"But the biggest challenge we face isn’t inequality.   It’s ignorance..." Forbes or rather Gene Marks,in an essay by  "a short, balding and mediocre certified public accountant"

It would be hypocritical of me to call Mr Marks out  on this seeing  I often publicly and privately lament on Arrogance, Ignorance, Illiteracy or false pride; in my  community,  but there is so much in this essay and the subsequent  discussion & debate that I'd like to address!

BUT first, can we get such writers out to  "tech" or events in these urban poor areas discussing this!  Let alone have the priveledge of covering  such  events;- In fact many  events in NY and their sponsors are as I quote one tech company "interested in The fortune 500"!

So tech events now go for the  glamor and glitz in fact many  will be surprised at the number of tech startup in NY Right in POOR Brooklyn neighborhoods or rather naighboring formerly poor nabes... gentrification can be a  .. 

In fact  one of my favorite is 3 doors from one of teh larget welfare center... in downtown  Brooklyn!

I am an expert on this topic...the above image one at  Photohackday NY at GA! The other an event  at kumble theater Brooklyn  both  tech  but note the STARK  differnce!

My life my  work my resources ALL  of it has been  spent addressing technology  in Brooklyn NY and now access across the world! I also happen to be able to put a face to some of the founders of Nytech Companies!  I have been calling  for the NYTech  community to  reach out and move across the entire NY area still waiting  for a response ... actually I got one

SO what can I   say on this topic...   I'll have to put my  response on hold;-  Today is the first Meetup for Newme and just maybe the frst time in 7 years I'll be in  a room with more that  50 BLACK PEOPLE addressing Technology in NY ...especially one I  have NOT  put together.. THERE is NO way  in HELL way I'm missing that!

Firstly I work in the poor Black  communities of Brooklyn NY. I have  for at  least ten years...UNFUNDED! I  availed myself to helping individeuals and  organizations addressing issues within thecommunity! I am at present in the process of setting up a virtual incubator to support the creation of jobs and economic opportunities online! I read the article , browsed the comments ( i am still reading them) and I am  sharing so  others can read and browse and then  let's dicuss! I actually started Pulling together a Kwanzaa week event set for Dec 26th  to January 1st ( sign  Up here)

within ethnic cultures  admitting you have  a problem is taboo! Speaking of that  problem is seen as poor taste and lobbying to addess the problem ... you poor pathetic soul... you must be crazy!

Secondly I  am or rather was the parent of a poor black  kid....  He's now a poor young  Black man contemplating the only  solution that  seems available to him... The Army! The Virgo that he is college debt will not be in his future!He is a gifted artistand despite a lack of  art programs he is nowstarting to  support  himself with his photography!

My experience is first hand it is tested...

Strangely it was my son that  got me involved in this specific community  work... seeing  Kids in a shelter he said "Mommy you have to  do  something ...kids should NOT li ve like this! It was a sacrifice that would directly impact his life... even  after  discussing it, he chose to do  something!"

My son was given the opportunity to  test  for  these "special" schools, he purposely failed.. he did not want  to  move away from home! By 13  he could set up a blog and lay out a business plan...so I had an opportunity to observe first hand...

When he entered high school  I visited his purposely computer teacher and Immediately found myself paying more attention to events in the NY tech community... I was that alarmed!

He has no excuse... or did he, 

he had the resources... he got the apps teh  sites as tehy  were releaseed! we literally lived a Half block from the library! Granted they had only 4 computers to serve one of the most densely populated school areas and the one electrical outlet was given to the "SNAPPLE" machine... rather than made available for rejuicing laptops and handheld devices! Oh Yes, those kids had hand helsd and could surf the web... but you guessed it "games" were the order of the day !

But how do you fight environment and as other parents at barcamps admitted tech is NOT  cool when you mom or dad knows the latest  stuff!  My  son avoided anything but teh T shirts from tect  events! 

So yes I  speak  with authority from both sides of this discussion... but  i'll refrain from  comment till  I  can fully read and digest and react ... which  with all i have to  do  may be Next  year!