We have always been told that making connections and networking are essential to growing, learning, and improving in our industries. Conferences for people of color provide a safe space for professionals to build their brand and increase visibility while relating to others who understand their experiences. In 2024, this field continues to open its doors wider to professionals of color, offering a series of tech conferences designed to connect, celebrate, and elevate their contributions and presence. Let’s explore what’s on the calendar this year. May Latinas in Tech Summit – San
Women’s History Month 2024 shines a spotlight on ‘Champions of Change,’ celebrating women who advocate for equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI). This month-long observance in March honors the role of women in American history and acknowledges their ongoing efforts to create a more equitable world. This year’s theme particularly resonates with the tech industry, where women, especially Black women, are significantly underrepresented, undermined, and excluded. In this context, we have spotlighted some Black women in tech whose startups are breaking barriers, building bridges, and making the world a more equitable place. Laura Weidman Powers – Code2040
Black students demonstrate a high aptitude in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields, the 2024 Black Students and STEM Report has found. However, limited career exposure may contribute to a lack of interest in STEM subjects. High Aptitude, Low Interest The report is a collaboration between YouScience and Black Girls Do STEM. It analyzed data from 328,000 Black US middle and high school students, utilizing YouScience’s Aptitude and Career Discovery tool. Despite demonstrating strong potential for in-demand STEM careers, a significant career exposure gap hinders their pursuit of these opportunities. The findings are illuminating:
Tesla has settled a racial discrimination lawsuit with former employee Owen Diaz after a protracted legal battle. After filing a lawsuit in 2017, Diaz was awarded a staggering $137 million in 2022. However, US District Court Judge William Orrick reduced this to $15 million and then to $3.2 million. The settlement terms remain confidential but mark the end of a lawsuit that revealed disturbing practices within Tesla’s Fremont factory. Diaz vs. Tesla Diaz, who worked as a freight elevator operator for less than a year starting in June 2015, encountered
Don Lemon, the former CNN anchor, has announced that Elon Musk canceled the deal for his upcoming talk show on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. What Happened? Lemon revealed that Musk’s decision came hours after interviewing him for the show’s debut episode. “Elon Musk has canceled the partnership I had with X, which they announced as part of their public commitment to amplifying more diverse voices on their platform,” Lemon shared in a statement. Despite this setback, Lemon remains optimistic, confirming that his show, “The Don Lemon Show,” will still premiere
Idris Elba, renowned British actor and DJ, is steering his creative process towards building a “smart eco-city” on Sherbro Island, off Sierra Leone’s coast. Elba’s Plans According to CNN, Elba, a Sierra Leonean citizen, focuses on blending technological innovation and environmental consciousness in this project. The initiative, in collaboration with Sherbro Alliance Partners and the Sierra Leone government, is an investment venture and a heartening return to his roots, as Elba’s father hailed from Sierra Leone. Sherbro Island, approximately the size of Chicago and historically significant in the slave trade
The potential ban of the social media platform TikTok following the US government’s concern about national security implications could have an unfortunate effect on Black creators. The potential TikTok ban The US government, concerned about national security implications linked to TikTok’s Chinese parent company ByteDance, proposed a bill with a profound impact. The Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, a 12-page document, threatened to uproot TikTok from American soil unless ByteDance sold it. On Wednesday, March 13, the Republican-controlled House voted 352 to 65 on a bill requiring TikTok either be divested from
Tech founder and major political donor Frank Hester reportedly said that looking at Diane Abbott, Britain’s longest-serving Black Member of Parliament (MP), made him “want to hate all Black women” and that she “should be shot.” Hester, the founder and CEO of software company The Phoenix Partnership (TPP), donated £10 million ($12.8 million) to the Conservative Party last year. What Happened? The Guardian reports that Hester made the remarks about Abbott during a 2019 meeting. His comments have sparked widespread outcry, raising serious questions about racism within the tech industry and
NASA’s latest class of astronauts, including two notable Black graduates, Andre Douglas and Christopher Williams, marks a milestone for the agency: it has enlisted 20 Black astronauts since the beginning. A Milestone For Black Astronauts NASA’s recent ceremony at the Johnson Space Center in Houston celebrated the graduation of 10 astronauts, now eligible for various flight assignments. This diverse group is set to participate in future missions, ranging from the International Space Station to the Moon and eventually to Mars. The graduates were selected from an impressive pool of over 12,000 applicants, demonstrating exceptional talent
Jalon Hall, Google’s only Black Deaf employee, has claimed mistreatment and discrimination at the company and has filed a lawsuit. Hall’s Story As reported by the WIRED, in 2020, Hall, an enthusiastic criminal justice master’s graduate, was surprised to receive a LinkedIn message about a job opportunity at Google. Despite her initial skepticism, the offer was genuine, and Hall was soon hired to join Wolverine, a new in-house team tasked with moderating YouTube videos. Her journey to this role was untraditional, as her previous job was at a law firm, where she delved
