The StoryGraph, a Black woman-owned cataloging web platform for books, took to X, formerly Twitter, announcing they have had to take their platform offline to upgrade its servers. The StoryGraph The StoryGraph, founded by Nadia Odunayo, is a competitor of Amazon-owned social cataloging platform Goodreads as it uses a freemium model, with some features only available in a subscription plan. Founded in 2019, StoryGraph was initially a side project for tracking books. After studying at Oxford University, Odunayo went into the world of software engineering but, in 2019, decided to work
Claudine Gay, Havard University’s first Black president, has resigned following allegations of plagiarism and criticism over her comments about antisemitism on campus. Gay released a letter announcing her resignation, saying it was in the university’s best interests for her to go. “It has been distressing to have doubt cast on my commitments to confronting hate and to upholding scholarly rigor,” she said. “This is not a decision I came to easily. Indeed, it has been difficult beyond words.” She said she had been subjected to personal threats and racial animus. Anti-semitism comments
Many of us have kickstarted 2024 with goals for the new year. These goals range from learning more about our finances and getting fit to prioritizing our wellbeing or simply reading more. We have compiled a list of some Black-owned apps that may help you on your way! Prioritize Your Wellbeing – Exhale Black founder Katara McCarty launched her app, Exhale, in 2020 after struggling to find an app suited to Black women’s wellbeing. Exhale is the first emotional wellbeing app for Black, Indigenous, and Women of Color (BIWOC). The app coaches users through
US Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson, a nurse and American politician who represented Texas in the US House of Representatives for 30 years, has died. Johnson’s son, Dawrence Kirk Johnson, posted his mother’s death on Facebook, stating, “I am heartbroken to share the news that my mother, Eddie Bernice Johnson, has passed away.” “While we mourn the loss of an extraordinary woman, we celebrate her life and legacy. She will be deeply missed.” Eddie Bernice Johnson Johnson was born in Waca, Texas, and grew up in the segregated South. She studied nursing at
Heather Dowdy is Netflix’s Director of Product Accessibility, with a unique and inspiring story. Growing up on Chicago’s South Side as a Child of Deaf Adults (CODA), Dowdy’s life at the intersection of race, disability, gender, and socioeconomic status uniquely positioned her for her role at Netflix. Her journey showcases the power of resilience and innovation in overcoming systemic barriers, particularly in the tech industry. Early Life For Dowdy From a young age, Dowdy was immersed in hearing and Deaf cultures, navigating two worlds and recognizing the need for access
This article was originally published by Carla C. Whyte on Medium. I transitioned from classroom teaching to a remote role in Customer Success in approximately three months. My role was ‘no-code’, meaning I did not need to learn to code in order to be considered for it. I’m naming that my role was ‘no-code’ because there is still some confusion for many people not yet in “tech”, that “tech” is a role. By itself, “tech” is not a role — it is an industry. Much like other industries — healthcare, automotive,
Black Tech Saturdays is an initiative amplifying Black representation in technology, originated from the vision of Detroit-based couple Johnnie and Alexa Turnage. Inspired by the tech ecosystem in Baltimore and guided by the equitech framework, the Turnages expanded their mission to cultivate wealth and community for Black tech professionals. This movement is not just about fostering professional connections; it embodies the pursuit of “Black joy” – the freedom to pursue dreams with creativity and impact. The Detroit-Baltimore Connection With a background in grassroots organizing and influenced by Dug Song, co-chair of
In 2023, the tech industry witnessed both advancements and persistent challenges concerning the experiences of Black and Brown individuals. Some companies are making strides in diversity and inclusion efforts, incorporating initiatives such as mentorship programs and targeted hiring practices. However, the sector has grappled with the complex intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) issues and ongoing legal battles against affirmative action. Concerns regarding biased algorithms and AI systems perpetuating discrimination have prompted discussions about the ethical use of technology in hiring and workplace practices. However, no matter how good or bad
The University of Washington’s recent study on Stable Diffusion, a popular AI image generator, reveals concerning biases in its algorithm. The research, led by doctoral student Sourojit Ghosh and assistant professor Aylin Caliskan, was presented at the 2023 Conference on Empirical Methods in Natural Language Processing and published on the pre-print server arXiv. The Three Key Issues The report picked up on three key issues and concerns surrounding Stable Diffusion, including gender and racial stereotypes, geographic stereotyping, and the sexualization of women of color. Gender and Racial Stereotypes The AI
The nation’s leading science and education organizations have partnered to launch the Action Collaborative on Transforming Trajectories for Women of Color in Tech, paving the pathway in tech education and careers. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine launched the action collaboratively alongside 35 other institutions representing higher education, national laboratories, and government. Action Collaborative The action collaborative is guided by the findings and recommendations from the 2022 consensus report Transforming Trajectories for Women of Color in Tech. Using an intersectional approach, the collaborative aims to transform the pathways in tech
