Apple Commits Extra $30 Million to Racial Equity and Justice Initiative

[jseymour]

You don't need good spelling and gammer for many jobs from programming to surgery. That you think this should somehow be a barrier to entry is rather deplorable.

I have to disagree with this most emphatically. No individual is an island--particularly in the workplace. One must be able to communicate effectively to be a productive part of any team. If one cannot write or speak well, they cannot communicate well.

I see evidence of this on a daily basis on forums such as this one. Somebody makes a statement using incorrect words or poor grammar and is misinterpreted thereby. Or somebody else makes a statement using correct words and grammar, but using words and terminology with which others are... unfamiliar, shall we say?, others assume they know what was meant, and we're off to the races.

A good example is the article resulting in this thread. Does Apple really mean "equity?" Or do they really mean equality? Because the two words mean entirely different things. I can get behind the latter, equality, 100% and without reservation. The former is abhorrent for a number of reasons, and I'll have no part in it.

 

[techwhiz]

Nope. My parents made well over $250K yearly some 20 years ago. And I still didn’t have the funds to get me into college. I wish I had a scholarship like this for me but my parents made to much $$$. Crazy how that works


I couldn’t afford college. Therefore I didn’t go. I got past that obstacle and busted my butt and found a trade I like and now I make $150K a year.
Mind you my parents made very good money when I was younger. Over $250K yearly 20 years ago. It because my parents made good money and I was white I didn’t qualify for any “white” scholarships and my parents made to much $$$.

If your parents made $250K 20 years ago and you still couldn't afford college; your parents weren't good money managers.

It had nothing to do with you being white and everything to do with your parents not wanting to write a check.

My daughter doesn't qualify for any "need" based scholarships so I write a check. I'm Black.

 

[techwhiz]

And what exactly are "white" scholarships?

You know; legacy admission to private universities that in the past denied admission to Black, Latino and Asian students just due to race.....

 

[Kylo83]

highest paid sport stars in America are black, the president Obama was 8 years in office, such a racist and oppressed country, if you work hard no matter who you are you will succeed stop this race baiting apple your causing segregation

 

[jk73]

Growing up without a father has zero impact on the child. Certainly didn’t stop me gettimg my degrees and a very good job. You need ‘a’ parent or guardian, but even then as soon as you turn 16 you can cut ties and develop with baggage.

Silly nonsense. There are exceptions everywhere, but rampant fatherlessness is the No. 1 problem in the black population by far.

 

[ruka.snow]

I have to disagree with this most emphatically. No individual is an island--particularly in the workplace. One must be able to communicate effectively to be a productive part of any team. If one cannot write or speak well, they cannot communicate well.

I see evidence of this on a daily basis on forums such as this one. Somebody makes a statement using incorrect words or poor grammar and is misinterpreted thereby. Or somebody else makes a statement using correct words and grammar, but using words and terminology with which others are... unfamiliar, shall we say?, others assume they know what was meant, and we're off to the races.

A good example is the article resulting in this thread. Does Apple really mean "equity?" Or do they really mean equality? Because the two words mean entirely different things. I can get behind the latter, equality, 100% and without reservation. The former is abhorrent for a number of reasons, and I'll have no part in it.

I am afraid I have to disagree with you on this. Spelling and grammar would hold me back if I was a developer 20-30 years ago, but now it doesn't and I now have a team of developers to work with. You just need to be understood and spelling and grammar shouldn't be a gate to a job. I even know a dyslexic head librarian, it doesn't stop her doing her job with competence. Even writers can be terrible at spelling and grammar, you pay someone by the word to fix that. Regardless, I am thankful it is not something that'll ever affect my work performance unless I am daft enough to move to the USA where apparently word per minute tests are more important than how well you can problem solve code.

 

[techwhiz]

In 2021 it's still astounding that people here still don't recognize the history of racism in America.
Where for 100 years after the dawn of slavery we had Jim Crow, The black Codes and all sorts of laws on the books that criminalized been Black. That for 100 years we had apartheid in America where is was completely legal and sanctioned by the government to deny access just because a person had a particular skin color or ethnic background.

White politicians criminalize the civil rights movement when all people wanted was to be treated equal and human.

