A different kind of quarterback.
I am not big on celebrations, nor do I accept many invitations to receive awards. There is much work to be done, and the reward is in the doing. I learned this lesson early from my parents, Martha and Robert Guyden. However, I am humbled that anyone would even mention my name in association with E. E. Just. I, like he, was born into a segregated America, and somehow we both found biology. I think Just's life story instigates a discussion on diversity in science, as well it should. However, after reading Tyrone Hayes' (2010 E. E. Just Award recipient) essay from last year, "Diversifying the Biological Sciences: Past Efforts and Future Challenges" (Hayes, 2010), I have little to add on the subject. His words gave voice to my thoughts. That being said, I would like to use these pages to describe my journey into the "Cell" and the people who "hoed the row ahead of me."
City College of New York, New York, NY 10031, USA. jguyden@ccny.cuny.edu
Jerry Charles
JC
Guyden
D001363:Awards and Prizes; D002140:California; D003585:Cell Biology / Q000266:history*; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D009518:New York; D013781:Texas