News

Does diversity in tech actually matter?

Diversity has become something of a buzzword in tech, and it's one that companies are only too keen to bandy about at every opportunity. The likes of Apple, Google, Facebook, and Amazon are eager to demonstrate how diverse a workforce they have built up -- but the fact of the matter is that they have all failed abysmally.

The Lack Of Diversity In Tech Is A Cultural Issue

On August 4, the First-Ever White House Demo Day was organized to showcase women and minority founders in technology. The event, along with President Obama’s call for action, sparked some major tech companies to announce new diversity initiatives. Facebook, Google, IBM, Microsoft, and Amazon all jumped on the bandwagon to demonstrate that they are committed to improving their recruitment and hiring of women and minorities.

These Three Young Black Men Aim to Increase Diversity in Tech Industry

According to data from the National Science Foundation, the number of science, math and engineering bachelor’s degrees awarded to Black men increased from 12,857 in 2002 to 18,601 in 2012, and the number of Black men who earn science and engineering doctorates grew by more than 20 percent in 10 years. Although the number of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) degrees have increased, Black men are one of the only minority groups not making progress, with only 3 percent of Black men working as scientists and engineers.