When we first posted The Black Founder List during Black History Month, the world looked very different. Coronavirus was not being mentioned much in the news in the US, nor were Black founders. Fast forward to today, the Black Lives Matter movement has begun to affect how people see the Black experience across every industry, even tech. This movement is pushing people to go beyond short term solutions, as the country has begun a larger discussion around how to address racism and make the startup, tech, and venture capital industry
My name is Alicia, and I’m an Inclusion and Diversity practitioner for a technology services company. A little about me for context, I’m a Black Latina from small-town Iowa. After making my way through University [first gen], I landed in Denver, trying to find a way to tie the content I care about [diversity, equity, and inclusion] to my professional career. I’ve worked in marketing and now support the technology sector through workforce management. After 28 years on this earth filled with teaching moments [five in corporate America], I’m here
Designers can dismantle the New Jim Code. Here’s how. The disproportionate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Blacks and the continued violence against Black lives as elucidated in protests responding to the death of George Floyd has thrown light on pervasive systemic racism against Black people in the United States. That extends to the technology industry. Anti-Black racism in technological design abounds, and it cannot go unnoticed and unchallenged. Consider the evidence: Many wearable heart rate trackers rely on technology that could be less reliable for users with darker skin, which negatively
Subscribe to the Techish Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, And Other Platforms. Episode Content: In this episode of this Techish, Abadesi and Michael discuss: All the new VC funds targeting black founders? [0:57] Alexis Ohanian steps down at Reddit [4:23] IBM abandons facial recognition software [15:17] WoC blocked from negotiation [19:15] Extras: Techish on Patreon: Advertise with Techish: Please rate and review the Techish podcast
From the day I realized I was destined to be a coder, I knew I was going to be an underrepresented group in more ways than one. It started to hit me in the few classes I took throughout grade school, but I didn’t realize how much of a minority I was until college. I’m lucky that for the most part, I have been able to fit in with my other software engineering peers. But there is still a lot that I have realized about being the only woman of
Subscribe to the Techish Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, And Other Platforms. Episode Content: In this episode of this Techish, Abadesi and Michael discuss: ✊🏾 #BlackLivesMatter🤦🏾♂️ Deleting Trump off Twitter? [6:17]👍🏾 Profiting off Black Culture [11:12]🚀 Space X launch! [29:20]🤖 Microsoft automating journalism? [24:49] Extras: Techish on Patreon: Advertise with Techish: Please rate and review the Techish podcast
Near the end of the summer, interns around the globe may find themselves thinking, “I haven’t really used my internship like I want to.” Or, “How do I add some extra polish to the end of this experience?” Especially because of the ongoing pandemic, interns can and should tackle the end of their internships with confidence and visible appreciation for the community that has hosted them. With the intention to start planning the next steps after the internship. Note: The following tips are for if the internship goes well and
It took a white man, CEO of Twitter Jack Dorsey, to point out one of the most powerful, yet underrated stories coming out of Africa, when he said “ Africa will define the future of Bitcoin.” I am here to tell you that story. After years of poor governance and corruption, the time has now caught up with Africa’s states. They are unable to generate enough job opportunities for the millions of digital native Africans that spend 6 hours every day glued to their WhatsApp, Tik Toks, selfies and hyper-localized
Subscribe to the Techish Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, And Other Platforms. Episode Content: In this episode of this Techish, Abadesi and Michael discuss: 💰 Jeff Bezos the trillionaire?💭 Google scaling back diversity efforts? [9:32]👩🏾💻 Remote work for all? [30:08]🎤 Deep faking Jay Z [17:29] Extras: Techish on Patreon: Advertise with Techish: Please rate and review the Techish podcast
About the author: Austin Jeter is a senior at Morehouse College who aspires to work within Product after he graduates in May. Ultimately, Austin’s chief ambition is to be a venture capitalist. Feel free to contact Austin at Austinlb.jeter@gmail.com regarding opportunities, questions, comments, etc When you think of the technology industry, the first place that comes to mind is Silicon Valley. Your mind might also drift to the t-shirt wearing, free food, and “nap pod” centric work culture. Others may think of the Stanford and Harvard grads forming startups trying to
