Technology, Minorities, and the Poverty Gap
Technology
The word itself conjures up images of all sorts of dreams, concepts, and visions for humans in general. It's something that has been the engine for the growth and development of human society from it's beginnings. Today, that all-to-human gift for the development of technology has lead to a world that hardly would've been imagined 50 or 60 years ago.
The advent of the computer, The birth of the world wide web, The mobile revolution. Virtual Reality, etc.
All of those events are a part of the near instantaneous, inter-connected reality we all live in. unfortunately, some of us reap the rewards of the technological genie more than others. Take a quick glance at Silicon Valley, for openers:
Simply put, Information Technology is a gateway.
For those of us that DO have access, the Tech industry is a god send. I myself have been in IT for almost 20 years, even though it was probably the furthest thing from my mind when I was enrolled in college. I was exposed to the career during military service, and never looked back. For black folks in this country, it's an avenue that HAS to be utilized to help turn the tide in terms of being able to climb the social ladder. For every kid that glances at their cell phone at a bus stop, there should be a child engaged in learning the business of computing, or code, or any multitude of things that are gateways into the industry. I'm fortunate to live in a Metro area where those opportunities in general are plentiful. that being said, there are still neighborhoods and homes in the DC Metro area that DON'T even have basic internet access, or even a dedicated computer in the home. Part of that is education, but the other part of the equation deals with making that technology readily accessible to EVERYBODY, whether it's at home, or otherwise.
Some cities and school districts in DC (and around the country) are getting the hint; IT and Tech-Centric Charter Schools (as well as private, non-profit programs) are starting to pop up in some of the countries most heavily populated areas to address the gap. STEM Education is at the forefront of an emerging dialogue about how to prepare our kids to excel in an increasingly tech-savvy and tech-based world.
At the end of the day, we can STILL do a lot to close that gap; We just have to commit to doing it as a collective. It's a legacy that can give our kids a fighting chance at a better future all the way around.
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