You’ve likely noticed by now that the world has finally decided to amplify a long, on-going conversation about racism — at least for the moment. In the US, underpinning the headlines about policing and excessive use of force on Black and Brown bodies is the conversation about how systemic power disparities affect the Black community. As a Black, gay man from the South, I live this conversation. As a Black designer, I see my lived experience reflected in the perpetuation and preservation of white supremacy across the design field, both
With the global pandemic confining many to their homes, it seemed like everyone was talking Crypto, GameStop, and Dogecoin. Many wondered, “am I the only one not getting rich?” Hello FOMO… The year indoors provided many with newfound disposable cash. The upside is a significant investment boom amongst Black millennials – with Black Americans investing in the stock market at three times the rate of their white counterparts. The investment gap This surge of activity by US Black millennials investors is closing the “investment gap”. According to an Ariel Investment and
It’s New Year’s Eve 2020, and I’m sure we are all thinking the same thing: “Thank you; next”. Seriously, what a year; but, onwards and upwards. On a personal note, 2020 has been a uniquely challenging, yet incredibly meaningful year for my career — launching Google’s first Accelerator programs for both women founders and Black founders. Running a program for Black entrepreneurs as a member of the Black community myself, I was more in a rhythm than I’ve ever felt professionally. It was comfortable, natural, and authentic to be able to support black entrepreneurship — not to
In the tech industry, less than 5% of the workforce is African-American, and we know the tech sector has a long way to go in fixing diversity issues. The following list is a short intro to just some of the Black product designers who are flourishing in Silicon Valley, the corporate world, and beyond. They are creating incredible experiences, and invaluable products, and are supporting the next generation of designers. Mariam Braimah Mariam is a product designer at Netflix. She is also the founder of Kimoyo Fellowship, a design program teaching the
Now, more than ever, mental health is making national headlines. Yet when it comes to treatment for mental illness, Black people are at a severe disadvantage. This past year alone, the pandemic, Black Lives Matter and fighting a system of oppression and racism has taken a significant toll on our mental health. However, due to the stigma in the community of seeking help, we aren’t supported in our struggles. When we seek help, it isn’t easy to find providers who understand us, trust us, and relate to our experience. There are
No, I didn’t join an ashram in India. When I was 17, the thought of postponing college for a gap year never crossed my mind. While it may have sounded nice to spend a year traveling, volunteering, and doing other activities to further “personal growth” — for financial and cultural reasons, it was neither a consideration nor a real option. And so, I went to college. After college, I started working a full-time job and did so for the next several years. In that time, I worked many a late-night;
Techish is back with a brand new episode! Abadesi and Michael discuss the challenges of starting companies with our friends. (13:00) They also break down: Zoom causing an increase in plastic surgery, and a look into the future of our online identities (0.30) Africa’s new basketball league, J.Cole playing for team Rwanda (10:05) Allowing apps to track you online: yes or no? (20:08) Elon Musk’s performance on SNL (29:00) Sponsors Flatiron Health is hiring! Check out their open positions Moveable Ink is hiring on pocitjobs.com Extras Techish on PatreonAdvertise with TechishPlease rate and review the Techish podcast
Greenhouse is hiring! Check out their roles here Wayne Titus has had an unconventional path into his current career. He began his professional journey as a comparative literature student at Yale University, with a burning desire to help people. He now finds himself doing just that, but in the most unexpected field: Tech. Today, Titus works as the Manager of the Enterprise Practice at Greenhouse Software. He has built a team that works to ensure the company’s onboarding clients get the best possible experience. He uses his unique perspective and
As a Black designer working in predominately white spaces, I have to think about how I show up in my professional environment. I make sure my tone is friendly. Non-threatening. I edit my speech so that others won’t doubt my intelligence. I am mindful of my brightly colored locs and try to dress in a way that signals I am a professional. I didn’t realize it for a long time, but I designed a different version of my Blackness: a created version to fit into white society. To some extent,
