Page 47 - Cyber Defense eMagazine February 2024

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Connecting Tech to Black America

By David Lee, Chief Evangelist and Visionary for Tech Diversity

As technology rapidly evolves and advances, it can often seem inaccessible and intimidating for the
everyday person. For Black Americans in particular, this feeling is even more prevalent - access to tech
careers have been historically limited or actively shut out entirely. Fortunately, there are a growing
number of ways in which members of the African-American community can take advantage of digital tools
and use them as resources to learn, grow their networks, and develop paths into rewarding tech careers.

The Digital Divide between Black America and the Tech Industry

In today's world, technology has become increasingly pervasive in our daily lives. From smartphones to
laptops, these devices have become essential for staying connected and informed. However, it is
disheartening to see that Black Americans continue to be underrepresented in the tech industry, facing
a significant digital divide.

Statistics reveal the extent of this issue: Black Americans make up 12 percent of the US workforce, but
only 8% of employees in tech jobs, and just 3 percent of technology executives in the C-Suite are Black.
So this means that for many Black Americans in the tech industry, they are the only one in the room, and
no one looks like them in leadership.

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