There’s been much ado about the diversity gap in tech.
The big dogs, Microsoft, Google, Facebook, Twitter, EBay and Apple, have all released data, showing how much of their respective work force is made up of minorities and women.
Needless to say, the stats aren’t encouraging.
For the most part, tech is a white male dominated field.
Depending upon where you look, there’s anywhere from a 70/30 to 90/10 male to female ratio in tech.
From an ethnic perspective, the stats are far more sobering.
Generally, tech in the US is 58% white, 34% Asian, 2% Hispanic/Latino, and 2% Black (and 2% “other”).
The diversity gap stems from the fact that hiring in tech companies isn’t proportional to population.
While Blacks make up approximately 13% of the US population, they represent only about 2 to 3% of the technology workforce.
The disparity is palpable, especially when you think about the billion dollar valuations of tech companies like WhatsApp, Instagram and Tumblr, and how few people of color are up in the cut.
As a self-professed Black techie, I see this disparity every day.
In the majority of the tech circles I’m in, there are very few Black/brown faces.
We need more color in tech.
But how do we get there?
It’s one thing to know what the problem is.
It’s quite another to solve it.
Tech firms have begun recruiting at HBCUs and asking colleges and universities to recommend qualified Black students at job fairs.
But in my opinion, we’ve got to start earlier.
Obviously, exposing our youth to technology and fostering a love of math and the sciences is key.
Growing up, my father encouraged me to be an engineer.
I can still hear him in his thick Nigerian accent saying, “Chibuzor, you are going to be a engineer.”
That was his thing.
His first son was going to be an engineer, by hook or by crook.
Despite his aspirations for me, I simply wasn’t interested in joining the geek squad.
I fought him tooth and nail and I got an economics degree instead.
Today, I’m scraping together a meager existence and engineering jobs remain unfilled – or filled by white and asian men.
I could kick myself.
Who knew that Uneze had such foresight?
Why did I resist so vehemently?
Was his delivery so suspect that I gave it little to no weight?
Or was I just not checking for an industry I found to be so square?
Tech simply didn’t do it for me.
Looking back, it makes me wonder how many Black parents wanted their children to go into math and the sciences, but couldn’t instill any excitement in them to take it up?
All the Neil deGrasse Tysons of the world, much like Uneze before him, aren’t turning urban kids on to science.
My first proper experience with tech was cool.
I helped launch a Harlem-based start-up called DigiWaxx.
DigiWaxx was an online digital music promotions company that created a digital platform which made sending physical copies of records to DJs obsolete.
While it was primarily music and artist promotion, we pioneered what became the standard in digital distribution of promotional content.
The technology we employed was very rudimentary (at the time), but it was still tech.
And it gave me a glimpse into the myriad of non-traditional opportunities that existed in tech.
It also exposed me to the some really progressive folks on the leading edge of technology – most of whom were Black.
Folks like Russell Simmons and (360hiphop.com and Global Grind), had whole teams of Black techies, who simply did not fit the stereotype of tech.
Today, I’m steeped in technology helping brands to build mobile websites, mobile and tablet applications, and immersive interactive experiences.
I’m also spreading the message about how cool tech can be to Black and brown kids to help overcome the diversity gap.
How?
Well for one, I’ve started TechCool.org.
Well, I haven’t actually started it.
I just copped the URL yesterday when I was thinking about writing this blog.
And roped my man into creating a logo for me (soon come).
But that’s besides the point.
What tech lacks is the cool factor.
When most of us think tech, invariably we think nerd (sorry Neil).
We don’t think rockstar.
But tech is full of rock stars, and I’m focused on bridging the diversity gap by helping to put the cool into tech.
If you’re the parent of a young Black kid, you know they emulate the rock stars.
Well not rock stars literally, but cats in the public eye.
Roll out a phlanx of sports or media superstars, and your kids are wide-eyed, imitating their moves on the court, pantomiming their videos or reciting their lyrics.
We’ve got to elevate tech to rockstar status, to excite kids about the possibilities.
I’m starting an organization whose primary mission is to encourage young Black kids to take up technology by exposing them to the superstars in the space.
My plan is to partner with celebrities as a catalyst to spark interest in tech, and do it in a way that inspires them to explore tech professions in the future.
I did a pilot of this program a few years ago with the Police Athletic League of NYC, called the Digital University, where we gave youth first hand experience with audio and video production, web development and social media management and marketing.
We brought in DJs to teach them how to mix, VJs to show them video mixing, gave them cameras to shoot video, video editing software to create movies, and brought in a celebrity or two to keep them inspired.
The kids loved it and we opened their eyes to the numerous possibilities which existed for them to explore tech-based professions.
Although PAL ultimately opted to teach a cooking class instead of continuing to offer the program – because home ec is more important than tech..duh! – we were able to establish a proof of concept that the right program taught by the right people, with the right level of cool could connect with kids in a meaningful way.
That experience has inspired me to go all-in and form a not-for-profit singularly dedicated to rebranding the tech industry to make it more enticing to our youth.
So stay tuned for more updates as I bring TechCool.org to life.
It will probably start off with a blog, and then some speaking engagements, before I’ve got bonafide programming and a formal offering.
But I’m committed to giving tech a facelift and helping to close this divide.
Feel free to share your thoughts on my plan and hit me up if you’re interested in being a part of the TechCool movement!
Stephen Chukumba 