Like the viral tweet teaches: “racism isn’t a touchy topic when you aren’t a fucking racist.”
Still, in the immediate aftermath of large-scale civil unrest sparked by police violence and systemic racism, it’s easy to get stuck on what to do next. Donate money; make sure to vote; learn and spread ideas of anti-racism and amplify critical voices.
No surprise there is no shortage of such voices to follow in the DMV and broadly in tech. This month was already Racial Equity in Tech Month in Technical.ly’s editorial calendar. As if that wasn’t reason enough, this weekend and this moment further reminds how important it is to support perspective and messages from Black people.
In that spirit, below, find a very simple, very small step: a list of 10 Black voices in technology or otherwise active on Twitter whose voices you should amplify. Some of them we’ve reported on for years, and others we’ve admired from afar. All are voices worth following if you don’t already.
Erica C, technical leader at Cisco
This is one of the best examples of true leadership and being an ally to the community https://t.co/TXrZgog2Lk
— Erica C (@TechLayDee) May 31, 2020
Alexis Ewing-Moody, senior software engineer
For those of you who "disagree" with violence…
A thread: https://t.co/1hSA0dCpXv
— Alexis Ewing-Moody (@AfroDevGirl) May 30, 2020
Jessica Dembe, front-end engineer at Axios
1) https://t.co/OmcJdf6BUR https://t.co/L2uTWqv0bY
— Jessica Dembe ๐ฉ๐พโ๐ป (@jmdembe) May 30, 2020
Michael Ejigu, data and growth at Axios
someone said theyโre weeding out the undercover cops LMAOOOOO https://t.co/DRSgzKdDJu
— Michael Ejigu (@MichaelEjigu) May 31, 2020
Michelai Graham, Technical.ly DC market editor
I love yโall. https://t.co/2lD3oO63wl
— Michelai A. Graham (@OhMichGee) May 31, 2020
Anita Hall, full-stack developer
— Anita ๐ธ๐พ๐ ๐พ (@nitamarie_js) May 31, 2020
Zuri Hunter, technical lead for Black Girls Code DC
These are definitely before my time. I wonder if these are applicable to todayโs tech….. ๐ค๐ค๐ค pic.twitter.com/ecbuNFEfi7
— thestrugglingblack (@ZuriHunter) May 30, 2020
Taylor Poindexter, back-end engineer and Black Code Collective cofounder
๐ฃ PSA ๐ฃ: The ACLU has created an app called Mobile Justice. It allows you to record police interactions and have it immediately sent to ACLU.
You can also share your location and have others come record as well.
Hold cops accountable. https://t.co/XYyAJ1Nzaf
— Taylor Poindexter (@engineering_bae) May 31, 2020
Marquet Reid, front-end engineer at Element84
Since I was about 6 or 7 years old it became clear to me that I had a good chance of being shot in the street or would be a victim of police brutality. As a kid I was scared of both to the point I was scared of the police and told my mother I wasn't going to HS in elementary.
— Marquet Reid ๐จ๐พโ๐ป๐ฅ (@QuetCodesFire) May 31, 2020
Hilliary Turnipseed, talent and workplace strategist, and director of Women Who Code
itโs okay to not be okay…
— Hilliary Turnipseed (she/her) (@hilliaryt) May 31, 2020
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