As a Black professional in the tech industry, I've experienced firsthand the many ways in which systemic racism manifests itself in the workplace. From being held to a higher standard to feeling like the only one in the room, Black people are consistently excluded from the strategic decision-making roles that shape the industry.
While I recognize that I'm fortunate to have a non-descriptive accent and a name that doesn't immediately identify me as Black, I've still experienced discrimination during the hiring process. I've had interviews where I felt like I was "vibing" with the interviewer, only to be met with confusion when I arrived for the in-person interview. This experience is not unique to me; it's one that many Black professionals have faced.
The problem is not limited to the hiring process. Once Black professionals are hired, they are often excluded from the strategic decision-making roles that shape the industry. According to industry-wide diversity statistics, Black people account for only 3.1% of the workforce among the top eight largest tech companies in the United States. This percentage drops dramatically when you consider only software engineers and IT professionals. This lack of diversity in leadership positions is not just a problem for the industry; it's a problem for society as a whole.
Let Me Tell You a Story...
I recently was at a company where I shared concerns regarding derogatory comments made in relation the George Floyd protests. HR only seemed interested in who said what, when and how. Not how it impact me. There was no company statement nor internal remarks made. Weeks later, I was told to leave due to 'performance' issues. Despite me being the architect and enforcer of the org's performance KPIs.
Here's my mistake. I assumed that doing the right is the right thing. It is but action without strategy can be painful. At this place, I was given the projects or tasks no one wanted or could see being completed. I completed them all.
Was I too vulnerable?
Or did I speak to the right person?
Anyone who actually knows me, knows that I work hard. I work smart. If I truly want it, I get it done. I am also blunt and direct. I don't play politics as I see it as waste of energy and time. I spend my time building relationships by providing solutions.
How May I Help You?
Since my exit, I went to school so no one can say I'm not technical enough. During that time I interviewed. I have had call interviews where the recruiter or hiring manager and I were vibing.
"We want you to come in and meet the team. You're totally in."
"Sounds great, I'll be there!"
I arrive early, share my name to the receptionist and I am escorted to a waiting room. The person I was 'vibing' with on the phone enters (I know their face because I do research) and for a split second they're confused. They quickly fix their face and smile, "Hi, how may I help you?"
Really? Ok, I'll play.
"Hi, I'm Karl. We spoke on the phone."
"Kaaarrl! Yes, nice to meet you. Where are you from?"
"The midwest."
"Great...well let's go meet the team."
I spend the next fifteen mins of a sixty min appointment awkwardly meeting "the team". Twenty minutes in, we wrap up with the hiring manager saying something along the lines of...
"It was great to meet you...we're excited...we have a few more candidates to review...formalities, you know. We'll give you a call later this week to set up everything."
"Thanks, it was a pleasure and I look forward to your call. Thanks again."
Sometimes they call you, most times they don't. When they do it's the classic, "We chose another candidate. They're just a better fit."
Better fit to what?
Even in college, where I studied Fine Arts there was something out of place. I didn't realize what it was until I moved to Atlanta. I was a 'unicorn'. I was the 2% at the program at the time. There weren't a lot black men or women in the Arts or Architecture program. Where are the black artists?
Now the question is "Where are the black software engineers, cybersecurity analysts, and data analyst?
Black in America means that we make up 13% of the US population, we are naturally in the minority. But in the tech workforce, we are missing. Black people only account for 3.1% of the workforce among the top eight largest tech companies in the land. That percentages drops dramatically if you just count software engineers and those who work in IT.
"How many people work at the company?"
"Oh, we have about 15k employees."
Wow! That's a lot of people making an impact here. Well, how many are black people?"
".............................2.2% of our workforce are people of color."
"Ok, how many are black?"
"I'm not sure, I'll have to speak to HR."
Companies use percentages when reporting about the black workforce. It is a form of deception. How many presidents of the United States were black? The answer is 2.2%. It is more tolerable to say than the reality of just one. Out every hundred programmers hired, two are black.
Well, you can't just position that companies are open to hiring black people. True, I can't 'say' that but reality is reality. Numbers don't lie. Unless the person who inputted numbers did it incorrectly...
As a black techie/developer/coder etc, I've felt undermined by culture of exclusion at workplaces. I've felt like...
He is the one
Yeah, you may find black people in lower levels of customer or technical support but not in the echelon of making strategic decisions and having a large impact. For me, I was alone.
With today's social and political climate, I felt even more alone. With all that has happened, I know that I can not go to work and talk about it. It makes the others uncomfortable or it doesn't hit them as hard as it hits me. I remember going to work and wondering how the office would be after George Floyd.
It was as if it hadn't even happened. There I am, hurting and experiencing PTSD due to my negative interactions with law enforcement and had to put on my mask.
Many times, I asked "Is it worth it?" I've never felt truly comfortable in a room where no one looks like me. I regularly questioned the motives of company decision-makers: Was I looked over or demoted because of lack of experience or simply because I'm not the right fit. Is it because I'm black. There's no way to know for sure.
I've had to carry the gravity of the responsibility to never fail or make a mistake. This is mainly because of my high personal standards but mostly the root of it is to not jeopardize my chances of moving up or getting an opportunity.
So, what can be done to improve diversity in the tech industry? While there's no easy solution, there are concrete steps that companies can take to address this issue. First and foremost, companies must make a commitment to diversity and inclusion at all levels of the organization. This includes setting specific diversity targets and holding executives accountable for achieving those targets. Additionally, companies must provide training on unconscious bias and foster a culture of inclusion where all employees feel valued and heard.
To truly address the issue of diversity in the tech industry, we must also acknowledge the history of systemic racism that has created the problem in the first place. This history includes everything from redlining to discriminatory hiring practices to the lack of access to educational opportunities for Black people. By acknowledging this history, we can begin to address the root causes of the problem and work towards a more equitable future for all.
In conclusion, the lack of diversity in the tech industry is a complex problem that requires a multi-faceted solution. By setting specific diversity targets, providing training on unconscious bias, and acknowledging the history of systemic racism that has created the problem, we can begin to work towards a more equitable and inclusive tech industry.