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As a career I am hesitant. Given my experience and dealing with former colleagues prejudices over simple misunderstandings. A lot is assumed when you are black
by just_myles 8y ago
As a career I am hesitant. Given my experience and dealing with former colleagues prejudices over simple misunderstandings.
A lot is assumed when you are black. Here are some things that I have experienced:
- Think you are not qualified to do the job.
- Think you are filling a quota.
- Think you do not have a technical background.
- Whenever there is a disagreement: I was seen as being aggressive, impatient, or loud (Echoes the authors sentiment).
You are locked in a state of always having to prove yourself. Honestly I don't want my son to go through something like that let alone someone else.
I once interviewed for a job at a local company where the hiring recruiter asked me if I was a citizen because he said I sounded foreign (What does that even mean?). I told him no that I am a local and never heard from him again. This has happened to me a few times.
- mc32 8y agoThat’s a shame. If I were black, I’d probably like to advocate doing what other ascendant groups have done, build from within, support from within till some parity is achieved. Now, of course, it shouldn’t have to be this way, but current efforts don’t seem to be working as expected. It’s imperative that every American have an opportunity to succeed, if we are going to remain an innovative and vibrant economy. We already rely heavily, maybe too much on imported (skilled) labor when we have so much available locally, domestically, but we’re not developing it from cradle to contributor to society very well. So this is a bummer.
- ikeyany 8y agoIf you were black you probably wouldn't give a shit about tech to the point of being an advocate. Statistically speaking, you wouldn't have a whole different perspective on what issues are important enough to pursue.
- just_myles 8y agoYou know, you're right and I have (Even having said that I would not personally want them to go through the bs that I have had to go through.). It feels pretty good to vent this kind of thing. Definitely, I am always trying to mentor those who need it but, I do give forewarning about what to expect(What I stated above). I also agree about the labor issues. The experience I described above has happened to me quite a few times when I was out on the job hunt. We have great students who maybe are not at ivy league level but, are either self taught or willing to learn. We need to give them a chance first. Btw that's all diverse groups, not just Black Americans.
- lawnchair_larry 8y agoAre you a developer? PM? Something else?
- just_myles 8y agoI have been all three at some point in my 10 years experience in e-commerce and entertainment.