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How many black girls who code do you know? There is a sufficient deficit such that there are almost no role models and this sort affirmative action makes sense

How many black girls who code do you know? There is a sufficient deficit such that there are almost no role models and this sort affirmative action makes sense.

kirillzubovsky 13y ago
Our president is black. Are you saying that he is therefor not a role model for any white men in the country? Are you saying Barack Obama could only be the role model for black people? That's insane, right? Much the same way it's insane to imply that a white/chinese/indian .... woman cannot be a role model for black girls.
- hackinthebochs 13y ago
  "Looks like me" has a strong psychological impact, especially in environments where the "default" tends to be not-like-me.
  - countrybama24 13y ago
    And when other agents use appearance to form judgements about one another. Part of white/male privilege is having role models that look like you. It makes you feel and be treated as more of an "in-group" member. This shouldn't really be controversial, it's human nature. The response (Black Girls Code) is rational and I think it's sorely needed.
- crystaln 13y ago
  1) There have been a few white male presidents before Barack Obama, in case you didn't know. 2) Many people voted for Obama at least in part because he was black, including myself, because they felt it was time to demonstrate we could and should elect a non-white-male president. 3) The president is a very special singular office, whereas there can be an almost unlimited number of coders. Affirmative action for the role of president or elected political office doesn't make a lot of sense (unless it's done by choice of the electorate.) 4) Indeed Barack Obama is a role model for black men. He showed that a black man (and a non-white-man) CAN be president, something hardly anyone thought was possible in our lifetime prior to his rise to prominence. 5) While a white man could be a role model for a black girl in some sense, people identify with those who share a cultural and racial heritage. While on a certain theoretical level, what you say makes sense, it is not true in the actual world in which we exist.

How many black girls who code do you know? There is a sufficient deficit such that there are almost no role models and this sort affirmative action makes sense.

kirillzubovsky 13y ago

Our president is black. Are you saying that he is therefor not a role model for any white men in the country? Are you saying Barack Obama could only be the role model for black people? That's insane, right? Much the same way it's insane to imply that a white/chinese/indian .... woman cannot be a role model for black girls.

hackinthebochs 13y ago
"Looks like me" has a strong psychological impact, especially in environments where the "default" tends to be not-like-me.
- countrybama24 13y ago
  And when other agents use appearance to form judgements about one another. Part of white/male privilege is having role models that look like you. It makes you feel and be treated as more of an "in-group" member. This shouldn't really be controversial, it's human nature. The response (Black Girls Code) is rational and I think it's sorely needed.
crystaln 13y ago
1) There have been a few white male presidents before Barack Obama, in case you didn't know. 2) Many people voted for Obama at least in part because he was black, including myself, because they felt it was time to demonstrate we could and should elect a non-white-male president. 3) The president is a very special singular office, whereas there can be an almost unlimited number of coders. Affirmative action for the role of president or elected political office doesn't make a lot of sense (unless it's done by choice of the electorate.) 4) Indeed Barack Obama is a role model for black men. He showed that a black man (and a non-white-man) CAN be president, something hardly anyone thought was possible in our lifetime prior to his rise to prominence. 5) While a white man could be a role model for a black girl in some sense, people identify with those who share a cultural and racial heritage. While on a certain theoretical level, what you say makes sense, it is not true in the actual world in which we exist.