Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Jesse Jackson To Take On Silicon Valley's Lack of Diversity

Posted by Soulskill on from the equality-in-industry dept.

New submitter wyattstorch516 writes "San Jose Mecury News reports that Jesse Jackson will lead a delegation to HP's next board meeting to discuss the hiring of technology companies in regard to African-Americans and Latinos. 'About one in 14 tech workers is black or Latino both in the Silicon Valley and nationally. Blacks and Hispanics make up 13.1 and 16.9 percent of the U.S. population, respectively, according to the most recent Census data.' Jackson sent a letter to HP, Apple, Google, Twitter, Facebook, and others about meeting to discuss diversity issues."

28 of 397 comments (clear)

  1. Fuck that guy. by jcr · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Seriously, I was sick of his guilt-peddling bullshit decades ago.

    -jcr

    --
    The only title of honor that a tyrant can grant is "Enemy of the State."
    1. Re:Fuck that guy. by jcr · · Score: 4, Insightful

      "affirmative action"? That's nothing but a euphemism for racial discrimination. Here in California, it amounted to a modern-day Chinese Exclusion Act to fuck over Asian kids applying to the cal state universities.

      -jcr

      --
      The only title of honor that a tyrant can grant is "Enemy of the State."
    2. Re:Fuck that guy. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I agree. If a person is qualified, ill hire him regardless of race. Just because you are black or latino you should not get any special treatment. If we do let unqualified people in, then it perpetuates the problem by highlighting their lack of skill.

    3. Re:Fuck that guy. by CanHasDIY · · Score: 1, Insightful

      Seriously, I was sick of his guilt-peddling bullshit decades ago.

      -jcr

      Seconded.

      Jesse Jackson is one of the most racist, fuckhead mouthpieces alive today. Same goes for his partner-in-racially-motivated-crime, Al Sharpton.

      The worst part of these fucks is, they don't even care about black people, unless by "black people" we mean "their own fat-ass bank accounts."

      Fucking greedy, race-baiting fucks.

      PS before the trolls chime in with their 'fuh fuh dur yer a racist fuh fuh" nonsense, I will have you know that I own not one, but three color TVs.

      --
      An enigma, wrapped in a riddle, shrouded in bacon and cheese
    4. Re:Fuck that guy. by ackthpt · · Score: 3, Insightful

      there is probably a more nuanced discussion to be had about affirmative action

      but having been in the hiring seat, I can tell you that almost every single
      applicant is white and male, and very few of those are actually qualified

      so unless Jackson thinks HP should hire unqualified people just because
      they are black or latino, he should probably focus his efforts earlier
      in the pipeline

      What Jesse seems unaware of is there's a very small pool of qualified "diverse candidates" and they are generally snapped up pronto by employers who want to be able to compete for contracts where a stipulation favors an employer with diverse employees.

      Mr. Jackson seems rooted in an age that has long since gone by. What he needs to do is tell the people he claims to represent, "pull up your damn pants, don't get ugly tattoos all over your body, learn to address people in respectful language and study your ass off rather than trying to figure how you can goof off more. There's boatloads of money, waiting to be made and odds are you aren't going to be a zillionaire hip-hop or movie star, but if you take an interest you could make more than all of them put together.

      Not popular, but then, sometimes you need to turn about and address the crowd that's following you.

      --

      A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
    5. Re:Fuck that guy. by Tailhook · · Score: 2, Insightful

      hire unqualified people just because they are black or latino

      If minority candidates aren't qualified then the problem is unfairly tough and racially biased requirements. Get your mind right.

      --
      Maw! Fire up the karma burner!
    6. Re:Fuck that guy. by Frobnicator · · Score: 3, Insightful

      I agree. If a person is qualified, ill hire him regardless of race. Just because you are black or latino you should not get any special treatment. If we do let unqualified people in, then it perpetuates the problem by highlighting their lack of skill.

      Great!

      When I graduated from my university, it was almost entirely a blend of american white and asian males in the program. We had 3 white women, 2 black males, and no latinos, in a graduating class of about 70 people. One of the graduation speakers made special point of it in the commencement address when discussing issues in diversity in our field.

      When I am in a position to interview people for our engineering jobs, over the past ten years I recall exactly one female applicant with the mandatory degrees and certifications. We see mostly white males, some Asian males (mostly from India and China) and a handful of others. That isn't because we are refusing to interview minorities, it is because those are the people who have the mandatory certifications. I cannot find any solid statistics on the racial distributions of people with engineering certifications, but I'd assume they are similarly skewed.

