This is great on so many levels, but I fear the accusation about lack of research around the name change leaves itself open to robust defense from Microsoft PR. The more salient points deserve their own article, book or even a movie with the github detail as an illustrative example. I love the idea of apprenticeships for coders with non-traditional éducation paths.
I think there’s plenty of those. I’m not the most familiar with english-speaking sources, but the talking points of a company polishing its image by appropriating real-life struggles is a very common critique. Likewise, white people signaling to other white people they’re not racist while maintaining the very racist social structures around them, is also a very common critique.
True social change cannot come from private corporations or nation States, or from the goodwill of oppressors (in this case, white people like me). Such points have been made time and time again, see Voltairine de Cleyre, Emma Goldman, Lucy Parsons, bell hooks, Angela Davis… And that’s just for the US-based anarchists (not sure they all identify with this label) but there’s plenty more across the planet.
Thanks for the pointers, for real. I am interested in reading more on the topics.
In this case, I was talking about this writer who has imo a great energy and ability to create images. The scene in London City with the cops forcefully detaining him on a public street and then finding his work badge captured my imagination. Sometimes one refined social critique sounds just like so many others and this one stood out. Cheers.
This is great on so many levels, but I fear the accusation about lack of research around the name change leaves itself open to robust defense from Microsoft PR. The more salient points deserve their own article, book or even a movie with the github detail as an illustrative example. I love the idea of apprenticeships for coders with non-traditional éducation paths.
I think there’s plenty of those. I’m not the most familiar with english-speaking sources, but the talking points of a company polishing its image by appropriating real-life struggles is a very common critique. Likewise, white people signaling to other white people they’re not racist while maintaining the very racist social structures around them, is also a very common critique.
True social change cannot come from private corporations or nation States, or from the goodwill of oppressors (in this case, white people like me). Such points have been made time and time again, see Voltairine de Cleyre, Emma Goldman, Lucy Parsons, bell hooks, Angela Davis… And that’s just for the US-based anarchists (not sure they all identify with this label) but there’s plenty more across the planet.
Thanks for the pointers, for real. I am interested in reading more on the topics.
In this case, I was talking about this writer who has imo a great energy and ability to create images. The scene in London City with the cops forcefully detaining him on a public street and then finding his work badge captured my imagination. Sometimes one refined social critique sounds just like so many others and this one stood out. Cheers.
Agreed! Cheers