Live data from Hacker News

100 Days as a Black Man in Silicon Valley

verysmartbrothas.com

1–10 of 136 posts

Re: 100 Days as a Black Man in Silicon Valley

#2
I really enjoyed this article because I also came to the Bay Area from the South. I don't know if you went into detail on this, but I feel like the interview process on the West Coast is very different from that on the East Coast ( far more technically rigorous ).

I feel like if you took all the positive statements out of your article, and put them together, you'd make one hell of a first impression in a conversation:

"I'm a Tesla-driving lawyer from an elite boutique law firm! I just moved here to pursue my dream of working in tech! I love SF and I'm here to stay!"

If I heard that from an interview candidate I'd be really impressed.

Re: 100 Days as a Black Man in Silicon Valley

#3
The comment about bias against going to school in the South really resonates. I mean, in one sense it's hilarious to think that there are people who don't realize that schools like UNC-CH, Georgia Tech, Clemson, NCSU, Campbell, Wake Forest, South Carolina, Georgia, Virginia, Virginia Tech, William & Mary, etc. are great schools. But in another sense it's very, very sad. And I almost find it weirder to hear that about people from the West Coast, where the stereotype about people has them being so much more open minded and accepting, vs. people from the Northeast who are stereotyped as being more elitist and dismissive of Southerners.

Oh well... at the end of the day, all you can really do is, as they say, "Be so damn good they can't ignore you".

Re: 100 Days as a Black Man in Silicon Valley

#4
Interestingly I see a lot of comments saying we need more women in tech, but none saying we need more black people in tech. I have worked with a number of women, and only ever seen one consultant come in who was black. Are we more racist than sexist? (I see plenty of Indians however, maybe a disproportionate amount compared to the general population?).

I am based in Europe, and I do think there is less of a cultural division amongst races here. People appear to pigeonhole themselves into categories more in the US in my opinion, be it on race, job, music tastes or whatever.

Re: 100 Days as a Black Man in Silicon Valley

#5
post #4

Interestingly I see a lot of comments saying we need more women in tech, but none saying we need more black people in tech. I have worked with a number of women, and only ever seen one consultant come in who was black. Are we more racist than sexist? (I see plenty of Indians however, maybe a disproportionate amount compared to the general population?). I am based in Europe, and I do think there is less of a cultural…

> Interestingly I see a lot of comments saying we need more women in tech, but none saying we need more black people in tech.

Let's assume California needs more black people in tech. Does China need more white people in tech?

Re: 100 Days as a Black Man in Silicon Valley

#6
post #4

Interestingly I see a lot of comments saying we need more women in tech, but none saying we need more black people in tech. I have worked with a number of women, and only ever seen one consultant come in who was black. Are we more racist than sexist? (I see plenty of Indians however, maybe a disproportionate amount compared to the general population?). I am based in Europe, and I do think there is less of a cultural…

We don't need more women, black, latino, white, red, green people in tech, we need talented people, regardless of how they look like. We need less bullshit, people who produce sane code and go home early to work on what matters about us, our communities, our families, our education!

I'm full stack dev living in London, I'm black, huge afro, piercings, english is not my first language, skateboarder, into punk music, etc.

Re: 100 Days as a Black Man in Silicon Valley

#8
post #4

Interestingly I see a lot of comments saying we need more women in tech, but none saying we need more black people in tech. I have worked with a number of women, and only ever seen one consultant come in who was black. Are we more racist than sexist? (I see plenty of Indians however, maybe a disproportionate amount compared to the general population?). I am based in Europe, and I do think there is less of a cultural…

> Interestingly I see a lot of comments saying we need more women in tech, but none saying we need more black people in tech. Let's assume California needs more black people in tech. Does China need more white people in tech?

Even better, in the US why don't we see more native Americans in Tech ? In Australia why don't we see more aboriginal in Tech ? Why in America, police shoot black people all the time ? Why is there so many poor black people, homeless black people ? The same for aboriginal people in Australia. It's not hard to figure out where all this is coming from.

Re: 100 Days as a Black Man in Silicon Valley

#9

The comment about bias against going to school in the South really resonates. I mean, in one sense it's hilarious to think that there are people who don't realize that schools like UNC-CH, Georgia Tech, Clemson, NCSU, Campbell, Wake Forest, South Carolina, Georgia, Virginia, Virginia Tech, William & Mary, etc. are great schools. But in another sense it's very, very sad. And I almost find it weirder to hear that about…

Is there really a bias against schools south of the Mason-Dixon? I feel like most of NYC went to Duke. Tim Cook also seems to be doing alright.

Re: 100 Days as a Black Man in Silicon Valley

#10
post #6
post #4

Interestingly I see a lot of comments saying we need more women in tech, but none saying we need more black people in tech. I have worked with a number of women, and only ever seen one consultant come in who was black. Are we more racist than sexist? (I see plenty of Indians however, maybe a disproportionate amount compared to the general population?). I am based in Europe, and I do think there is less of a cultural…

We don't need more women, black, latino, white, red, green people in tech, we need talented people, regardless of how they look like. We need less bullshit, people who produce sane code and go home early to work on what matters about us, our communities, our families, our education! I'm full stack dev living in London, I'm black, huge afro, piercings, english is not my first language, skateboarder, into punk music, e…

What is your first language?
Post reply on HN