      If he wants to address diversity in our field, he needs to look at those entering the program. If he wants more people in the job, help give them the proper educational background and other certifications required to enter the field.

      --
      //TODO: Think of witty sig statement
    7. Re:Fuck that guy. by ackthpt · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I agree. If a person is qualified, ill hire him regardless of race. Just because you are black or latino you should not get any special treatment. If we do let unqualified people in, then it perpetuates the problem by highlighting their lack of skill.

      If you do bring in unqualified people, regardless of demographic, you'll find your qualified people frustrated with having to help them all the time and resenting they get paid the same as people who do half the work.

      damned if you do... damned if you don't

      --

      A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
    8. Re:Fuck that guy. by NemosomeN · · Score: 3, Insightful

      "It's not because of racism, it's because black people sag their pants, get tattoos*, are disrespectful, and lazy."

      Oh, okay.

      *Side note, I work in a non-technical white collar job, and a surprising number of my colleagues have tattoos.

      --
      I hate grammar Nazi's.
    9. Re:Fuck that guy. by galabar · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I don't think "affirmative action" means what you think it means. "Affirmative action" as applied is a system were underrepresented minorities are given a preference in admissions and hiring. Asians aren't an underrepresented minority in just about anything. In fact, they represent overwhelming majorities in many areas and are the most hurt by skin-color preference programs (aka "Affirmative Action"). We may hold different opinions on whether we should judge someone based on the color of their skin (I don't think we should), but we certainly can't argue fact, and how "affirmative action" is applied is fact.

    10. Re:Fuck that guy. by msauve · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Why doesn't he go after the NBA? They have way more than a proportionate 17% African-Americans. They must be racists.

      --
      "National Security is the chief cause of national insecurity." - Celine's First Law
    11. Re:Fuck that guy. by Tailhook · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I'm not even sure what "unfairly tough and racially biased requirements" means

      Unfairly tough and racially biased requirements are whatever is required of or tested for among people that are employed by some segment of the workforce that exhibits an incorrect ratio of racial participation.

      For example, since New York fire department minority applicants tended to fail the entrance exam at a higher rate than white applicants the entrance examine is, by definition, racially biased. When medical school requirements are found to impede racial quotas the solution is to create separate standards by race that specify "adjusted" MCAT and GPA figures to correct for systemic bias. The fact that the scores required of black/latino students are significantly lower than those of white/asian students DOES NOT INDICATE A LOWERING OF STANDARDS. Oh no. Rather, the lower score reflect the degree of inherent racial bias in the education system.

      Got it?

      The IT industry has escaped the good graces of contemporary racial justice for too long, as illustrated by your naivety. We welcome the good Reverend Jackson to the den of racial iniquity that is Silicon Valley and we look forward to the application of racial fairness we know he'll provide, and we're certain you do as well.

      --
      Maw! Fire up the karma burner!
    12. Re:Fuck that guy. by epyT-R · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Maybe it's time that interviewers stopped judging people on irrelevancies like clothing style.

    13. Re:Fuck that guy. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Insightful

      If you can't be bothered to dress well to make a first impression with your employer, then what else are you going to slack at?

  2. Why are there so few black engineers? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Black culture doesn't reward or encourage intelligence.

    1. Re: Why are there so few black engineers? by nehumanuscrede · · Score: 4, Insightful

      "Black culture doesn't reward or encourage intelligence.
      "

      To be honest, AMERICAN culture doesn't either. Is why celebrities, athletes, and entertainers are paid dump truck loads of cash while the really intelligent folks ( scientists, reaearchers, you know folks who actually create the world as we know it today ) are compensated at a much lower level.

      Given that, if you're growing up in America are you going to strive to be a math whiz or a pro-athlete ? Which gives you the ideal " American " lifestyle ?

      Here in the good ol US of A, we glorify a lot of things: War, wealth, and power to name but a few. Intelligence is way, Way, WAY down the list.

      In fact, if you're TOO good at say, Math, in school, you become a target and an outcast because you don't fit in with the cool crowd folks now. Your life will become a living hell.

    2. Re:Why are there so few black engineers? by aurizon · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Actually, black culture penalizes anyone black who allows his/her intelligence to get them ahead. Any child who does so is beaten and bullied by the other black kids, so they learn to hide their abilities and blend in. Some emerge and excell, but sadly, too many are lost to the lifestyle.
      As a retired teacher, I have seen this and it is hard to eliminate, and if you try, it is risky.

    3. Re: Why are there so few black engineers? by schnell · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Black culture doesn't reward or encourage intelligence.

      To be honest, AMERICAN culture doesn't either.

