Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity
Code School Book — Morgan Lopes and Tim Whitacre (24/30)
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The tech industry has done a poor job of fostering an inclusive environment.
O f all the chapters in the book, this was the most challenging to write. We don’t want to get it wrong, misrepresent, or speak out of turn. We are not experts on this topic, yet we could not write a book about technology without calling attention to the elephant in the room. The tech industry has done a poor job of fostering an inclusive environment for women, people of color, and the LGBTQIA community. The authors of this book have benefited directly from our own privilege.
The growing number of authors’ voices in this arena are invaluable. Many reflect the lived experiences of those negatively impacted by industry deficits. On our website, codeschoolbook.com, you can access a dynamic list of publications regarding the topics of race and inclusion that we’ve found helpful in our contexts. These titles include:
- Brotopia by Emily Chang
- So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo
- White Rage by Carol Anderson
- Leapfrog by Nathalie Molina Niño and Sara Grace
- I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness by Austin Channing Brown
Perspective from our friend Nate Washington, Chief Technology Officer at Qoins, speaks volumes to the topic: “I think for me, one of the things that I’ve encountered (especially in the early years of my career) is that there were many people that questioned my expertise because I a) looked different, b) didn’t have a degree, and c) took a non-traditional path to becoming an engineer. They were wrong of course, but I know that countless other non-white male developers have likely experienced the same thing.”
In much of this book we’ve discussed concepts like imposter syndrome, the experience dilemma, and preparedness. It is possible those have impacted your path. But for many, it’s likely more complex than just imposter syndrome. Instead, it’s more likely you feel the tension of a field that was not built to include everyone at the keyboard. You may have an experience dilemma or plenty of experience, yet are faced with the dilemma of short-sighted employers and biased recruiters. Everyone is not starting at the same start line.
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