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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."

15 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 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
    4. 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.

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

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

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

    Just not his minorities, queue the shakedown parade.

  5. 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.

  6. 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.
  7. 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.

  8. 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