4 ms·

> It shouldn't (and often doesn't) matter what you look like So why exactly do they need to recruit more black people? Instead of like, everyone?

lsiclait 12y ago
Part of it may be social networks. Recruiting "everyone" usually ends up being recruit "everyone you know". And social circles are often not terribly diverse: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2014/08/25/three-quarters-of-whites-dont-have-any-non-white-friends http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2014/08/25/t...
dethstar 12y ago
Because "like, everyone" (aka people in the demographic they have supported as of now) often have had more chances/advantages in their lives. Listening to some ideas from people with different backgrounds couldn't hurt.
- deleted 12y ago
  [deleted]
- Cakez0r 12y ago
  Black is not a background, though.
chc 12y ago
Because the world is not an infinite plane of uniform density. Being a successful entrepreneur is achievable regardless of race, but the same opportunities are not presented with equal availability to everyone.
thedaveoflife 12y ago
Your question is answered in the article: YC is interested in making money and they seem to believe that having more diverse founders will help them do that.
- owenmarshall 12y ago
  From a "cold hard cash" standpoint, it's a really good idea. For example: Africa is currently going through a mobile phone revolution. Want to see staggering growth numbers? Look at mobile banking in Nigeria and Kenya. Look at what Sproxil is doing to combat counterfeit prescriptions. Hell, in lots of places mobile phone air time is becoming as important as local currencies. Think a lily-white Stanford graduate would see a market in top up cards? I bet you they wouldn't!
  - Jun8 12y ago
    "Think a lily-white Stanford graduate would see a market in top up cards? I bet you they wouldn't!" Maybe you don't realize but your comment is quite racist. So, you think by virtue of being black, every African-American somehow has an inherent understanding of African nations. Here's a excerpt from Jumpa Lahiri's book The Namesake about similar sentiments for a second generation Indian-American man talking to friends of his white girlfriend about getting sick while visiting India: "But you must be lucky that way" "What do you mean?" "I mean, you must never get sick." "Actually that's not true," he says, slightly annoyed... "We get sick all the time. We have to get shots before we go. My parents devote the better part of a suitcase to medicine." "But you're Indian," Pamela says frowning, "I'd think the climate wouldn't affect yo, given your heritage." "Pamela, Nick's American," Lydia says ... "He was born here."
    - owenmarshall 12y ago
      > So, you think by virtue of being black, every African-American somehow has an inherent understanding of African nations. I never mentioned African Americans in my comment. It seems that you're taking "black" to mean "African American", but that's not what my comment said. Nor the article, for that matter.
      - deleted 12y ago
        [deleted]
      - Jun8 12y ago

lsiclait 12y ago

Part of it may be social networks. Recruiting "everyone" usually ends up being recruit "everyone you know". And social circles are often not terribly diverse: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2014/08/25/three-quarters-of-whites-dont-have-any-non-white-friends http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2014/08/25/t...

dethstar 12y ago

Because "like, everyone" (aka people in the demographic they have supported as of now) often have had more chances/advantages in their lives. Listening to some ideas from people with different backgrounds couldn't hurt.

deleted 12y ago
[deleted]
Cakez0r 12y ago
Black is not a background, though.

chc 12y ago

Because the world is not an infinite plane of uniform density. Being a successful entrepreneur is achievable regardless of race, but the same opportunities are not presented with equal availability to everyone.

thedaveoflife 12y ago

Your question is answered in the article: YC is interested in making money and they seem to believe that having more diverse founders will help them do that.

owenmarshall 12y ago
From a "cold hard cash" standpoint, it's a really good idea. For example: Africa is currently going through a mobile phone revolution. Want to see staggering growth numbers? Look at mobile banking in Nigeria and Kenya. Look at what Sproxil is doing to combat counterfeit prescriptions. Hell, in lots of places mobile phone air time is becoming as important as local currencies. Think a lily-white Stanford graduate would see a market in top up cards? I bet you they wouldn't!
- Jun8 12y ago
  "Think a lily-white Stanford graduate would see a market in top up cards? I bet you they wouldn't!" Maybe you don't realize but your comment is quite racist. So, you think by virtue of being black, every African-American somehow has an inherent understanding of African nations. Here's a excerpt from Jumpa Lahiri's book The Namesake about similar sentiments for a second generation Indian-American man talking to friends of his white girlfriend about getting sick while visiting India: "But you must be lucky that way" "What do you mean?" "I mean, you must never get sick." "Actually that's not true," he says, slightly annoyed... "We get sick all the time. We have to get shots before we go. My parents devote the better part of a suitcase to medicine." "But you're Indian," Pamela says frowning, "I'd think the climate wouldn't affect yo, given your heritage." "Pamela, Nick's American," Lydia says ... "He was born here."
  - owenmarshall 12y ago
    > So, you think by virtue of being black, every African-American somehow has an inherent understanding of African nations. I never mentioned African Americans in my comment. It seems that you're taking "black" to mean "African American", but that's not what my comment said. Nor the article, for that matter.
    - deleted 12y ago
      [deleted]
    - Jun8 12y ago