Speaking about race
Years ago I read a slew of books around race issues from The Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison, The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin, Soul on Ice by Eldridge Cleaver to The Promised Land by Nicholas Lemann. I felt then as I feel now that we have done a terrible disservice to blacks in America just because the color of their skin.
We are now watching the world that they have lived in on a daily basis. Most of these acts have been sheltered from the public eye. Because on every one of our mobile devices there is a camera that can capture the terrible wrongdoings and share it with the world with a click of a finger the issues that they face have risen to daily conversation. I hope with that change will take place.
I have read all of Jesmyn Ward’s books but this last one should be read by everyone. The book is called The Fire This Time: A New Generation Speaks about Race. She used James Baldwin’s book, The Fire Next Time as her guide to put together a group of poems and essays from some of the most important black writers of today. The book is broken into 3 parts. The first is about history, the second is about the environment at large and third is about hope for a better future. The pieces are powerful and hit you write between the eyes.
I felt compelled to go back and watch Spike Lee’s Do The Right Thing that was released in 1989 after finishing her book. I found the film more powerful today than I did when it first came out. Perhaps because Lee showed us what it was like living as a black person in America in 1989 and now we all see what he showed us every single day through social media. In the movie there is anger, frustration and violence when a cop kills a young black man in the neighborhood. That was 25 years ago.
There are countless movies coming out in the next year around black history that many have never learned in school because that history was not part of the curriculum. There are countless books and essays being written such as Ward’s including books such as The New Jim Crow around the injustice we have done to young black men in America. These books, movies and articles are forcing all of us to look into the mirror and come to terms with our past and hopefully move forward into a much brighter future.
Comments (Archived):
I’m having some serious problems with the current national dialogue about race. The focus on police brutality, Donald Trump’s comments, and other obvious displays of racism is not necessarily bad, but it is dubiously one-note.I’m a black man with a good education working in white collar America. I don’t have issues with cops, and it’s rare that I hear someone make an obviously racist statement out loud.I endure racism nonetheless. But the racism I endure is much more subtle. It’s someone being polite to your face and dismissing you behind your back, but the dismissal comes in the form of a declined opportunities. Jobs, investments, new acquaintances, dates, etc.We live in a world where people can hide behind “hiring for fit.” It’s perfectly okay to “not like asian guys,” because after all everyone has “preferences.” It’s okay for people who condemn some types of discrimination, to turn a blind eye to other forms of discrimination; where one good deed gets you a pass on another.I’m still waiting on an answer from Fred on why he thinks it’s okay to condemn discrimination in all aspects of business… expect investing: http://avc.com/2016/07/furi…Though I’m not surprised that I was jumped on by multiple AVC people for even questioning him. Because minorities are supposed to take help when it’s given, and keep quiet when it’s not. We’re supposed to say “yes, massa” and keep doing what we’re told.I just think all this focus on police violence and people dumb enough to say variations of the n-word out loud is doing us a disservice — upward mobility for minorities and women is being crushed not by outward displays of discrimination by stupid people, but by quiet maneuvers to keep the upper hand by very smart people.But mostly, I think most folks just don’t know any better. The see things from their perspective, and can’t picture things from someone else’s shoes.I’m not sure how any of this gets fixed, other than for people to tell their stories. It’s keeping things quiet that perpetuates the problem. It’s now time to get it all out in the open, have the uncomfortable conversations, and find some common ground.For anyone interested, a story of how all this manifests at one of my former employers: http://www.fastcompany.com/…
I have said many times that for women the way many of the issues get fixed is a few things that I believe will help for the black community too.When more women and blacks build companies of value, go public, become household names, and then stay in the public eye as role models we will see the next generation be able to point to all of them and say “I can do it because they have”. It shifts the playing field and brings in a whole new generation of people to believe that they can be whatever they want. There will always be prejudice but hopefully less and less as this conversation moves to the top of the funnel for everyone.You can’t be what you can’t see.
The top of the funnel is what’s not being cracked. Especially in tech.I recently had an interview at a tech company and, with a couple of the interviewers (certainly not all), I could see the judgment on their faces from the second they walked in the door.And it’s not an issue of “not liking black people.” It’s because they don’t identify with me personally. And that’s a big distinction.When you’re making a junior and midlevel hired, it’s often about skill. You take the person with the best portfolio, or best resume, etc. Plus, you can take more chances. That’s why you see most company’s diversity activities at the bottom of the funnel. It’s easier to figure out.But when you’re making a more top-level hire, it’s more about soft skills. Do you trust this person to be able to manage a project? Do you trust this person to lead a team? Do you trust this person to make smart management decisions?And when it comes to trust, most people trust folks who are more similar to themselves. People who look like themselves probably think like themselves, and thus are rationalized to be better for the job, investment, etc.That’s why tech companies are overwhelming led by white guys with a specific professional profile. But the people who choose them, VCs, are mostly white guys with the same professional profile.But you’re right about how things change when it starts at the top. In corporate TV, Oprah charted the course. Shonda Rimes took the baton. And now TV is littered with black women executives at the top: http://madamenoire.com/1053…But you know what? The TV equivalent of VCs had to open their purse strings to Oprah and Shonda for them to get where they are, despite the fact that they did not fit the mold. Which is why I have so many problems with that exchange on AVC. For some reason, folks think it’s okay to hold investors as sacred, and to not challenge them on this. It’s not.Present company excluded, obviously! But Gotham Gal is a lone voice. And that’s sad.
I hope my voice is loud enough that I am not lone!!
You’re not completely alone, but I have yet to encounter an active, **well respected, mainstream investor** who’s talking about these things… and has the portfolio of investments to prove that they’ve put their money where their mouth is. And far too many who are talking about the issue, but still have lily white investment portfolios.I’m quite tuned out of the convo, so maybe I’m being unfair. Besides GG and AVC, I try to stay out of the tech blog echo chamber. If there are others like you who are publishing good content, I’d love to know!
