During the 1956 civil rights bus boycott in Tallahassee, Florida, pioneering Black entomologist Margaret S. Collins found herself in the midst of tense times. Her older son, Herbert, recalls the moments when, on their way to school, they would encounter trouble. "She made me get on the floorboard," he recounts, remembering how his mother would quickly stomp the gas pedal, hoping to outrun the police. Collins, on her daily drives to Herbert's school and then to her university job, was providing rides to people boycotting the city's segregated public buses. Though not as renowned as the Montgomery, Alabama, boycott that began in late 1955, Tallahassee's seven-month boycott faced intense white resistance. The legal system targeted 21 local activists offering rides, fining them $500 each and threatening 60 days in jail if caught in illegal activity within the year.
Herbert vividly remembers crouching in the car, watching his mother's foot press the gas pedal. "I was like, 'You're going to make a hole in the floor if you press it much harder,'" he says. Despite the risks, they never caught her. Entomologist Jessica Ware of the American Museum of Natural History in New York City believes Collins' life would make a compelling movie. Collins specialized in termites, studying specimens now under Ware's care. Though termites are often known for damaging structures, Collins' interest lay in exploring the diversity of over 2,000 termite species worldwide.
Collins began her career studying termite resistance to dehydration in the lab but later became a skilled field biologist, exploring termites in at least 10 countries outside the U.S. She was recognized as an authority on Caribbean termites. Both Collins and Ware, separated by a generation, ventured into Guyana's rainforests, rich in insect diversity but also fraught with dangers like snakes and prowling jaguars. Collins' doctoral dissertation, completed in 1949, made her the third Black woman zoologist in the U.S. with a Ph.D., and the first Black female entomologist to earn such a degree.
Collins' childhood in West Virginia shared similarities with mathematician Katherine Johnson's life, depicted in the 2016 book and movie 'Hidden Figures.' Both women skipped grades, attended the same high school and college, and faced challenges in predominantly white male fields. Collins' father taught agriculture at West Virginia State College, having worked with George Washington Carver, while her mother, Luella, was a passionate reader and aspiring archaeologist. Collins' early love for reading, nurtured by her parents, led her to explore nature from a young age.
Despite facing setbacks in her academic journey, including a lost scholarship and a challenging teacher, Collins persisted. World War II brought further uncertainties, including her husband's military draft. After completing her undergraduate degree in biology, with minors in physics and German, she pursued graduate studies at the University of Chicago. There, she met biologist Alfred Emerson, a pioneer in termite research, who offered her an assistantship that sparked her lifelong fascination with termites.
Collins' research on termite water relations and diversity earned her recognition. She explored termites in various ecosystems, from the Everglades to the Florida Keys, and collaborated with researchers worldwide. Her work included field trips with her sons, Herbert Jr. and James, who became her assistants. Despite the challenges of racism and sexism, Collins' contributions to entomology were significant. She continued her research at Howard University and the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, inspiring future generations of scientists.
Collins' resilience and dedication to her field, despite the obstacles, make her an inspiring figure. Her legacy lives on through the work of entomologists like Ware, who carry forward her passion for exploring the wonders of termite diversity.
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