So, IT (and programming) are both heavily white male industries in the West.
One time on Bird App, there were a bunch of educated Black folk comiserating together that they couldnt get a foot in the door despite having education and experience.
A white dude, managerial level, came into the comments section saying he would be a reference for who needed it. Just DM him. He was tired of The System.
That's on that Ally shit right there. 👌🏿
@BlackMastodon #blackmastodon #blackfedi
@BlackMastodon
Obviously, be careful and do your research as a White person offering a leg up and a POC person receiving that leg up in the business world.
But when a White person, especially a White person in power vouches for you in the business world, I've found all of a sudden doors fly open for you.
Its wild. 🤔
But offer to mentor a POC/Black. Offer to review a resume. Offer to put in a word for them. Mention their name and their work.
THAT is REAL ally shit.
#blackmastodon #blackfedi
@BlackMastodon
(I lost my train of thought. But the thought is back. 😃)
Basically:
- Any White person can give a Black/POC person a leg up. Get creative. Talk to friends and family. You dont have to 'be in power' like a CEO.
- Connect them to people you know in their field.
- Offer to mentor. ASK if they want industry info shared with them. (Don't just assume they don't know. Make it a conversation.)
- For Kids: Big Brothers/Big Sisters is a thing. Suggest careers and LISTEN.
#blackmastodon
@BlackMastodon
I stumbled into knowing White people with connections. And I think my teachers and professionals saw me as 'different'.
(I had an autistic hyper focus on Quantum/Theoretical physics so I think I stood out in my '"inner city" school?)
They thought I was going to be the next great Black Physicist so they helped me. But Black/POC people who ARENT looking to be CEOs or cure Cancer or solve the Darkmatted riddle deserve help.
And White folks you have the power to help.
#blackmastodon
@BlackMastodon
I mean... White folks (or people in general) only helping kids/adults with "obvious promise" to be the next CEO of something is a lot to unpack, and that takes energy.
IMO legislation wont fix employers seeing a Black name & throwing a resume away. (technically illegal.)
To protect from discrimination, a person would have to raise a legal challenge. These laws dont kick in by themselves.🙄
It's up to us working together. ➡️White ppl leverage your privilege!⬅️
#blackmastodon
@BlackMastodon
Side note... I've learned a LOT about White culture by being related to, being friends with, dating/being involved with, or being mentored by White people.
White people will just drop this info about how their world works. And I'm like WHAAAAAT you can DO that? 🤯
You can just message a White professional by saying "Hey, X referred me. Can you tell me more about being a T2 Software Engineer?" (Computer science.) Just by knowing X White person.
WILD.
#blackmastodon
@jtphillipsmnr @BlackMastodon yep, networking. When you're white and middle class or higher it can seem damn near infinite, somebody knows somebody that knows somebody for damn near anything.
If you're poor it's not as far reaching, but I *was* able to get out of an expensive traffic ticket. (And kept my nose clean since then, that was enough for me.)
@neckspike @jtphillipsmnr @BlackMastodon Neurodivergence is also another factor that like poverty can greatly limit its usefulness.
The whole experience of networking/nepotism is bizarre and barely comprehensible.
@jtphillipsmnr @BlackMastodon I always try to help people such as I can, I don't work anymore due to disability but I did years billing for an auto shop so I've been happy to sanity check repair estimates for people. Some shops are predatory especially if they perceive you as a woman, and I don't doubt that extends to non-white customers too.
My boss could be a dick at times but he didn't allow any of that shit.
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