>> The internet can be useful when you find trusted blogs. You are internet savvy enough to find good ones, but not everyone is a savvy user. I've seen some people go down some weird rabbit holes when they rely too much on the internets. <<
Yeah, it takes practice and a good bullshit detector. For novices, I'd recommend starting with well-known public sources. Read the NAACP articles or black magazines, and at least you'll get familiar with the current issues. From there, go to websites of people who are referenced in the public sources. You can start interacting with other readers in comments. A decent site will have enough moderation to preserve civility.
>> Volunteering with organizations is a good idea, if you can find the right fit.<<
Sometimes you can find a local clearinghouse for volunteers, or a place that lists the open organizations. If you can't find anything locally, try national ones -- or travel, that's becoming more popular as a volunteer activity.
>>I can't just attract certain people to move here, <<
It's not simple, but there are programs aimed at improving diversity by getting more POC into STEM work and/or encouraging them to move into heavily white locales important to their field. The goal is critical mass. It takes about 25% of population to make a big impact. But you absolutely need at least two of a kind, or the token problem is all but impossible to avoid even if they're in a position of power. Clusters matter.
>>especially when the POC who do live here peace out of the geek spaces really fast.<<
Yeah, that indicates some kind of serious problem, which is probably hard to find and solve if the other folks are trying to be welcoming (even if they're klutzy about it).
>> Making other white people chill and making them listen to POC is the problem. It's one I never solved while I was more involved with cons. I guess I just can't understand it, having grown up with POC classmates. <<
Yeah, that can be hard too. There are a few good programs for teaching the value of diversity in the workplace, how to use different perspectives to solve problems and how to cope with friction between different mindsets -- but they rely on having some diversity to begin with.
Re: Thoughts
Yeah, it takes practice and a good bullshit detector. For novices, I'd recommend starting with well-known public sources. Read the NAACP articles or black magazines, and at least you'll get familiar with the current issues. From there, go to websites of people who are referenced in the public sources. You can start interacting with other readers in comments. A decent site will have enough moderation to preserve civility.
>> Volunteering with organizations is a good idea, if you can find the right fit.<<
Sometimes you can find a local clearinghouse for volunteers, or a place that lists the open organizations. If you can't find anything locally, try national ones -- or travel, that's becoming more popular as a volunteer activity.
>>I can't just attract certain people to move here, <<
It's not simple, but there are programs aimed at improving diversity by getting more POC into STEM work and/or encouraging them to move into heavily white locales important to their field. The goal is critical mass. It takes about 25% of population to make a big impact. But you absolutely need at least two of a kind, or the token problem is all but impossible to avoid even if they're in a position of power. Clusters matter.
>>especially when the POC who do live here peace out of the geek spaces really fast.<<
Yeah, that indicates some kind of serious problem, which is probably hard to find and solve if the other folks are trying to be welcoming (even if they're klutzy about it).
>> Making other white people chill and making them listen to POC is the problem. It's one I never solved while I was more involved with cons. I guess I just can't understand it, having grown up with POC classmates. <<
Yeah, that can be hard too. There are a few good programs for teaching the value of diversity in the workplace, how to use different perspectives to solve problems and how to cope with friction between different mindsets -- but they rely on having some diversity to begin with.