Chris wrote about diversity recently in a post entitled “The Future of White Boy clubs” in reference to “The Future Of Web Apps” conference held in San Francisco. Chris writes very eloquently about his feelings on the subject:
There’s something important here that needs to be impressed upon us white boys by a white boy — one who happens to find himself uncomfortably in the white boy club (just coz you’re born into it doesn’t mean that you’re not responsible for being part of the change that needs to happen). It goes back to that fortune I got and to the point I made at 20×2 at SXSW last year: as it stands, we, as white men (of course I include myself in that), have a tremendous amount of privilege and power — power that many of us don’t know we have, power that many of us choose to ignore, power that some of us disclaim or shrug off. The utter reality is that whether you want it or not, you have the power and the potential to be part of the ongoing solution.
For what it’s worth, I have felt a little uncomfortable myself when allowed entrance into the white boy club when I find that there’s no one else like me around. But then again, I’m also not necessarily too keen on “The Indus Entrepreneur” events where the majority of attendees are South Asian. A diverse crowd always makes me feel the most comfortable.
It’s strange —– I attended a DLA Piper VC event here in Atlanta this past Wednesday and I felt the exact same way as Chris did in San Francisco. In Atlanta, a city where 65% of the population is African American, I don’t recall seeing a single one at the event. But it wasn’t just about race —– I don’t think I saw more than 4 – 6 women in total. I was one of 2 – 3 Indians present. A few other Asians. The 4 speakers were all white males. There was a level of imbalance and inclusivity involved —– it was invite only.
The “long tail” was certainly not represented in that room. And let’s face it —– that’s where one finds opportunity these days.
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