This country allowed the denial of education, banking, housing, employment, medical care and safe passage among other things, to people of color.

Even the military was segregated and Black people were denied promotions and jobs.

People that come here and blast diversity efforts clearly have not taken a critical look at this country or have some distorted view of history that these atrocities were not commuted here in America.

They were. They Were. THEY WERE!!!

We had internment camps for the Japanese. Oh, wait, those were Concentration Camps!
We had the "Trail of Tears" for the Native American. Oh, wait, that was Genocide!
We had Jim Crow and Segregation. Oh, wait, that was Apartheid just like South Africa!

You folks can be in denial all you want but history does not agree with what you think or say.

 

[jk73]

In 2021 it's still astounding that people here still don't recognize the history of racism in America.
Where for 100 years after the dawn of slavery we had Jim Crow, The black Codes and all sorts of laws on the books that criminalized been Black. That for 100 years we had apartheid in America where is was completely legal and sanctioned by the government to deny access just because a person had a particular skin color or ethnic background.

White politicians criminalize the civil rights movement when all people wanted was to be treated equal and human.

This country allowed the denial of education, banking, housing, employment, medical care and safe passage among other things, to people of color.

Even the military was segregated and Black people were denied promotions and jobs.

People that come here and blast diversity efforts clearly have not taken a critical look at this country or have some distorted view of history that these atrocities were not commuted here in America.

They were. They Were. THEY WERE!!!

We had internment camps for the Japanese. Oh, wait, those were Concentration Camps!
We had the "Trail of Tears" for the Native American. Oh, wait, that was Genocide!
We had Jim Crow and Segregation. Oh, wait, that was Apartheid just like South Africa!

You folks can be in denial all you want but history does not agree with what you think or say.

Meanwhile, immigrants come here with the clothes on their back and somehow own businesses within a few years.

Only losers whine about things that happened 100 years ago to their ancestors.

 

[ruka.snow]

Silly nonsense. There are exceptions everywhere, but rampant fatherlessness is the No. 1 problem in the black population by far.

I can't agree with that. We have many single parent families in Scotland and it doesn't stop anyone from going to university to get a degree and a job. All you need is accessible education. Two mums, two dads, one dad, one mum, raised by granny, these are irrelevant as long as that one person is supporting the child or the child has support from teachers and other people that can inspire them.

 

[jk73]

I can't agree with that. We have many single parent families in Scotland and it doesn't stop anyone from going to university to get a degree and a job. All you need is accessible education. Two mums, two dads, one dad, one mum, raised by granny, these are irrelevant as long as that one person is supporting the child or the child has support from teachers and other people that can inspire them.

Scotland? We’re talking about the U.S., where ~75% of black kids grow up without a father. Come live in the inner city in the U.S. for a year and then tell me fatherlessness isn’t a problem.

 

[JMacHack]

There was a blog post by a black developer that I read awhile back that gave me pause. It was after github renamed the “Master” branch to “Main”.

In the post he said that didn’t matter to him because he considered it like a “Master” record. And suggested a better way to increase minority representation would be to increase the amount of non traditional hires.

I agree with this personally. I’ve actually known quite a few people who’ve taught themselves to code but don’t have a degree. Normally that disqualifies them for many positions despite the fact that they’re competent and self motivated. Two traits often lacking in employees.

 

[JMacHack]

Is the wealth gap between Europe and Africa because of racism?

What are you getting at?

 

[alexandr]

incredible, with a good 3rd of posts in this thread being blatantly racist, my comment gets edited because i pointed out how well this person spells. pretty sure they aren't foreign either

 

[ruka.snow]

Scotland? We’re talking about the U.S., where ~75% of black kids grow up without a father.

You are talking about the USA, you are choosing to make your argument narrow. The USA is only 4% of the population and how many black kids don't grow up with a father is irrelevant. You don't need a father to progress in life, I don't know where you get this daft idea from? You need 'a' parent or parental figure. Two are a bonus, but not needed. It's like you are trying to victimise these kids as "Oh know they can't get jobs because they didn't have a father growing up.". Make education accessible to all and they'll get jobs push up the number of middle class that pay higher taxes and make your country better.

 

[jk73]

What are you getting at?

Answer the question.

