Big tech companies have frequently been making headlines over recent years for their consistent lack of diversity, despite repeated promises to do the opposite. Bloomberg Businessweek last week published an article called “Why Doesn’t Silicon Valley Hire Black Coders” that shines further light on the continued lack of minorities in the tech industry.
The article describes the efforts or lack thereof by tech giants to recruit students from Howard University, a historically Black university located in Washington, D.C. According to its college scorecard, 94 percent of Howard’s undergraduate students are Black, 3 percent are non-resident alien, 2 percent are American Indian/Alaska Native, 1 percent are white, 1 percent are Asian and less than 1 percent are both Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander and Hispanic. 45 percent of students receive a need-based Pell Grant.
The dismal statistics regarding minorities at tech companies have put pressure on these companies to make changes. But diversity reports released from Facebook and Google last year revealed that neither company made progress in achieving a more diverse workforce.
