Thread by @amlyhamm

"Black women in Minneapolis were so frustrated that they had to have this conversation out in the open. Even seeing that, nothing changed."

"This is where I say 'fuck it, let it burn down'"

Thank you @shanisebarona + @KimCrayton1 for sharing. This is powerful.

https://twitter.com/KimCrayton1/status/1070318534457208832

@girldevelopit has been disappointing to say the least. It is heartbreaking to listen to this podcast. I can't imagine what it felt like to be the ones experiencing/sharing such difficult stories. This is brave + an incredible example of the "above + beyond" work black women do.

Please listen to this. Take notes. Ask yourself the uncomfortable questions. Make changes. Then go listen to it again. Know that you'll continue to fail. Step away if you're unable to lead and be *painfully* honest about this.

Full disclosure: As a chapter leader for 4 years, I contributed to the harm here in Minneapolis. Getting called out was a gift. I fear that I would have never actually reflected on my own harmful actions had it not been for the courage of the black women in my community.

Getting called out can be uncomfortable and painful for sure (especially having to acknowledge how you've personally harmed others), but it isn't about *your* pain. Spoiler: as white women, you're gonna be just fine.

It took 2 months for HQ to publicly acknowledge and respond to the women who were harmed in Minneapolis, despite *many* other chapter leaders asking for better. They even told me *not* to respond the morning after @LaniceSims shared her thread.

Members of the HQ team knew. They made choices. They prioritized what they valued most. Meanwhile, the women who were harmed in our community were left with deafening silence. Their experiences didn't matter to HQ (at least not enough). Let that sink in.

@shanisebarona's stories are unfortunately not unique. This wasn't a thing that happened one time in one place with a couple of bad chapter leaders. These are habits. This is racism. To quote one of the best: this is what white supremacy looks like.

We (white people in tech, white women in general, and the individuals still leading this org locally and nationally) have to do better. And you have to feel uncomfortable if you've ever been or are still part of this organization.