When the news broke that Kimberly Bryant, the founder of Black Girls Code, was fired from the organization she spent decades building, the reaction was mixed. While some founders who spoke to TechCrunch agreed that the employees who alleged misconduct against Bryant were justified in their actions, others expressed empathy for her and lamented the negative impact on the community.
The Double Standard
One of the most striking aspects of this situation is the double standard that exists when it comes to how Black founders are treated compared to their white counterparts. As Kerry Schrader, co-founder of Mixtroz, put it: "Black founders are over-scrutinized, investigated, second-guessed and taken to task publicly for missteps that pale in comparison to our white peers."
The Cost of Being a Black Founder
Being a Black founder comes with its own set of challenges. As Oladosu Teyibo, founder of Analog Teams, noted: "It is in our best interest to operate with the understanding that our mistakes cost more, hurt more and are rarely forgiven." This is particularly true for women of color, who face both racism and sexism in the workplace.
The Impact on the Community
When a Black founder is ousted, the community feels a collective sense of loss. As Dominic-Madori Davis, Senior Reporter at TechCrunch, wrote: "The conversation will always be nuanced, but what is inevitable is the collective sense of loss felt when a Black founder is ousted."
Fairly Judging an Ousted Founder
It’s hard to fairly judge an ousted Black founder without acknowledging the unequal benchmark by which all founders are evaluated. As Teyibo pointed out: "The information we have about her leadership style is no different than the well-documented styles of a Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk or a Steve Jobs, yet she was treated with zero respect for the vision she brought to life and the lives she changed."
Empathy in Action
Rather than simply defending the reputation of not one but many at once, we need to strive for empathy in our pursuit of understanding. We must acknowledge that every mishap is perceived as a community fault rather than a character one.
The Downside of Unity
While standing together can have its benefits, it also has downsides. The constant need to stand together means that conversations about bad apples are often late, missed or avoided. It’s hard to criticize when a Black founder has done something wrong, and there is the expectation of silence to play along for the greater good.
The Nuance of Perception
Beneath many allegations lies a hint of truth. Perhaps some are just bad founders. Maybe it’s a case of perception. But what’s clear is that the conversation around ousted Black founders will always be nuanced.
Conclusion
When a Black founder is ousted, the community commiserates as it can, noting one more lesson as another paragon crashes from the sky. The conversation may be complex and multifaceted, but what’s clear is that empathy in action is necessary if we’re to get it right.
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Dominic-Madori Davis is a senior venture capital and startup reporter at TechCrunch. She can be reached via Signal at +1 (646)-831-7565.
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