by Michael Kaiser-Nyman, Epicodus President
We live in a country full of inequalities. Two of the greatest determinants of how your life plays out in America are your skin color and your parents' wealth. I started Epicodus because I wanted to help in some way to make job opportunities available to all people regardless of their background, but I've always known that Epicodus's contribution would be small compared to the problems of race and class inequality. Nothing makes this starker than knowing that police kill black Americans at 3 times the rate of white Americans. The police murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and Tony McDade are only the latest in a long legacy of violence.
Black lives matter, and because they matter, we shouldn't put up with this awful disparity. I'm also horrified by the police violence that has been visited upon people protesting that very violence.
If you also believe that black lives matter, I urge you to do something: protest in the street (safely, given the pandemic) or in your car, write letters to your elected officials, donate money to racial justice organizations, or find some other way to support change.
I also want to acknowledge that Epicodus as an institution has a long way to go in terms of combating racial inequalities. We've worked hard to create a welcoming environment for people of all backgrounds, but despite our mission to level the playing field, a large majority of our students are white, and we serve very few black and Latinx people. I'll be the first to admit that, as a small organization, we haven't yet been able to figure out how to build a more diverse applicant pool. We will keep trying, and I welcome any suggestions.
Racial inequalities are embedded deep within our American society and police killings are only the tip of the iceberg. We will only make progress in mending those inequalities if we acknowledge them and take action—especially those of us who are more socially, economically, and politically powerful and have benefitted from the current social structure.
You're welcome to email me your thoughts at michael@epicodus.com.