Arrington, Race, and Silicon Valley

You need to read up on the history of other ethnic groups in the USA. Look up the word genocide in American History. Native Americans have suffered through hundreds of years of genocide (by action or neglect) and laws meant to remove all culture and rights. Heck, lookup Pres. Lincoln's record with the tribes (or maybe for more fun the dude on the $20 bill). Some of these laws and programs lasted into the 1960's.

Like I said, I was rather unhappy with the "unique" comment. I would bet there are far fewer tribal members in Silicon Valley startups compared to other ethnic groups.

I really hate getting into these discussions because can quickly devolve into either:

a) a stale conversation because people get afraid of coming off racist

b) ad hominem and actually racist ignorantly spouting stereotypes of different races without any factual basis

but I feel like at times its good for me to add my perspective for people who really wouldn't have any idea without it

I am a black ( african-american whatever you like) person who works for a, albeit later stage, startup. With aspirations of one day starting my own.

I grew up in a predominately black neighborhood of the city in the US with the highest percentage black population...

Those things said this issue is both an educational and more importantly a multi generational wealth problem.

I previously discussed at this article here: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2438411

Most black kids don't learn much about computers or computing at an early age and secondly don't have family who can afford for them to have one at home to learn on. They don't have friends who are curious about these things to take from and share with either.

In many of my favorite stories about the most successful tech companies in their infancy you hear about this basically band of brothers with (Steve and Woz, Bill and Paul, Zuckerburg and his roomates) alot of under represented in tech minorites don't have this.

I was fortunate that my family could afford for me to have a computer to learn on. But I didn't start learning to program until midway through high school and many times without any help of anyone knowledgeable in my own area town.

Not to mention the things they chose to do were what many people would consider very risky (all of them dropped out of school at one point or another)

I'll close with this part of my comment from that earlier thread

" Even if its not that risk taking is discouraged, risk averse or more conservative routes are certainly encouraged more. There is also the pressure of not having multi generational wealth to fall back on. Not having previously successful family to lean on in times of need or if things don't go right is a strong precursor to risk aversion "

To do that instead of something with much more strongly defined career path (ie doctor, lawyer, dentist, etc.) is tough for many minorities when they have to worry about whether or not their family will be financially sound

Edit: - Another important reason I generally avoid these conversations is because I too strongly believe that Silicon Valley and the Tech Industry as a whole are meritocracies.

But that is why I chose to comment. To help explain that the issues aren't that blacks and other under represented minorities aren't excluded for racism reasons but for circumstances that leave them uninformed, underprepared, or completely without the ability to compete.

@protomyth I worked with the Dept. of Indian Affairs so I really don't need a lecture or directions on what to look up from you. The situation of Native Americans is heartbreaking. It was most certainly genocide and disgusting. Again, it is not about who had it worse it is just that there are distinct differences. The number of Native Americans in the valley is inherently going to be smaller because of the genocide that took place and the fact that unlike African slaves they didn't have anywhere to go to get more once they worked them to death. But native americans were not enslaved in the same way that Africans were--if that was the case there would be no reservations and no trail of tears.

I'd argue what you're saying and what he's saying are different arguments.

Your arguments almost all apply to poor people in general (and I believe them to be absolutely true). In fact I'd argue it's more true than people know. When hearing the legend of Microsoft rarely do people include the fact that his Mom was on the United Way Board with the CEO of IBM and it was she who pointed IBM in Microsoft's direction.

But that's different from the argument he's making. You're making the point that it's hard to get to the startup level he's arguing that once you get there you're at a disadvantage because the Valley has a subconscious racism in it. That I honestly don't believe.

He says...

"To be clear, I am not saying any VC says at a partner meeting, “you know I really like this company’s product but did you notice he’s a negro?” Never Happens"

The problem with that logic is I've been in meetings where the exact opposite is true. Where people have said "I'm not completely sold on the company but I'd really like to see more minorities in our investment portfolio". So in my experience I've seen the color of someone's skin actually help people a lot.

So while there's certainly some subconscious discrimination there's also some very conscious actions being taken to seek out minorities and I don't think anyone can say how frequently either of these phenomenons are happening.

Thought this was a very interesting read until getting to the comments section where the author agressively went tit-for-tat with a commenter over, what seemed to me, terminology and minor difference of opinion...then I thought, race has nothing to do with it if you're simply a jerk to people.