People also want to deal with people that they can get along with and that they like to be around. I once had a guy working for me who was quite capable (and went on to bigger and better things actually). And I didn’t make him a partner simply because I didn’t like how he displayed his dissatisfaction and what to me was an anger problem in the way he handled things. Just the way he was moody and brooded occasionally (several times per week let’s say). And he was actually a friend in a way at the time and I still didn’t make him a partner. So I was fine being friends with him but not to be a partner. He was white. If he was black he might have thought that that was the reason I made the decision.
Gaslighting.
Explain.
http://lmgtfy.com/?q=gaslig…
???
I know what gaslighting is.
Thank you for reminding us of this, Brandon. I’m always really grateful when you take the time to comment on racism. I always learn something.
??
It’s someone being polite to your face and dismissing you behind your back, but the dismissal comes in the form of a declined opportunities. Jobs, investments, new acquaintances, dates, etc.The above happens to whites as well. And happened to Jews for many years and still does. Hollywood was (I read this) created by Jews who weren’t accepted in mainstream wasp america. I believe Neil Gabler’s “An empire of their own” takes this position.Though I’m not surprised that I was jumped on by multiple AVC people for even questioning him. Because minorities are supposed to take help when it’s given, and keep quiet when it’s not. We’re supposed to say “yes, massa” and keep doing what we’re told.Once again, why do you have to play a race card here using derogetory workding (‘massa’). Can I use that word or only you can?Though I’m not surprised that I was jumped on by multiple AVC people for even questioning him. And in that thread you jumped on me as well for what I said. And I’ve actually reached out and offered you suggestions, comments and advice several times in the past. (One thing I remember was Wander and Trade but there were probably other things as well).But mostly, I think most folks just don’t know any better. The see things from their perspective, and can’t picture things from someone else’s shoes.Same thing you are doing actually here.
“The above happens to whites as well. And happened to Jews for many years and still does. Hollywood was (I read this) created by Jews who weren’t accepted in mainstream wasp america. I believe Neil Gabler’s “An empire of their own” takes this position.”^^This is an example of hijacking the conversation. Even if true, it doesn’t happen to *near* the extent that it does to black people. And we’re talking about black people right now.”Once again, why do you have to play a race card here using derogetory workding (‘massa’). Can I use that word or only you can?”^^ You need to watch “Zootopia.” It’s ok for rabbits to call each other “cute”, but other animals? Not so much. “The race card” is a B.S. line anyway, but in this particular context we are *talking about race* so how can he be “playing a race card?””Same thing you are doing actually here.”^^We should be grateful for him sharing his experience here because almost no one who comments at AVC is black.It would be refreshing to see you, just once, ask yourself if you’re part of the problem and how you could do better.
^^This is an example of hijacking the conversation. Even if true, it doesn’t happen to *near* the extent that it does to black people. And we’re talking about black people right now.You assume everyone knows this. Especially younger people reading this blog. I am older and I wasn’t aware of the way Italians were treated in the early part of this century. And I don’t think this is hijacking a conversation either by the way. And even if I was hijacking it so what? Happens all the time on AVC actually (one example) and appears to add to the interesting things being said.And no I don’t agree that it’s ok for one group to publicly use a derogatory word and then expect that it’s reserved solely for them. That’s simply not what I think. Others are free to differ on this. Especially in a world where simply using that word (even if someone were to apologize later) would get them fired from their job.It would be refreshing to see you, just once, ask yourself if you’re part of the problem and how you could do better.Opposing points of view are never the problem in my mind. You just don’t like what I have to say so you have decided that I should not offer my opinion if it’s not along the lines of what you think is “appropriate”. As simply a commenter, that’s not up to you to determine what I can say.Even if true, it doesn’t happen to *near* the extent that it does to black people. And we’re talking about black people right now.That’s true, but ironic considering what Brandon said below:I’m a black man with a good education working in white collar America. I don’t have issues with cops, and it’s rare that I hear someone make an obviously racist statement out loud.
BTW, this video about discrimination and “White Fragility” is not only spot on, but it’s absolutely hilarious.https://www.yomyomf.com/sil…@le_on_avc:disqus this video is about you. Watch and learn.
That video! Great share 🙂
I know, right?!This year’s election has been somewhat enlightening. Seeing the root of Trump-like aggression in the fragility of that kind of personality, and seeing how making fun of him for being weak and thin-skinned has pretty much been the most effective attack.It’s in my nature to provide a rational argument when someone is spewing nonsense. Educate them, right?Maybe not. Maybe we should just tease them for being so fragile. #foodforthoughtHere’s a great story about how a black woman shut down her coworker who wouldn’t call her by her “hood name” by pretty much just making fun of him and embarrassing him in front of their coworkers. And it worked! He learned a good lesson!http://www.vibe.com/2016/01…
I remember that 🙂 It’s astonishing to me that Evan felt entitled to talk and act like that at work in this day and age. But I guess ‘entitled’ is the key word there. I hope he learned a lesson. I worry that he was only capable of learning not to mess with her, specifically. But hopefully.I think corporate environments are among the hardest places to create change because everyone is in fight or flight mode. It’s like trying to reason with a pack of hyenas fighting over a carcass (is that too dark of a viewpoint? ha!).
An interesting story about race, culinary history, and the rising popularity of Hot Chicken in Nashville.http://www.nashvillescene.c…tl;dr: a couple white guys out of culinary school are massively profiting off of the rebranding/appropriation of a dish that has its roots in the black community
In Boston the local city government wants the police to wear a body camera. They asked for volunteers to wear the cameras. No one came forward.
Not surprising