Making good trouble for change

There was a non-technical talk at SQLBits that resonated with me. I do believe that non-technical talks are necessary, insightful, worthy to visit to broaden your social skills or simply to get awareness of issues you haven't had before.

Rie Merritt gave an excellent talk with the title "Women In Tech: Lifting as We Climb". One of the most remarkable sentences she said was "you need to be a troublemaker to force change", which is true. Rie told me that she has this quote from John Robert Lewis, the American politician and civil rights activist who used to march together with Martin Luther King Jr. to fight for his rights. Just as John Lewis and Martin Luther, but countless before them like Mahatma Gandhi and Emmeline Pankhurst (who organized the British suffragette movement) in order just to name a few. They all questioned a status quo that were at their time, uncomfortable for those enjoyed the privileges due to that status quo.

If someone loses a privilege, it may feel like a loss to them. This is true even if it is not a loss, but a mere equalization. That person, may still be doing the same thing as they did before, but now, - and that is the difference - others, can do too. But if we want to achieve a future that will change, then we must stand up. This is not only true who point to the privileged, but also for the privileged themselves, that they must acknowledge, understand, and listen to marginalized groups - and support them.

So what can you do? If you believe in this cause and are a member of any marginalized group, be it you're a woman, a person of color, have a disability, or any other discriminated group, you can talk to the following groups that are active in the data community. You don't need to be as strong as those iconic people like Martin Luther King for they were normal humans, too. You don't need to lead a march to Washington either; just give your say, and over time, not just yours, but many, will be heard. United, we will bring change, and that change already started. It is not something we have to start, its more that we need to keep the move on.

We need to make sure that we do not have discussions about us, but with us. If you feel I should add another link below, please don't be shy to contact me via private messages.

• Data Platform Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Virtual Group (disclaimer: I'm part of the leading team)
• Data Platform Women In Tech
• Call For Speakers for DPWIT/DEI Health and Wellnes Day (by both Data Platform Women In Tech & Data Platform Diversity and Inclusion Virtual Group)
• WITspiration, the launch post by Deborah Melkin is here