A coalition of black computer scientists has drafted an open letter to the computing community, calling for action to address systemic and structural inequities. They ask for equal partnership in the leadership of the field and the development of systemic fairness—in alignment with the ideal of equal opportunity, one of the nation’s core values.
Odest Chadwicke Jenkins, a professor of computer science and engineering at U-M, and Tawanna Dillahunt, an associate professor of information, contributed to the letter.
In addition to naming the many forms of interpersonal and institutional discrimination experienced by black computer scientists, the writers and signers raise the alarm about racial bias occurring from improper development and use of computing technology.
