Black Girls Code wishes to diversify the tech market. Here’s why it is essential

Women have actually long been underrepresented in the tech market. But ladies of color much more so: One research study, by the National Center for Women in IT, reported that Black ladies in specific held just 3.1% of calculating tasks in 2019.

Kimberly Bryant is the creator of Black Girls Code, a company that assists girls of color from underrepresented neighborhoods discover abilities to assist prepare them for STEM professions (science, innovation, engineering and mathematics). 

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How Black Girls Code is driving change in the tech industry

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“It’s important that women have a seat at the table because we’re heavy tech adopters,” she says.

As part of CNET’s Now What series, we explore how the tech industry can diversify to not only address shifting demographics in the US and around the world, but also to help build better products. 

“When you have only one demographic creating these products, we miss these opportunities to create technology solutions or utilize technology solutions to solve some of the big, hairy problems that persist in the world,” says Bryant. 

With Black Lives Matter prompting many in the industry and beyond to reexamine systemic inequalities, Bryant hopes that tech companies will design for diversity and inclusion from the ground up, rather than needing to fix issues after the fact.

Bryant also discusses how her organization has been able to leverage online learning during the coronavirus pandemic to reach even more young women through the Black Girls Code program. Watch more in the video on this page.