      The first statement is racist and the second is incorrect. The correct statement is that "poor and lower-to-middle class culture doesn't reward or encourage intelligence."

      I will bet you anything that the exact same premium on intelligence and achievement is shared among white, black and hispanic families in wealthy Orange County CA suburbs; while the same lack of interest is expressed among poor black families in Philadelphia, latino families in East LA and poor white families in Arkansas. I grew up solidly middle class but from my youngest years it was just understood that I *would* go to college, no excuses otherwise. I would like to think that I would have gone to college because of my intelligence and interests no matter what my upbringing ... but who knows?

      Sadly, this is a self-perpetuating theme that increases the economic divide in the US over time. I am certainly no fan of affirmative action but the situation does imply that a lack of an initial "hand up" to reach the economic and educational status that will value intelligence is a strong barrier to making that part of the culture. You generally have to get your head above water before you can see that there is land there, and the value of education and upward mobility is usually hidden from those who have never glimpsed it because it's just alien to their experience.

      --
      "95% of all Slashdot .sig quotes are incorrect or completely fabricated." -Benjamin Franklin
  3. Maybe he should talk to the NHL? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

    I don't see much diversity in professional hockey.

  4. Show us. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Maybe Jesse should start his own company, hire strictly based on race, and compete.

  5. Tech is full of minorities by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Just not his minorities, queue the shakedown parade.

  6. Education... by Luthair · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Seems like this would be an education issue not a hiring issue. e.g. are there really a lot of underemployed / unemployed black or hispanics with CS degrees?

    I suspect the tech industry has a high percentage of minorities due to Indians and other Asians ethnicity.

    1. Re:Education... by CanHasDIY · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I think it's more of a "Jesse Jackson found yet another way to use black people for his own selfish desires" kinda thing.

      --
      An enigma, wrapped in a riddle, shrouded in bacon and cheese
  7. Not Our Fault by Gre7g · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I've been in the tech industry (software, circuit board design, chip design, and then back to software) for 24 years. I've worked with engineers with heritage from India, China, Korea, various eastern European countries, and probably a couple other countries in Asia. I've never had a black or latino co-worker. In all those years, I've only ever seen us interview a single black candidate, and he so inadequate that he got sent home after speaking with a single interviewer.

    Hiring is not the problem. A lack of black and latino candidates worth hiring is.

  8. Good. by Karmashock · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I think everyone should be subjected to this race baiting bullshit as consistently and aggressively as possible.

    This is the solution to people like this... they exploit white guilt. And in exploiting it, they use it up.

    Look at this very forum... look at all the people saying "f this guy"... exactly. Those are the people that are already tapped out of guilt.

    I'm amongst them of course. But not everyone has gotten there yet. Let Al run rampant... Everyone he comes into contact with will be inoculated against his tactics.

    --
    I've decided to stop wasting my time responding to AC trolls/sockpuppets... so if you want a response from me... login.
  9. Does Jeese do as he preaches? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

    So do we know the diversity situation for Jesse's organization? Just curious, as I have no idea what the situation is.

  10. Shakedown machine back in action! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Cracker-Jackin Jackson is at it again, let no company fail to donate to the cause lest they be labelled racist and boycotted. Rainbow Push must need more money to pay off another staffer he knocked up.

  11. That's Not a Spotlight, It's Stupidity by organgtool · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Everyone in the article keeps saying that Jackson is "shining a spotlight" on the problem. Is he really? He pointed out the lack of blacks and latinos in the tech industry and did fuck-all to state what he believes to be the problem and what we can do to resolve it. If he had come out with figures that showed that there were tons of unemployed or underployed blacks and latinos in the tech industry and that the underlying problem is due to discrimination, then that would give us something to work with. But that doesn't seem to be the case at all. What does he expect these companies to do? Hire underqualified people just to get the numbers to match?

    This sounds like what my dad was telling me the other day. He used to work for the federal government and they had very detailed lists of minorities in each department. Every department was often under stress to get their numbers to match percentage of populations. But what population do you go by? National? Regional? Many of these departments were more focused on meeting these quotas than hiring the most qualified candidates, so overall these systems are counterproductive.

    And if we're so focused on quotas of fairness, should we put a quota that only 13.9% of NFL players should be black? The fact is that Mr. Jackson did a lot of good when qualified black people couldn't find work due directly to discrimination. And while discrimination may not be completely gone, it is a lot better than it used to be and not every case of underrepresentation today is due to discrimination. So keep fighting the good fight against discrimination, but if you're going to complain about underrepresentation and completely fail to show that it is a result of discrimination rather than a lack of interest or qualification, then you can kindly STFU.