We are in a new era. People are realizing that systemic inequities have resulted in a reality that has made it extraordinarily difficult for black people to get paid, promoted, and  even be considered for employment the same as their white counterparts. The next question on everyone’s mind is, how do we fix it? How do we remedy the disparities that have existed for so long and what will the interviewing, hiring, and recruiting process look like through this change? The latter is something we simply cannot answer until these changes start happening, but what should these changes entail? This might be the most important question to start the process of rebuilding and reevaluating current systems. It’s not going to be a simple solution to ensure black people are on the same playing field because we just haven’t been for so long due to a complicated amount of racism baked into our society. So the answer isn’t simply, hire more black people, it’s making sure there are no barriers to entry into the workforce, support for development, and pay gaps are eliminated, etc. Pay disparities are especially egregious when comparing white men and black women. While we continue to figure this stuff out, there is one notion I want to talk about and explain why it’s not only insulting, but dangerously misleading, and that’s the suggestion that black people want “handouts” when it comes to positions. Though, if we did receive a “handout” that wouldn’t even remotely make up for the amount of pain, trauma, and fear we hold every single day because of our history and just being black living in this country. SoooOooooo…..

The idea black people desire handouts is reminiscent of the exhausting arguments against affirmative action where angry white people would say black people were “taking spots away” from qualified white people who applied to the same schools or positions. The word “lazy” would often get thrown around as if we didn’t have to work twice as hard to get recognized. Affirmative Action was literally put into place to rectify the inequities of the past. Spoiler Alert: It doesn’t work which is why we’re here today still fighting for a level playing field. Affirmative Action in the US, according to the Encyclopedia Brittanica can be defined as:

An active effort to improve employment or educational opportunities for members of minority groups and for women. Affirmative action began as a government remedy to the effects of long-standing discrimination against such groups and has consisted of policies, programs, and procedures that give limited preferences to minorities and women in job hiring, admission to institutions of higher education, the awarding of government contracts, and other social benefits. The typical criteria for affirmative action are race, disability, gender, ethnic origin, and age.

This has been such a controversial topic because instead of it being seen as a way to make sure diversity is a focus when hiring or admitting students, it’s seen as something being “taken away” from someone else- white folks. I was never good at summarizing why Affirmative Action was necessary because to someone who believes it is unfair, they also clearly don’t understand the history of why it came into fruition and I get tired of having to continuously explain this country’s past to people with access to books and the internet. It is not a handout. It is not a means of taking something away from someone. It is a way to balance the scales so a company doesn’t operate in, say, NYC with a staff of 100% white men. Why would a company want to be homogenous when it is proven people from different backgrounds will only increase your organization’s pool of ideas and subsequently success?! Oh I know why, because people who are terrified of change remain in power and refuse to let go of their precious status quo. Affirmative Action is not a requirement of these institutions unless there is explicit state or federal policy around quotas they have to reach or tracking attempts to hire diversely. Not every business is subjected to these suggestions. Sure, there are incentives for companies in some states to encourage inclusion, but let’s face it, on the most part Affirmative Action has not been the saving grace America hoped it would be. That’s because it’s more like a band-aid on a fracture. Affirmative Action is a nice thought, but if the people who are supposed to institute it don’t believe it should exist and/or have no desire to understand its importance than how can it possibly be effective let alone maintained.

Anyway, this is all to say that in this current climate we are not asking establishments to just GIVE us jobs. We are asking more conscientious decisions be made to upend the current processes that result in depressingly low percentages of people of color in leadership positions, executive positions, and in a lot of different fields, particularly tech. I’ve heard the excuse, this is a systemic problem and more black children need to be in STEM programs to get jobs at startups or booming tech companies when they get older. Let me tell you firsthand, that a majority of people I’ve worked with over the 10+ years I’ve been in the tech industry do not have computer science degrees or anything close to it. I have a LITERATURE degree. Working in the tech industry does not mean you’re required to code, and I think this misconception steers a lot of potential talent away. Hmmm…. I’m starting to wonder if it’s a narrative that was purposefully spun up to avoid accountability….

I just want to make it clear that I’m not looking for a handout when it comes to being considered for a job, but that shouldn’t even be something in the forefront of anyone’s mind. It’s a reductive idea, because even if it were a handout, it would not make up for the centuries of mistreatment that forged a disparaging view towards black lives. As it stands, this society is an entirely unfair, unjust, unrelenting system of oppression. A handout is literally the least anyone can do and again it’s insulting that this would be all we were looking for. I don’t just want a job. I want a society that values my existence. Who tf cares about a handout when I can still get murdered in the streets for no reason at all. What we should be focusing on is dismantling racism and discrimination in the country not just the workforce.

I also want to make it clear that I wholeheartedly believe in reparations for black Americans, which I have heard people call a handout as well. Plainly, it’s laughable considering our ancestors LITERALLY BUILT this country FOR FREE. So yes, reparations I will forever and always be behind because duh. Pay us.

In other news, tomorrow is my birthday and I’ll be celebrating by going to the Queer Liberation March for Black Lives and Against Police Brutality and getting together at a park nearby afterwards WITH MASKS AND SOCIAL DISTANCING. But for my bday what I really want is for people to donate to causes for LGBTQ+ POC. I will be donating as well! Here is a list of black-led LGBTQ+ organizations!

Let’s keep marching towards revolution 🖤