Facebook CEO and founder reprimanded his employees over “Black Lives Matter.” Zuckerberg was upset after the phrase “Black Lives Matter” was defaced on a wall at the company’s headquarters in Menlo Park, California.
There is a tradition at Facebook that allows visitors and employees to write messages or names on boards and chalkboards. Someone crossed out “Black Lives Matter” and put “All Lives Matter” in its place. Zuckerberg learned of the defacing and sent a scathing companywide message to the employees at Facebook.
“There have been several recent instances of people crossing out ‘black lives matter’ on the walls at MPK…I was already very disappointed by this disrespectful behavior before, but after my communication I now consider this malicious as well. There are specific issues affecting the black community in the United State, coming from a history of oppression and racism. ‘Black Lives Matter doesn’t mean other lives don’t, it’s simply asking that the black community also achieves the justice they deserve…This has been a deeply hurtful and tiresome experience for the black community, and we are now investigating the current incidents,” Zuckerberg wrote.
Zuckerberg also encouraged his employees to be present at an upcoming “Black Lives Matter” event that will take place next week.
The incident comes at a time when the tech industry is battling its lack of diversity. Only 2 percent of Facebook employees are Black and the numbers are more depressing when considering the executive level. On average, employees at other tech companies such as Google, Microsoft, and Twitter are only 1 percent.
There have been efforts across the nation to increase the number of Black tech workers with programs such as Code 2040 and Black Girls Code. However, the racial gap within the tech industry will remain until more Black-owned tech companies are given the same financial support as young white males when it comes to funding.
