Here are 10 Black voices in #dctech that need to be amplified right now

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 👩🏾‍💻 (@jmdembe) May 30, 2020

Michael Ejigu, data and growth at Axios

someone said they’re 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 y’all. https://t.co/2lD3oO63wl

— Michelai A. Graham (@OhMichGee) May 31, 2020

Anita Hall, full-stack developer

https://t.co/vQbh9vPiVn

— Anita 👸🏾💅🏾 (@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 today’s tech….. 🤔🤔🤔 pic.twitter.com/ecbuNFEfi7

— Zuri Hunter (@ZuriHunter) May 30, 2020

Taylor Poindexter, back-end engineer and Black Code Collective cofounder

📣 PSA 📣: 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 👨🏾‍💻🔥 (@QuetCodesFire) May 31, 2020

Hilliary Turnipseed, talent and workplace strategist, and director of Women Who Code

it’s okay to not be okay…

— Hilliary Turnipseed (she/her) (@hilliaryt) May 31, 2020