Denise Young Smith Takes on New Role as VP of Diversity and Inclusion at Apple

[Reach9]

So it would seem less odd to you if it were an old white dude like most of the VPs at Apple already are?
[doublepost=1495596338][/doublepost]
Diversity and inclusion isn't about saying no to white people. It's about ensuring minorities don't hear no in situations where they are the most qualified.

Do you see the difference? Can we stop with the irrational fear now and try just a little to understand what's actually happening?
[doublepost=1495596489][/doublepost]
Thank you for being one of the few people here not succumbing to irrational fear and for speaking up for what is right and true.

This push for diversity for the sake of diversity is inherently racist and sexist. It's discriminating based on immutable traits.
I'm a non-white person, I haven't heard no in situations when I'm most qualified. Are there bad hiring managers? Yes. Is tech industry a racist and sexist place in general? No.

The idea that all minorities hear no in situations where they are the most qualified is ridiculous. That's why South Asian Americans and Asian Americans earn more than white Americans right?

Everybody is speaking up for what is right and true.

 

[AdonisSMU]

It feels odd to me that people placed in charge of diversity always seem to have to be blatant tokens of diversity themselves.

This is annoying. Many times they hire the qualified black person for jobs like diversity and inclusion.

 

[slowpoke]

I'm not sure of every other black, or minorities, experience; but I have had zero issues with the color of my skin holding me back. Hard work and skill has propelled me along my way. I feel this world is getting too soft with inclusion being necessary in everything. Less Kumbaya and more competition.

If Apple wants to worry about diversity, how about they ad some more diversity to their port options on their Pro version of their laptops.

top tier macrumors.txt first reply

[doublepost=1495599520][/doublepost]

Diversity and inclusion isn't about saying no to white people. It's about ensuring minorities don't hear no in situations where they are the most qualified.

Do you see the difference? Can we stop with the irrational fear now and try just a little to understand what's actually happening?

forget it darcyf, it's Computer Mantown

 

[DeepIn2U]

I'm not sure of every other black, or minorities, experience; but I have had zero issues with the color of my skin holding me back. Hard work and skill has propelled me along my way. I feel this world is getting too soft with inclusion being necessary in everything. Less Kumbaya and more competition.

If Apple wants to worry about diversity, how about they ad some more diversity to their port options on their Pro version of their laptops.

This is a matter of opinion and room for a LOT of endless debate. Your experiences may not be relative to mine: nature vs nurture but location population competition for required skillsets for area of expertise for a given career at that time also comes into play as it should.

Diversity eliminates the scrutinization and finger pointing that Apple is not trying - and thus more focus for skillset and competition as it should be in the end result!

 

[techwhiz]

So why isn't she Asian or Indian?

Because she's maybe the most qualified.....

This type of attitude is not productive.
The assumption that just because someone is black that they aren't the most qualified.

Diversity is not about denying anyone a job but about making sure qualified candidates don't hear "no" because they look or speak differently than the interviewer.

A lot of people have the misinterpreted idea that diversity means giving unqualified people jobs. This is based on their own internalized issues. If you think a black person in tech is there because of some quota; you have no idea how tech works.

 

[SeattleMoose]

There is a very basic issue that nobody seems to want to address <https://iq-research.info/en/page/average-iq-by-country>

The whole liberal/SJW ideology is based on "we are all equal". Which is a lie.

The SJW Emperor Has No Clothes...admit it. Not doing so makes it worse as everything ends up twisted around a lie. And deep down...most people know it.

 

[Spendlove]

how about give the best person the job....does it have to matter what race they are, if they are gay or whatever?
[doublepost=1495570209][/doublepost]

Trump doesn't have anything to do with lack of diversity or inclusion. stop it with your nonsense.

Trump has plenty to do with the type of people posting hate and poison all over a tech website though. No nonsense here. Just a horrified Brit appalled at forum members open racism.

No place in modern society.
[doublepost=1495606172][/doublepost]

lol. You just took factual discussion and tried to claim it was "hateful", and that is why you lost and shall continue to lose. Your virtue signaling knows no bounds, and I also believe you are so ignorant that you have no idea you're doing it.

I don't understand your post. Sorry.

 

[Reach9]

Trump has plenty to do with the type of people posting hate and poison all over a tech website though. No nonsense here. Just a horrified Brit appalled at forum members open racism.

