The Supreme Court’s ruling against race-conscious admissions has not reduced Black student representation in the 2024 incoming college class, according to a new analysis. Instead, Vector Solutions, a leading education software and data provider, found a slight increase in Black student enrollment, driven by growth at small public institutions. Increase in Black Student Enrollment Many feared that the Supreme Court’s ruling would drastically lower the number of Black students and other students of color in higher education. However, Vector Solutions’ data, which includes responses from over 624,000 first-year students at
Everyone in my team is a person of color (POC). Before joining this company, I had unconsciously dimmed my ideas, opinions, and a huge part of myself. Working in an industry that’s 94% white, I’d absorbed the belief that stories about race and identity didn’t always need to be told— or perhaps I was making too big a deal of them. My all-POC team changed that for me. It set a new standard for what I expect from the workplace. Feeling Like I’m “Too Much” As a journalism student at
Ride-hailing apps like Uber and Lyft have helped to mitigate racial discrimination against Black passengers—at least when it comes to wait times, a new study from Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) has revealed. Researchers found that the technology’s ability to rapidly rematch canceled rides plays a key role in lessening the impact of discriminatory behavior. A Complex Issue with Tech-Led Solutions Historically, Black passengers hailing taxis faced rampant discrimination, often enduring longer wait times or outright rejections. An academic study had revealed a troubling pattern of discrimination by Uber and Lyft
Reddit is bringing its AI-powered translation tool to more than 35 new countries, with plans to rollout the feature across Latin America in the coming weeks. Following a successful introduction in France earlier this year, users in Brazil and Spain are now able to translate posts and comments with a simple click, making Reddit more accessible to non-English-speaking communities. Seamless Translation Across Platforms This new feature allows Redditors to translate posts and comments into their preferred language across all platforms—mobile web, apps, and desktop. A translation icon in the overflow
The Black Founders Programme, by Digital Catapult and Sony Music UK, is back for its second year, supporting Black British entrepreneurs in creative technology. Ten new startups have joined the 2024 cohort, applying immersive technologies like virtual, augmented and mixed reality to creative industries. Supporting Black Deep Tech Innovation The initiative focuses on improving investment readiness through mentorship, knowledge sharing, and partnerships. Last year, over 80% of participants saw growth in investment readiness, securing key corporate partnerships and investor interest. This year’s cohort explores immersive technology in storytelling, music production,
Rapper and entrepreneur 2 Chainz has joined PepsiCo to launch “Taste of Tomorrow,” a new initiative aimed at addressing the underrepresentation of Black professionals in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) careers. Boosting Black representation in STEM Despite STEM fields experiencing rapid growth, Black professionals currently make up just 9% of the workforce. The “Taste of Tomorrow” initiative aims to break down the systemic barriers Black students face in pursuing STEM careers, such as limited access to advanced coursework and public programming. Rapper and entrepreneur 2 Chainz, a HBCU alum,
Workers of color made up 40.1% of the high tech workforce in 2022, comprising a share similar to the total US workforce, according to a new report from the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). However, Black and Hispanic workers remain significantly underrepresented in the high tech workforce and sector, especially in senior roles, depsite growing numbers. The high tech workforce The high tech workforce refers to workers in 56 science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) occupations regardless of industry, for example, an engineer working at a nonprofit. Black high tech
The Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility (HACR) and a powerful coalition of allied organizations are set to walk over 240 miles from Capitol Hill to Wall Street to push for greater diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in Corporate America. The “Walk to Wall Street” initiative will begin on September 17, 2024, and culminate in New York City’s financial district on October 11. Call for Corporate Diversity The march, led by HACR President and CEO Cid Wilson, aims to highlight ongoing disparities in representation and inclusion in US businesses. Despite some
Atlanta-based venture capital firm Fearless Fund has permanently closed its Strivers Grant program, which provided $20,000 grants to Black women entrepreneurs. This decision follows a settlement with the American Alliance for Equal Rights (AAER), a group led by conservative activist Edward Blum, the man behind the Supreme Court’s affirmative action ruling. Nevertheless, Fearless Fund remains committed to empowering historically overlooked entrepreneurs and plans to launch a new debt fund to continue supporting those in need of capital. Fearless Fund’s Legal Battle In August 2023, AAER sued Fearless Fund, claiming the
The Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) has called on Fortune 500 companies to reaffirm their commitments to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives and set clear, measurable goals amid rising challenges to DEI programs nationwide. Holding corporate America accountable The CBC’s first-of-its-kind report aims to hold Fortune 500 companies accountable for their DEI pledges made after George Floyd’s murder in 2020. Titled “What Good Looks Like”: A Corporate Accountability Report on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, the report is based on months of meetings with hundreds of executives across different sectors and
