3 ms·

The Problem with Racial Diversity in Tech

• lsiebert 12y ago
  It strikes me that gender issues may be easier to address then racial issues in part because of the racial wealth gap. According to the pew research center, Median net worth for American Households was as follows in 2013: Whites: $141,900 Blacks: $11,000 Hispanics: $13,700 So even if you are one of those who believes that racism is gone (which I am definitely not btw) the wealth gap is clear evidence that the effects of racism aren't gone. That means a white person, regardless of gender, is much more likely to be from a wealthier household. We know that there is a dramatic difference in rates of both college acceptance and college graduation based on wealth. So white women are more likely to graduate from college. To the extent that technical workers are judged based on credentials like a college degree, a personal portfolio of unpaid work, or unpaid or low paid internships, a black or hispanic person is much more likely to be at a disadvantage in a job application. I definitely don't think it's all the wealth gap, but it's something to consider.