 

[jk73]

You are talking about the USA, you are choosing to make your argument narrow. The USA is only 4% of the population and how many black kids don't grow up with a father is irrelevant. You don't need a father to progress in life, I don't know where you get this daft idea from? You need 'a' parent or parental figure. Two are a bonus, but not needed. It's like you are trying to victimise these kids as "Oh know they can't get jobs because they didn't have a father growing up.". Make education accessible to all and they'll get jobs push up the number of middle class that pay higher taxes and make your country better.

You’re just saying the same silly thing over and over. If 75% of the kids in Scotland didn’t have a father, Scotland would be a much different place, and you’d be singing a different tune.

 

[JMacHack]

Answer the question.

You want the long or short answer, or are you looking for a particular answer?

 

[alexandr]

highest paid sport stars in America are black, the president Obama was 8 years in office, such a racist and oppressed country, if you work hard no matter who you are you will succeed stop this race baiting apple your causing segregation

and i bet my life you have a black friend. or at least had one in college...

 

[ruka.snow]

There was a blog post by a black developer that I read awhile back that gave me pause. It was after github renamed the “Master” branch to “Main”.

In the post he said that didn’t matter to him because he considered it like a “Master” record. And suggested a better way to increase minority representation would be to increase the amount of non traditional hires.

I agree with this personally. I’ve actually known quite a few people who’ve taught themselves to code but don’t have a degree. Normally that disqualifies them for many positions despite the fact that they’re competent and self motivated. Two traits often lacking in employees.

It isn't hard to get a degree or better yet put up a GitHub portfolio so I can see how you code before deciding if I want to interview you. A degree + GitHub with some interesting projects is a winner in my book. A degree shows you have stuck with something for four years and have the fundamental knowledge in place. Projects I can browse on Github shows me how you code, your thought processes, and that you are a self starter.

As for the master branch, I don't think anyone understood that change to main. Maybe if we still used IDE slots with master and slave drives they'd be a case for it. Most alias master and main to m anyway so you checkout the m branch regardless what it is called.

 

[jk73]

You want the long or short answer, or are you looking for a particular answer?

Post whatever you want.

 

[ruka.snow]

You’re just saying the same silly thing over and over. If 75% of the kids in Scotland didn’t have a father, Scotland would be a much different place, and you’d be singing a different tune.

No I wouldn't because I would still be exactly where I am today. We have had periods before when more than 75% of kids grew up without fathers. Or have you forgotten all the world wars. You really want to make this into some sort of victim blame, that the lack of a father (or mother) is somehow a hindrance to success. Whatever floats your boat.

 

[I7guy]

I would be very interested to hear of it, since they don't bother to tell others about them?

The list is on Apples’ website.

 

[jk73]

No I wouldn't because I would still be exactly where I am today. We have had periods before when more than 75% of kids grew up without fathers. Or have you forgotten all the world wars. You really want to make this into some sort of victim blame, that the lack of a father (or mother) is somehow a hindrance to success. Whatever floats your boat.

Ridiculous. There’s never been a 30-year period in which 75% of American or Scottish or Japanese kids grew up fatherless, as has been happening with black kids in the U.S.

 

[JMacHack]

It isn't hard to get a degree or better yet put up a GitHub portfolio so I can see how you code before deciding if I want to interview you. A degree + GitHub with some interesting projects is a winner in my book. A degree shows you have stuck with something for four years and have the fundamental knowledge in place. Projects I can browse on Github shows me how you code, your thought processes, and that you are a self starter.

As for the master branch, I don't think anyone understood that change to main. Maybe if we still used IDE slots with master and slave drives they'd be a case for it. Most alias master and main to m anyway so you checkout the m branch regardless what it is called.

I’m not calling degrees worthless, I’m just agreeing with a blog post I saw. Personally I think a system that encourages non traditional applicants is more meritocratic than one gatekept by four years of extra school (treated as job training in our age), of which a quarter of it is irrelevant to a job in question.

 

[ruka.snow]

Ridiculous. There’s never been a 30-year period in which 75% of kids grew up fatherless, as has been happening with black kids in the U.S.

If you think it is a big deal, do something about it. However, a child only needs one parent or guardian, no amount of spitting your dummy will change that.