Named Innovators/Developers of Color?

i_c_andrade asks: "Apple and other tech companies were in the past called to task for the lack of Hispanics and African-American's on their Board of Directors, so after doing some research I came to the conclusion that I just did not know a lot of named IT/OSS/Web/CS innovators/developers that were not white (or American) specifically Hispanic or African-American. The first (and only) name that I could think of was Miguel de Icaza, and well I can only blame my own ignorance for not knowing any more, or are there? I know there is a big BSD movement in Brazil (they created the The FreeBSD LiveCD Project; but where else are there developers 'of color' and what are they working on?"

Comments

I'm glad YOU think things are so great

[la_migra]

Let me tell you something, coming from the perspective of struggling Latino programmer trying to make it in the United States: It's really easy for you as a white person to say that color doesn't matter, because the peoples you are dealing with have already crossed the finish line and are living it up with you in your high-paid, low-work environment. Do you ever stop and to wonder about the peoples who did not cross the finish line? About those running the race with rocks in their pockets?

Here's a taste of some reality: In the United States, blacks and hispanics have less good home life, less good schools, less good treatment by the government, less wealth, less college education. Just because you think you do not personally discriminate does not mean that your color of your skin isn't important to ending up being a big star in the computer field.

Don't tell me that color does not matter.