During my #ISTELive session today on Being Anti-Racist in Tech, there was someone that mentioned they do not think that Katherine Johnson (from Hidden Figures and literally helped to put us on the moon) and Isaac Newton are on the same level.
I've got time, so let's discuss.
1/
I've got time, so let's discuss.
1/
I'd like to begin by asking you *how* many of you knew about Katherine Johnson before Hidden Figures came out.
Being a Black woman myself and having parents who are *very* pro-Black, I didn't even know until I saw the movie, and I'd wager many of you are in the same place.
2/
Being a Black woman myself and having parents who are *very* pro-Black, I didn't even know until I saw the movie, and I'd wager many of you are in the same place.
2/
There's a reason why: it's because, traditionally, people of color and marginalized communities have seldom been celebrated alongside their white or white-passing counterparts aside for special months (i.e. Black History Month).
SO.
This leads us to the comment today.
3/
SO.
This leads us to the comment today.
3/
What exactly is the intent or purpose of stating that you don't think that Katherine Johnson is on the same level as Isaac Newton?
What is the reason?
Because, to me, this distracts from the real reason of the presentation, which was Being Anti-Racist in Tech.
4/
What is the reason?
Because, to me, this distracts from the real reason of the presentation, which was Being Anti-Racist in Tech.
4/
When @MarilaXicana and I created this session, it was about raising awareness on technology platforms and people of color who are doing THE WORK in edtech. Not pitting people against each other.
We can celebrate Isaac Newton while praising Katherine Johnson. We can do BOTH.
5/
We can celebrate Isaac Newton while praising Katherine Johnson. We can do BOTH.
5/
Can it be argued that Katherine Johnson needed Isaac Newton's math contributions to help her do her work? Yes.
Does it diminish the work that Katherine Johnson did? No.
She helped to put us on the moon, y'all.
The moon.
6/
Does it diminish the work that Katherine Johnson did? No.
She helped to put us on the moon, y'all.
The moon.
6/
And I say this because, especially as many of us enter conference spaces, please make sure you comment and ask questions with intent that are PERTINENT to the topic at hand and do not try to distract from what the speaker is saying.
7/
7/
My moderator, as well as many other participants, shut it down immediately to the point that I honestly did not notice until I was done with the session and it had stopped recording. I am forever grateful for them.
But they shouldn't have had to do that.
8/
But they shouldn't have had to do that.
8/
If you enter a session literally called "Being Anti-Racist with Tech," then expect for me to talk about...
...anti-racism...
...and people of color who have not normally been acknowledged...
...and communities that have worked hard and deserve recognition...
9/
...anti-racism...
...and people of color who have not normally been acknowledged...
...and communities that have worked hard and deserve recognition...
9/
...because that's why we're here.
Try to distract all you want, but we're STILL here.
This work is important. I know this work is important.
And also, you can do both. You can respect one thing while acknowledging and celebrating another.
10/
Try to distract all you want, but we're STILL here.
This work is important. I know this work is important.
And also, you can do both. You can respect one thing while acknowledging and celebrating another.
10/
So whoever made those comments, I hope you learned something from the session today.
And even if you didn't learn anything now, I hope you are able to reflect on it later.
Because we're still here.
11/11
And even if you didn't learn anything now, I hope you are able to reflect on it later.
Because we're still here.
11/11
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
