The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) recently revealed a significant drop in the percentage of Black students in its incoming class of 2028, following the Supreme Court’s decision to ban race-conscious admissions. Decline in Black and Hispanic Enrollment According to Bloomberg, the most striking impact of the Supreme Court ruling is evident in MIT’s latest admissions data. Black students make up just 5% of the class of 2028, a decline from the 13% average in recent years. Similarly, the proportion of Hispanic students has dropped from 15% to 11%. This reduction
A Texas nonprofit grant program aimed at supporting diverse small business owners, has agreed to revise its application process after being sued for allegedly discriminating against white men. The lawsuit was brought by the American Alliance for Equal Rights (AAER), a group led by conservative activist Edward Blum, who is also suing Fearless Fund, a Black women-led VC firm. Lawsuit Challenges Race-Based Criteria The lawsuit centered around a $50,000 grant offered by the Founders First Community Development Corporation, a nonprofit founded by Kim Folsom and led by Shaylon Scott. The
The Divine Nine, a group of historically Black sororities and fraternities, is stepping up efforts to increase voter turnout among Black Americans, as first reported by Wired. As the US gears up for important elections, these organizations are using both public and private methods to encourage more people to vote, especially in communities where voter suppression is a concern. Using Social Media and Private Chats to Mobilize Voters Members of the Divine Nine are taking to social media to spread the word about the importance of voting. They’re sharing posts,
Brand new Techish! This week, host Michael joined by TechCrunch reporter Dominic-Madori Davis. VCs for Trump vs VCs for Kamala (00:00:10) X is just Elon’s Truth Social (00:04:40) The DEI President (00:08:00) UK riots, racism, and the right to hate speech? (00:15:02) The stock market dip (00:27:23) Preparing for an AI world (00:29:24) Listen to the episode You can find the Techish podcast on Spotify, Apple, and all good podcast apps. Watch On YouTube Extra Reading & Resources VCs For Kamala: 100+ Silicon Valley Investors Back Harris’ Presidential Bid [POCIT] Some
The Healey-Driscoll administration marked a step towards wage equity with a ceremonial bill signing on Tuesday, enacting a law requiring employers in Massachusetts to post pay ranges in job listings. The new legislation, applicable to businesses with 25 or more employees, seeks to enhance economic competitiveness and ensure wage equity for job seekers. Aiming for Economic Competitiveness and Equity Governor Maura Healey emphasized the law’s importance at the ceremony, noting that while Massachusetts is lauded as the best state for women, disparities remain. “We know being number one isn’t good
Bloomberg Philanthropies announced a $600 million gift to support the endowments of the nation’s four historically Black medical schools and the establishment of a new medical school in New Orleans. This gift is part of Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Greenwood Initiative, an effort aimed at advancing racial wealth equity by addressing systemic underinvestment in Black institutions and communities. Strengthening Financial Stability and Institutional Capacity The $600 million donation is designed to increase the financial stability and institutional capacity of these historically Black medical schools which graduate around half of all Black doctors
Over 100 scholars, advocates, and human rights organizations have signed an urgent open letter demanding the Venezuelan government cease its technological repression and ensure unfettered access to the internet. This call to action comes amidst escalating political violence following the South American country’s controversial presidential elections on July 28. The open letter’s signatories include the Center on Race & Digital Justice, Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, the Distributed AI Research Institute (DAIR) and its founder Timnit Gebru. Escalation of Surveillance Post-Elections In the wake of the recent elections, Venezuela has
The income gap between Black and white young adults has narrowed for millennials compared to Generation X, according to a recent study by Harvard University and the U.S. Census Bureau. The study reveals that by age 27, Black Americans born in 1978 to poor parents earned nearly $13,000 less annually than their white counterparts. For those born in 1992, this gap reduced to about $9,500, marking a notable decrease in racial income disparity. Improved Economic Mobility for Black Millennials The reduction in the income gap is attributed to increased economic
Forbes has unveiled its annual 50 over 50 list, highlighting dynamic female leaders and entrepreneurs who have achieved significant success later in life. Let’s meet some Black women over 50 making moves in tech and proving that success has no age limit. Carlotta Berry – Founder of NoireSTEMinist Berry, 54, a robotics expert and engineering professor at the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, founded NoireSTEMinist in 2020. The educational consulting firm promotes diversity in STEM through workshops and products. Berry also co-founded the Rose Building Undergraduate Diversity (ROSE-BUD) program, co-directs a
Google for Startups Accelerator Africa has revealed its 8th cohort, featuring ten startups from Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, and South Africa. These ventures are using AI to address significant issues in healthcare, cargo mobility, energy solutions, and beyond. Pioneering Innovation Across Africa Africa’s tech ecosystem is described as a hub of creativity and problem-solving, driven by startups tackling both local and global challenges with exceptional ingenuity. Since its launch in 2018, the Google for Startups Accelerator Africa program has been important in supporting the continent’s startup landscape. The program has now
