The underrepresentation of African Americans in technology fields has been an issue since the 1970’s, when the Bay Area became Silicon Valley. In 2018, according to Silicon Valley Bank, only 1 percent of venture capital dollars went to Black start-up founders and Black employees made up only 2 percent of Google’s technical roles and 4.8 percent of their entire workforce. More recently, Twitter reported that Black employees made up only 6 percent of their staff and Facebook reported 3.8 percent of their employees were Black. All of this contributes to an environment that continues to be hostile toward African Americans, one that tell us, “You are not welcome.”

It is further compounded by the fact that very few African Americans get to adulthood without real contact with how technology works, so a career path in the tech industry is rarely considered. According to a recent survey of more than 1,000 Black adults, over 6 in 10 do not currently work in digital or IT, but would be open to changing careers. Yet, over half of those surveyed said they were unsure of where to begin (55 percent) or that they lacked the financial resources (51 percent), and skills (52 percent). Additionally, 45 percent of respondents said they lack the connections needed to start a tech career, showing that accessibility to resources is a major issue.

As an industry that is mainly composed of white male professionals — it is missing the benefits having a diverse workforce provide. After all, app users and customers come from different sexes, races and backgrounds. The following are some steps the  community can follow to start their careers in technology.

Coding Bootcamps

Coding bootcamps are a quick and affordable way to learn programming or software developer skills. These courses can be in person or online, people not only learn about coding, they also learn skills that will help them in the professional world.  Also, there are coding bootcamps in cities such as Houston, San Francisco and New York where potential students can find the right program. You can also research about the experiences of others in the African American community to find out if a coding bootcamp is the right option for you.

Find the Right Company

Finding work is already a difficult task for Americans, but more so for African Americans. One step every person looking for a job has to take is to research the companies in their sector and identify the ones to apply to. A smart move is to target companies you know have diverse workforces and support the Black community research companies who have Black founders or CEOs, or at least a Black representation in the leadership roles.

Find Opportunities

An important thing to do is to make sure you seize opportunities. Many programs support US minorities. If you are Latino, a woman, or African American specializing in tech, there are organizations dedicated to opening opportunities for you. For example, there is a company called the Black Founders that created an ecosystem for Black tech entrepreneurs to interact and share ideas. Another one is Code2024, which is a nonprofit that helps Black tech professionals get jobs and internships with the biggest tech firms in the country.

Networking

Networking is key in building any career, but when you are part of a minority, this is even more important. Having connections in the industry can be difficult, but go to meetups, events, and conferences where you may find other professionals with the same interest. Make yourself seen by talking to people and getting to know them. Do not forget to mention you are looking for a job; some of them could be your future coworkers.

After working in the technology field, for approximately eight years and loving it, I would highly recommend giving this field all due consideration, as the benefits far out-weighed the negatives.