Do Racism, Sexism, or Stereotyping Really Exist Within IT These Days?

OK, so this is one of those times in my twenty year career in Information Technology where I genuinely have to ask this question. With the portfolio of experience from the enterprise, to government, to manufacturers, to hospitals, to hospitality, and general consulting under my belt; for the first time it became very apparent to me that I may have been living under a rock. I say this because of all of the titles and positions I’ve had over the years along with accolades and accomplishments; I found myself questioning why my talents and expertise was being discounted by a group of people who knew nothing about me and completely illustrated the ugly side of the world some of us have to live in. I myself like to engage professionals and let them show me their technical or other prowess. Sometimes complex projects require a lot of “over-communication” with the client if one is the expert coming in to deliver a service. When is communication told to the average person to be a negative thing? Does it depend on who is delivering the message? What about when one side is communicating and working hard to find solutions with a huge lack thereof? What about a true scope of work? If there is not a well-defined or documented set of objectives and deliverables does that allow the “customer” or those receiving the service to question one’s expertise with an obvious overtone? One has to look at the “Red Flags” and begin to question the “over-communication” and other comments when being a professional is always key. What are we if not our profession we have attended many classes for, graduated with, or simply done so much we learned? It doesn’t matter to me if it is overtly obvious or quietly expressed that there is a prejudgment the minute a professional consultant walks through the door if that person is one race or the other. Unfortunately with some of us experiencing one form of racism or prejudgment or another throughout other facets of life; it becomes extremely clear what’s happening and how we are being judged right up front without merit.

So back to the question. How is an experienced professional such as a female, Asian, Middle-Eastern, Latino, or African American supposed to do the job they are hired to do when something is afoot and becomes painfully obvious? What if we ask ourselves if some of the aforementioned groups experience this more than others? What if Indian H2(x) workers or those who even became citizens are treated almost as Godly in their identical knowledge as the African American-born and raised and bred in this country with a much more vast amount of experience? Is that scenario possible? Could there be some sort of reverse discrimination or judgement based on their skin-color or ethnic background? It should be a common bond for all of us that we are in fact different. This post is to start a discussion on events I myself have witnessed and how they affect the bottom line or project or accomplished success. If one is presumed to not be as adequately talented as the next based on what I have mentioned here; then that project will always be doomed. We cannot judge a good dentist by skin-color, gender, religion, or nationality because that very dentist may save us from a root canal. We can’t judge the IT database administrator who happens to be a different gender because that very individual may truly understand big data and deliver solutions we need. Lastly, we cannot succumb to society’s ills and judge any professional because he/she is African American and miscommunicate or under-communicate (is there such a thing?) on purpose. Why in this vast and beautiful world would any person with verifiable and high-grade experience be told they over-communicate? Maybe it is simpler to just say “No-Sir” Yes-Sir” and nothing else? These are times when Information technology is supposed to be moving everything to the many clouds out there to unify our operational and business functions and make things easier for everyone. Everyone includes every person no matter the race, creed, color, gender, or nationality. I will take a female, Asian (or whatever race and nationality), database admin any day without question and trust she can do the job I approved her via resume to do. After all, who are we if our professional credentials, experience, or recommendations do not speak for themselves?

I have had my own very eye-opening experience and I am sure this is a shocker for some; but this is a good time for honest reflection and an opportunity to evaluate our own situations. Human Geek is Human Geek; Human Professional is Human Professional, and certainly Human is just Human; no matter what differences physically or other there appear to be. The root is still Human and Professional.

“Life Is Just Understanding, people Just Running but why they Run? They don't know” -- Sushil Singh

Just my own .02. Let’s think people. -- TR