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You don't understand, you lack a certain privilege (or probably have it, depending upon whether we can convince you). You may be a 'minority', but if you are A

You don't understand, you lack a certain privilege (or probably have it, depending upon whether we can convince you). You may be a 'minority', but if you are Asian or Indian, then you don't count because you're not an underprivileged minority.

exstudent2 11y ago
I'm hispanic (not that it should matter!) and grew up dirt poor. Yes, I lacked the privilege of many of my now peers. In the end though I've built a successful career for myself. I'm proud at having done that through working hard and being good at what I do. My ethnicity is only a distraction to my tale.
- splintercell 11y ago
  Do you disagree that there are underprivileged hispanics, or people who were in a similar situation as you, but didn't "make it"?? What solution do you suggest for them?
  - exstudent2 11y ago
    There are absolutely underprivileged people of every race! I happened to grow up around poor hispanics and whites. I would say on average that the hispanics have actually faired a bit better due to (imho) a stronger family culture that offered a bit of a support net. A lot of the poor white people I know ended up in legal trouble or worse, actually dead. The solution that I would advocate for is one of individual responsibility and confidence to make your own choices. Nearly everyone I grew up around (regardless of race) thought it was "lame" that I was into technology. Having the strength to follow your passions in the face of that pressure is key. In fact I would say pressure from people of my own background to continue their lifestyle was much harder to overcome than the small amount of discrimination I've faced in the professional world. It sounds almost too good to be true, but in the tech industry, if you can write great code you will succeed.
    - splintercell 11y ago
      > It sounds almost too good to be true, but in the tech industry, if you can write great code you will succeed. < Yes, but the narrative is that minorities who don't write better code as good as the members of majority because the former never had privilege to learn how to write good code. Also do check out the articles which convinced Github that Meritocracy is not a good thing[1]. And the site 'Is Tech a meritocracy dot com" [2]. [1] https://modelviewculture.com/pieces/the-dehumanizing-myth-of-the-meritocracy https://modelviewculture.com/pieces/the-dehumanizing-myth-of... [2] http://istechameritocracy.com/ http://istechameritocracy.com/

exstudent2 11y ago

I'm hispanic (not that it should matter!) and grew up dirt poor. Yes, I lacked the privilege of many of my now peers. In the end though I've built a successful career for myself. I'm proud at having done that through working hard and being good at what I do. My ethnicity is only a distraction to my tale.

splintercell 11y ago
Do you disagree that there are underprivileged hispanics, or people who were in a similar situation as you, but didn't "make it"?? What solution do you suggest for them?
- exstudent2 11y ago
  There are absolutely underprivileged people of every race! I happened to grow up around poor hispanics and whites. I would say on average that the hispanics have actually faired a bit better due to (imho) a stronger family culture that offered a bit of a support net. A lot of the poor white people I know ended up in legal trouble or worse, actually dead. The solution that I would advocate for is one of individual responsibility and confidence to make your own choices. Nearly everyone I grew up around (regardless of race) thought it was "lame" that I was into technology. Having the strength to follow your passions in the face of that pressure is key. In fact I would say pressure from people of my own background to continue their lifestyle was much harder to overcome than the small amount of discrimination I've faced in the professional world. It sounds almost too good to be true, but in the tech industry, if you can write great code you will succeed.
  - splintercell 11y ago
    > It sounds almost too good to be true, but in the tech industry, if you can write great code you will succeed. < Yes, but the narrative is that minorities who don't write better code as good as the members of majority because the former never had privilege to learn how to write good code. Also do check out the articles which convinced Github that Meritocracy is not a good thing[1]. And the site 'Is Tech a meritocracy dot com" [2]. [1] https://modelviewculture.com/pieces/the-dehumanizing-myth-of-the-meritocracy https://modelviewculture.com/pieces/the-dehumanizing-myth-of... [2] http://istechameritocracy.com/ http://istechameritocracy.com/