Silicon Valley Outline
Thesis statement:
Through the personal experiences of my family and community, my latest project aims to explore the profound and lasting impact of institutional racism, gentrification, and wealth inequality on Black families in America. In particular, I aim to delve into the stories of my grandmother's journey during the Great Migration, my family's traumatic experience with gun violence, and my own journey through the tech industry, highlighting the ways in which these systems intersect and perpetuate cycles of oppression.
The interconnected systems of institutional racism, gentrification, and wealth inequality in America have had a profound impact on the experiences of black families like my own. As someone who has lived through the impacts of systemic racism, I believe that telling my story through a structured and detailed series would be an effective way to address the broader issues of systemic racism, gentrification, and inequality in America.
To provide a more comprehensive and engaging series that audiences can follow and relate to, I would divide my story into different episodes, each focusing on a different aspect of my experiences.
Outline of Questions:
I. Introduction
Why is this topic important and relevant today?
A recent diversity report published by Google in 2021, as of June 2021, Google's workforce was 3.7% Black and 6.7% Latinx. For the same period, Facebook reported in their diversity report that their workforce was 3.9% Black and 6.3% Latinx.
Introduce my personal story and how it relates to the broader issues of systemic racism, gentrification, and inequality in America
Mention my family's journey from Oklahoma to Menlo Park during the Great Migration, drug addiction,gun violence, homelessness, and the impact it had on my experiences growing up
II. The intersection of institutional racism:
Research on Instistutional Racisim
What was the Great Migration and how did it impact black families like my grandmother?
What were the push and pull factors that led to the Great Migration?
What was life like for black families in Menlo Park during this time?
How did gentrification affect the black community in Menlo Park over time?
The Tinsley Program and educational inequality
Discuss the Tinsley program and how it affected her education, as well as the broader issue of educational inequality and how it affects low-income and minority students. Detail my early years growing up in Menlo Park, including her experiences attending Belle Haven Elementary School and Menlo-Atherton High School.
III. Gun Violence
How did my family experience gun violence in East Palo Alto?
What are the root causes of gun violence in communities of color?
How have systems of institutional racism contributed to gun violence in black communities?
IV. Making it in Tech: The improbable probability
Detail my journey of overcoming obstacles to graduate college and secure a job at Facebook and Spotify.
The tech industry and gentrification
How does my story reflect larger patterns of wealth inequality and discrimination in the tech industry?
What can be done to address these issues and promote diversity in tech?
Explore how the tech industry perpetuates inequality and contributes to gentrification in cities like Menlo Park.
Trauma: Mental health effects
Detail the years of perpetual trauma, starting from childhood into adulthood
Discuss mental health and the stigma in the black community and and how many minorities suffer in silence
Elaborate on how mental health affects your life, self esteem, self worth ect.
Communicate the importance of education, advocacy and policy change regarding mental health
. White Liberal Complicity and allyship
Discuss the complicity of well-intentioned individuals in maintaining systems of oppression, and explore the concept of allyship and how to effectively work towards change.
What is the role of white liberals in perpetuating systems of institutional racism and inequality?
How can white liberals become better allies and advocates for racial justice?
What can be done to hold white liberal institutions accountable for their actions?
. Conclusion
Summarize the main points of the essay
Reiterate the importance of addressing issues of institutional racism, gentrification, and wealth inequality in America.
