a degree! If that's not Black history, I dont know what is! In addition to that, he also works as a Teachers Assistant. Clearly Ivor knows his way around a classroom! Thank you Ivor for having such a powerful impact on our community, thank you for making Black History everyday!

Thank you for reading!!!
Evelyn


Do you know someone who's making Black History everyday? Please email me! My email can be found in my Contact Me tab!