It can start by not brushing it under the rug. By using "diversity" as a catch all for feel goodiness, is a little bit self serving and even selfish in the grand scheme of things. If we are going to do the work then do it, don't do a bunch of marketing. If we want to look at CS and look at the harshest affected group it specifically black males (which no one is doing in all of these reports they are releasing) - it irks me because it seems that the world has moved on from black males needing help and it is more en vogue in 2014 to focus efforts on women and LGBT entirely and exclusively. A more well rounded approach is needed and that can't begin until we are comfortable with admitting that the job isn't done in regards to young black males, and yet the sentiment seems to be "we've done enough for that underrepresented group"
Solutions? tech companies and incubators need to be targeting young black males for immersion and mentoring programs as early as 5th grade. The myth that silicon valley is closed to non CS types needs to be exposed for exactly that, a myth, so that we can start to recruit talented non SC students into silicon valley in areas of marketing, sales, general management and finance. Areas where they are currently.
waiting ten years until the CS rates increase is not an option, because the ship will have already sailed by then on this generation of wealth being created
the whole debate around diversity in silicon valley right now is pretty much marketing and seems pretty cynical and disingenuous from my POV
>tech companies and incubators need to be targeting young black males for immersion and mentoring programs as early as 5th grade
This right here, If it wasn't for my uncle getting me into computers I don't I would ever had thought to see a career in computers let alone development. If we want to be frank I know when I was growing up (only 28), playing around with computers as a black child was something that "blacks didn't do". It was hard to find any blacks computer teachers, mentors or owners that you could access easily in the tech area and the stigma of being a "nerd" was something the culture was about to accept. Of course my parents made sure if it was something I wanted to do that they would make sure I had the best education I could to make it happen.
What we lack in the community is for children to see other blacks in a position and think "Hey I can do that". This was something that we didn't have much back then. I still only know a handful of black developers and it may be wrong to say it but sometime when going to conventions and what not I know I sorta feel like a unicorn, after a while you just go with it but its still in the back of your mind.
> tech companies and incubators need to be targeting young black males for immersion and mentoring programs as early as 5th grade.
Unfortunately I have no power in SV. People who do are reading this, and I hope they notice how on-point you are. I'll do what I can in the regions I can effect most greatly.
> A more well rounded approach is needed and that can't begin until we are comfortable with admitting that the job isn't done in regards to young black males
I have a bit more power here, albeit not much. Honestly -- and I'm very ashamed of this -- I've been reluctant to call out the elephant in the room (publicly, using my real identity) for exactly the reason you identify (it's not "sexy" and seems "political" somehow).
Anyways, thanks for contributing. I'm now resolved to finally do the right thing.
edit:
> Areas where they are currently.
I hadn't thought about it like this before, and mostly focused on how to increase AA representation in CS programs. Great idea.
Solutions? tech companies and incubators need to be targeting young black males for immersion and mentoring programs as early as 5th grade. The myth that silicon valley is closed to non CS types needs to be exposed for exactly that, a myth, so that we can start to recruit talented non SC students into silicon valley in areas of marketing, sales, general management and finance. Areas where they are currently.
waiting ten years until the CS rates increase is not an option, because the ship will have already sailed by then on this generation of wealth being created
the whole debate around diversity in silicon valley right now is pretty much marketing and seems pretty cynical and disingenuous from my POV