Race debate over Silicon Valley documentary heats up on Twitter

Washington Post ^ | October 28, 2011 | Emi Kolawole

[Arec Barrwin]

Race debate over Silicon Valley documentary heats up on Twitter

By Emi Kolawole

“For whatever reason, African Americans tend to be consumers of technology and not really creators of technology,” said Angela Benton, founder of Cued, which she has since put on hold, and founder of the NewME Accelerator program at the center of the documentary.

...

“So, how many black, female programmers do you know,” O’Brien asks PencilYou.In founder Tiffani Bell. “So, before I went to Howard [University], I would say none.”

“Some of these founders show up in a hoodie,” said Uzamere, “We don’t have that luxury to be lackadaisical like that.”

[Arec Barrwin]

Arrington, who founded the popular technology news Web site, TechCrunch, goes on to say, “I don’t know a single, black entrepreneur.”

[martin_fierro]

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[dsrtsage]

This is a subject I’ve thought about a bit. When people moan that the old boys club holds them back. I was coming of age when the computer revolution happened. I taught myself to program (as did most people those days, there weren’t entire university departments in those days dedicated to producing generic, unimaginative, third rate programmers in those days.

In those days, computers, and the growing of networks was a completely white and maybe a little asian world. In those days, anybody with knowledge and ambition could be hired, or start their own company. In the early days large and smaller corporations were desperate and paid top dollar to get anybody with any networking knowledge to create their networks. It was open field, the wild wild west, and like I said...nearly everybody was self taught. The field was way too new to have an old boys club....it was come one come all...it just seemed that people of very narrow demographics chose to pursue it...nobody stopped anybody from pursuing it, there were no barriers, all competent comers were not only welcome, they were compensated well.

[Txngal]

For later reading.

[DJ MacWoW]

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[Glenn]

there weren’t entire university departments in those days dedicated to producing generic, unimaginative, third rate programmers in those days

Damn. How narrow minded.

The guys I work with all come from university and they are top-notch. America is producing some of the most daring, risking and brilliant software people on the planet.

Other than Russia and Eastern Europe, I'd say no one else comes close.

[MASS-2 FAC]

This is total BS.

Google “Jerry Lawson”, he was a very good friend and the founder of video gaming. He was just awarded for his accomplishments this January in Las Vegas. Unfortunately, Jerry passed away in March. His wake was attended by so many people, they couldn't accommodate all of us. Many of the valley high rollers attended Jerry's wake. Jerry was black... Jerry was one of the best silicon guy we had.

I also know many black and female software programmers. Again total BS. I have good friends that are female programmers. And they are good. I've take some with me into several companies because I wanted a person that would produce.

This really pisses me off to make these accusations. They are not true. If a person is good at what they do, all else does not matter.

Semper Fi

[Jack Hydrazine]

Sounds like you need to write to the author of this article and set them straight!

“So, how many black, female programmers do you know,” O’Brien asks PencilYou.In founder Tiffani Bell.

I know 60 of them! LOL!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCdmiZyyGjQ

[FoxPro]

I worked with a black female programmer for a year. She knew more than me, was very nice. Great rack, she had.

[LouAvul]

I could care less about blacks, the black experience, the black condition, the color black, black cats, black holes, or people who whine about nothing.

These people have had six decades and trillions of dollars in bogus funds and programs such as affirmative action, hiring quotas and crap like that.

Quit whining and grow up!

[MASS-2 FAC]

Jack, waste of time. They have their mind made up. I would never change it.

It’s like trying to convert a liberal to a conservative point of view. Whay bother.

Semper Fi

[Talisker]

“So, how many black, female programmers do you know,” O’Brien asks PencilYou.In founder Tiffani Bell. “So, before I went to Howard [University], I would say none.”

Woah - brainstorm!

Who's down for writing an Ebonics shell for C++?

We're talking megabucks here.

[Smogger]

Black programmers. Hah! Most of the programmers I meet now days aren’t even white. They’re Asian, Indian, or Pakistani. I’m the Director of Software Development at my company AND Black. My last hire? An older WHITE WOMAN.

I have a tough time hiring anyone whose English isn’t fluent, and has a heavy accent.