6 ms·

Posing the question to gain more familiarity with African-Americans in tech: who were the other candidates for this position?

krrrh 6y ago
It’s a board seat for a company that produces a cultural product, there is no reason it had to be another person in tech, though there may have been an unstated intention to make sure that the representation of YC associated individuals on the board stayed the same or increased.
devnull3456 6y ago
Do you not care about Asian-Americans or Indian-Americans in tech? You might need to check your privilege, your comment comes across as very racist.
deleted 6y ago
[deleted]
russellendicott 6y ago
There was a reddit announcement the other day that stated /u/kn0thing was stepping down from the board and requested that a black person fill his place. https://www.reddit.com/r/announcements/comments/gxas21/upcoming_changes_to_our_content_policy_our_board/?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share https://www.reddit.com/r/announcements/comments/gxas21/upcom...
- PHGamer 6y ago
  are boards not considered employees. feel like this would violate labor laws.
  - robbintt 6y ago
    They are not.
- username90 6y ago
  As a non American I don't know how you label things, but can this guy even be considered black? He looks like a regular person from southern Europe. https://news.yale.edu/sites/default/files/styles/horizontal_image/public/d6_files/213604455-YaleNews.jpg?itok=yVPsychG https://news.yale.edu/sites/default/files/styles/horizontal_...
  - username90 6y ago
    My point was, if they really wanted someone who have experienced discrimination against blacks why pick a mostly white African American who most would consider white if they weren't told otherwise?
    - cmdshiftf4 6y ago
      Outside of the US, most people's experience with black people is with first-generation African migrants, or their second generation children. There are exceptions of course, but it largely holds true. The US, however, has had a large black population for many generations now. Over time, many have mixed with other races in the US (as with every race there really) and consequentially you may have people that are 1/4 black genetically but who hold strongly to their identity as a black person. Often this has stemmed from racism i.e. if someone's child is a quarter black, they're seen/treated as black by other races and therefore it's the identity they form for themselves. Shaun King, a prominent black activist, is an example of someone who on sight many outside the US (and many inside the US, from what I've seen), would absolutely not consider a black man, but genetically he apparently is and it's central to his identity. Photo: https://cdn.cnn.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/150819225407-black-lives-matter-activist-african-america-shaun-king-lemon-ctn-00000324-large-169.jpg https://cdn.cnn.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/150819225407-black-li...
    - Emma_Goldman 6y ago
      This strongly conflicts with my perception. I live and grew up in Europe and, to me, he looks like a black person. I really don't think people would ordinarily perceive him as white. Plus, he worked for the head of the NAACP at one point, and is a friendly, supportive and encouraging guy.
- deleted 6y ago
  [deleted]

krrrh 6y ago

It’s a board seat for a company that produces a cultural product, there is no reason it had to be another person in tech, though there may have been an unstated intention to make sure that the representation of YC associated individuals on the board stayed the same or increased.

devnull3456 6y ago

Do you not care about Asian-Americans or Indian-Americans in tech? You might need to check your privilege, your comment comes across as very racist.

deleted 6y ago

[deleted]

russellendicott 6y ago

There was a reddit announcement the other day that stated /u/kn0thing was stepping down from the board and requested that a black person fill his place. https://www.reddit.com/r/announcements/comments/gxas21/upcoming_changes_to_our_content_policy_our_board/?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share https://www.reddit.com/r/announcements/comments/gxas21/upcom...

PHGamer 6y ago
are boards not considered employees. feel like this would violate labor laws.
- robbintt 6y ago
  They are not.
username90 6y ago
As a non American I don't know how you label things, but can this guy even be considered black? He looks like a regular person from southern Europe. https://news.yale.edu/sites/default/files/styles/horizontal_image/public/d6_files/213604455-YaleNews.jpg?itok=yVPsychG https://news.yale.edu/sites/default/files/styles/horizontal_...
- username90 6y ago
  My point was, if they really wanted someone who have experienced discrimination against blacks why pick a mostly white African American who most would consider white if they weren't told otherwise?
  - cmdshiftf4 6y ago
    Outside of the US, most people's experience with black people is with first-generation African migrants, or their second generation children. There are exceptions of course, but it largely holds true. The US, however, has had a large black population for many generations now. Over time, many have mixed with other races in the US (as with every race there really) and consequentially you may have people that are 1/4 black genetically but who hold strongly to their identity as a black person. Often this has stemmed from racism i.e. if someone's child is a quarter black, they're seen/treated as black by other races and therefore it's the identity they form for themselves. Shaun King, a prominent black activist, is an example of someone who on sight many outside the US (and many inside the US, from what I've seen), would absolutely not consider a black man, but genetically he apparently is and it's central to his identity. Photo: https://cdn.cnn.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/150819225407-black-lives-matter-activist-african-america-shaun-king-lemon-ctn-00000324-large-169.jpg https://cdn.cnn.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/150819225407-black-li...
  - Emma_Goldman 6y ago
    This strongly conflicts with my perception. I live and grew up in Europe and, to me, he looks like a black person. I really don't think people would ordinarily perceive him as white. Plus, he worked for the head of the NAACP at one point, and is a friendly, supportive and encouraging guy.
deleted 6y ago
[deleted]