No place in modern society.

I'm not a Trump supporter, but I have no idea what you mean by "posting hate and poison". Care to specify who is spreading hate, and this 'open racism' that you speak of?

 

[iKrivetko]

How about you take your hardware and software more seriously, Apple?

 

[diipii]

Off topic: That's a great portrait.

Blue teeth, someone else's hair, cold eyes, perfect for Apple.

 

[nick42983]

Just what the world needs, another multiculturalism religion priestess.

 

[Velin]

"Diversity." Politically correct code for "racial quotas."

 

[sk1wbw]

That's how it should work. That's not how it does work.

Pretending that everything is okay is just an excuse to avoid working to make things better. At best, it's lazy. At worst, it's complicit bigotry.

If you're in a minority group then you can still get a top job, sure, but it will (on average) be more difficult for you than for someone who isn't. That's not right, and needs to change. Change requires active work, and it's a slow, long-term thing.

So we are now admitting that non whites are stupid and incompetent and incapable of getting a job unless the government intervenes? Is that what we are saying?

 

[SarcasticJoe]

Good luck to her in her new role. The constant negative reactions to anything mentioning diversity and inclusion from some on these on these forums prove how much further society has to go on these issues - I for one am glad Apple appears to be paying attention to them.

Definitely! It really goes to show that we really do need to move on to the next step where diversity is merely a byproduct of judging people by the content of their character and not the color of their skin. Where positions like this no longer exist. If the mistakes of the Jim Crow era taught us anything it's that treating people differently simply because of the color of their skin is completely and utterly idiotic.

A diverse and inclusive company is one where ideas and creativity can flow more freely, staff will be happier, and everyone can concentrate on making great products. Isn't that what we all want?

There's plenty of knowledge out there showing that people with different skill sets, views and levels of experience compliment each other. Racial diversity on the other hand really doesn't have an effect on what a group of people can achieve so that's definitely a white rabbit people should stop chasing.

 

[thespacekid]

So does this mean that Apple was so failing in their inclusiveness that they've had to make a VP position just for this? Will they be able to over ride valid business decisions if they don't think it's inclusive?

 

[s2mikey]

"Diversity." Politically correct code for "racial quotas."

I hope thats not the case but its hard not to feel that way, isnt it? If the best person ought to get the job then thats fine and thats how it should be but we cant put percentages on it. If it just so happens that more white guys happen to apply for and are qualified for a certain job then thats the way it is. It cant always come down to we have to have XX% of blacks, xx% of asians, xx% of etc etc. Thats crap.

 

[Rocketman]

Because she's maybe the most qualified.....

This type of attitude is not productive.
The assumption that just because someone is black that they aren't the most qualified.

Diversity is not about denying anyone a job but about making sure qualified candidates don't hear "no" because they look or speak differently than the interviewer.

A lot of people have the misinterpreted idea that diversity means giving unqualified people jobs. This is based on their own internalized issues. If you think a black person in tech is there because of some quota; you have no idea how tech works.

All the stuff I have seen and heard for the past 8 years has come out of the mouths of black Americans. That's why I noted it. Not some racist POV on my part. Quite the reverse.

 

[Chupa Chupa]

One would think a company run by Tim Cook would naturally seek diversity and wouldn't need a "tzar" to, as the article says, "tackle diversity issues." Apple recruiters and head hunters would already be on the job. In fact, I believe this position, coming 5.5 years after Tim Cook became CEO, demonstrates this position is really a show pony, much like everything else TC does.

 

[Atlantico]

https://www.apple.com/pr/bios/

Well, what I was looking for was VP of Macintosh hardware and development.
What I got was VP of Diversity.

Feelsbadman

 

[EightyTwenty]

1) Skin color or gender should NEVER be a factor (for or against) when hiring someone.

2) The work force of any given company should NEVER resemble the exact demographics of the nation as a whole. If it does, that means people are being hired (or not hired) based on racial quotas.

Period.
[doublepost=1495628995][/doublepost]

One would think a company run by Tim Cook would naturally seek diversity and wouldn't need a "tzar" to, as the article says, "tackle diversity issues." Apple recruiters and head hunters would already be on the job. In fact, I believe this position, coming 5.5 years after Tim Cook became CEO, demonstrates this position is really a show pony, much like everything else TC does.

