Ask HN: Does Y Combinator support Black Lives Matter? | Hacker News Reader

Ask HN: Does Y Combinator support Black Lives Matter?

5 pointsperfmode13 comments

Netflix recently stated on its Twitter account: “To be silent is to be complicit. Black lives matter. We have a platform, and we have a duty to our Black members, employees, creators and talent to speak up.”

Stripe: "Racism is antithetical to Stripe’s mission. We stand with the Black community against discrimination and police violence."

Google: "We stand in support of racial equality, and all those who search for it."

Amazon: "the inequitable and brutal treatment of African Americans in the U.S. must stop..."

Intel: "Standing on the sidelines is not an option. Today we are pledging $1 million in support of efforts to address social injustice and anti-racism. #blacklivesmatter"

Does YC? Do the views of members of the HN community reflect those of YC? These are honest questions intended to promote discussion.

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I see this as a passive aggressive question, not a question to promote discussion. You ask a question to which no one would answer NO. Yet you imply that by not making a public statement, YC's default answer is NO. Hence tricking them into follow suit like the firms you listed to do the same.

> You ask a question to which no one would answer NO

Lots of people would answer no. Lots of people would answer that not only do they not actively support Black Lives Matter, they actively oppose BLM.

> Yet you imply that by not making a public statement, YC's default answer is NO.

Passive indifference is not support, and not making public action (of which a public statement is the most minute example) is passive indifference.

>Lots of people would answer no. Lots of people would answer that not only do they not actively support Black Lives Matter, they actively oppose BLM.

Cite some examples.

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-10/cajr-sif1018...

”The study used a nationally representative sample of 2,114 people from 33 states and the District of Columbia to study opposition to and support for BLM. Data were collected in 2016, with researchers asking people how much they had heard about BLM. Those who said they had heard a lot or a little were asked a follow-up question about their level of support for or opposition to the movement. People who were unfamiliar with BLM were excluded from the study, as were those who said they didn't know or declined to answer. In all, 31% of the people interviewed opposed BLM.”

Thanks but I was referring to answers more in terms of OP's question where known people or companies would NEVER make statements opposing BLM. Anonymous users and people in surveys have no accountability but companies and famous people have users/fans that could be lost.

Well, among the biggest non-anonymous entities to have attacked BLM have been police unions, e.g., https://www.sanjoseinside.com/opinion/blue-lives-matter-sj-p...

A whole lot of known people an organizations have actively supported one or both of Blue Lives Matter and All Lives Matter, both of which are hostile responses to Black Lives Matter, and have often done so attached to direct condemnation of BLM, including frequently (by as notable a known person as then candidate and now President Donald Trump) explicitly calling BLM a racist movement.

You mean fascism? It couldn't be!

I kinda used to , but seeing the increasing amount of identity left content , I decided the step out and not post anything supportive.

I really couldn't understand that 'hey you white do this' style but that was nothing against the fact that people calmly asking why using this were firmly opposed.

What I really don't accept is that I can't debate because I'm white.The inability to debate is something I really can't and of course that wasn't explained to me.

I tried to read some new 'educative' content but I really keep seeing a generalized anti-white tone across everything I read.

Heck I also read that white should shut up if someone tell them that something is racist or homophobic , as gay white if someone would say something that would homophobic and I would tell them but if it wasn't mean or if it was unintentional I would gladly explain them what the problem is.

I guess that among BLM or everything related there are certainly a lot people who want to talk but in my web social environment I don't want to side with them.

But I'll be glad to speak bout it here , in a more anynomous environement.

Y Combinator Core's CEO [1] is African-American, and he posted this to HN in the past 2 days (as well as submitting the main article):

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=23380748

I know from having been in the YC community for over 10 years, that a lot of effort goes into identifying and supporting startups founded by PoC and/or servicing particular needs of PoC communities, as well as raising awareness and providing education with a view to increasing startup participation and success among PoC in the long term.

I know they wish they could do more, and that they keep working to figure out ways they can do more.

Individual partners are supporting the cause in their own way (YC chairman Sam Altman posted in Instagram earlier).

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Seibel

Further to my comment above, I can see from the internal YC discussion forums that the issue is being actively discussed within the community, with some of the discussions being initiated by the most senior YC partners, and others by YC company founders. A sincere intent to bring about tangible change is evident. It would be inappropriate to share more details publicly, but I can attest that support and action is evident in the YC leadership and community.

I cannot support any organization that opposes use of body cams: https://m4bl.org/policy-platforms/end-the-war-on-black-peopl...

This is pointless.

Because you didn't mention white lives, does that mean you want all white people killed?

All lives matter; the lives of police suspects, the lives of police, the livelihoods of shopkeepers and their employees, the livelihoods of customers of those shops who now face higher prices to pay for the theft and higher insurance premiums.

Don't be drawn in by those who foment unrest, be suspicious of their motives.

I believe black lives matter in the grand scheme of things. I don't care about the group, if anything they've only done harm to their cause.

Due to recent events and seeing all the footage coming out, I can say it has all proved the value of the 2nd amendment. So many cases where innocent bystanders are simply at the mercy of rioters and looters and cops not being allowed to act due to fear of racism accusations and sparking more violence. On the other hand, there are also cases where people with guns were able to defend themselves and their businesses from these streetwalking ghouls.

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