Why should any company be "seeking diversity"? What does that even mean? What the hell difference does it make? Have you ever sent back a waitress because she wasn't the right race or wasn't "diverse" enough?

 

[darcyf]

This push for diversity for the sake of diversity is inherently racist and sexist. It's discriminating based on immutable traits.
I'm a non-white person, I haven't heard no in situations when I'm most qualified. Are there bad hiring managers? Yes. Is tech industry a racist and sexist place in general? No.

The idea that all minorities hear no in situations where they are the most qualified is ridiculous. That's why South Asian Americans and Asian Americans earn more than white Americans right?

Everybody is speaking up for what is right and true.

"The idea that all minorities hear no in situations where they are the most qualified is ridiculous."

You're right. That is ridiculous. Which is why no one is saying that.

Why is it so hard to understand this is about trying to ensure the right person for the job gets the job? Regardless of ethnicity. That the whole point of this is to endure under no circumstance would ethnicity play a role.

Does that mean a few less white people might get hired? Probably. But that would only be because those particular white people were less qualified than the successful candidate.

Does it mean no wiite people are getting hired at Apple? Absolutely not. If you think that then your fear is clouding your judgement.

Apple is smart. It wants the best people for the job. Hiring anyone other than the most qualified person just for a little PR blip makes zero sense. This initiative is literally the opposite of that. It's an effort to ensure the most qualified person always gets the job. Regardless of ethnicity.

 

[slimothy]

N...no. These roles are not PR and are actually needed, as others have stated. I can tell you from experience the world does not work as you have described. All kinds of people are discouraging and stopping minorities and women from applying, yourself included, by ignoring the challenges others face and pretending it's all so simple. If you don't believe me, you probably haven't been around non-male and non-white people in the workplace very much. It's quite simple to see and understand once you get your head... Nah. I'm not going to stoop to your level of condescension. I think I've made my point.

You're absolutely, 100% incorrect. I've worked and employed many races, men, and women alike. No one is holding them down except themselves by playing victim all of the time. No one gives a flying **** what color you are or if you're a male or female. If you're qualified, you will be hired. If you're not, you won't. Don't blame it on your skin color. That is asinine. Morgan Freeman said it best. If you haven't watched his interview where he addresses almost this exact issue, I recommend you watch it. Enlighten yourself.

 

[tgara]

One need only look at things like 'equal pay for equal work' rules being struck down in Washington as reasons things like these debates exist.

Not sure what "rules" you are talking about. Laws on equal pay have been on the books for over 50 years, and are still in force. The law already mandates equal pay for equal work and has done so for a long time.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equal_Pay_Act_of_1963

 

[Cineplex]

N...no. These roles are not PR and are actually needed, as others have stated. I can tell you from experience the world does not work as you have described. All kinds of people are discouraging and stopping minorities and women from applying, yourself included, by ignoring the challenges others face and pretending it's all so simple. If you don't believe me, you probably haven't been around non-male and non-white people in the workplace very much. It's quite simple to see and understand once you get your head... Nah. I'm not going to stoop to your level of condescension. I think I've made my point.

Did you guys ever stop to think the reason someone may not want to hire a non-white male for a job might be because they are afraid to? Think about it....everyone is a victim of something nowadays. All someone needs to do is insinuate the hint of racism or other discrimination and your legal budget goes up. All this reverse racism is not solving the problem, it's making it worse. I've experienced managers afraid to discipline or correct someone in fear of getting fired because they could be called a racist for doing their job. It is a real problem. The more this so called inequality is in the spot light and the more frivolous claims of prejudice continue....the longer the appearance of racism will continue. This mentality is just causing people to not live in harmony. This is a much more complicated issue than minorities not getting hired because they are minorities. We allow them to be a victim is situations that they just aren't. Remove the ability to make false claims of discrimination, and you will go a long way towards a solution. I don't think people are 1950s racists anymore.....I think they are afraid of lawsuits and terminations. It doesn't help that all the "educated" SJWs are the ones marginalizing them by thinking they are all helpless and dumb, going out of their ways to solve problems that don't exist. If you don't believe me just watch this http://youtu.be/vZCVHB68cuY

 

[0098386]

Good