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Thu, Oct 27 2011 17:29:46

Silicon Valley Diversity Debate: Arrington vs. Wadwha #blackinamerica

On October 27, writer/VC Michael Arrington got into a twitter fight with academic Vivek Wadwha over the issue of diversity in Silicon Valley Venture Capital funding. The Tweets below give an overview of the discussion.

  1. On the night of October 27, hundreds of people had gathered in NYC to watch a preview of the Black in America: Silicon Valley. A member of the audience tweeted the following during the panel discussion. 
  2. lyneka
    I'm interested in @arrington's opinion of the Indian guy that says "get the white guy" at Stanford to sell your idea to SV. #blackinamerica
    lyneka little
    Wed, Oct 26 2011 19:05:13
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  3. Just uploaded photos I took of Michael Arrington (like this one: http://t.co/dEKYnje) presenting at #tcdisrupt: http://t.co/845FZgM
    jldavid
    Thu, Oct 27 2011 12:30:05
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  4. lyneka
    RT @arrington: @lyneka the indian guy is viveck. he always plays the victim card.
    lyneka little
    Wed, Oct 26 2011 19:23:41
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  5. RAINMAKER: Vivek Wadwha - Be Visible, Engage People, Have Pride
    kapriforce
    Thu, Dec 07 2006 12:53:39
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  6. anildash
    @arrington fair enough - not my intent to attack you, but just show a perspective i have access to that you might now.
    Anil Dash
    Wed, Oct 26 2011 20:11:47
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  7. wadhwa
    Consider that 50% of our population--women, start 1% of Valley firms. Are the rest stupid or incompetent? No way, just left out.
    Vivek Wadhwa
    Wed, Oct 26 2011 19:27:43
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  8. anildash
    I engage with you in these conversations, @arrington because you'll be a terrific advocate for women/minorities in tech once you do hear us.
    Anil Dash
    Wed, Oct 26 2011 20:20:51
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  9. wadhwa
    .@arrington I have personally experienced the discrimination and bigotry. Know what it feels like and how it discourages.
    Vivek Wadhwa
    Wed, Oct 26 2011 19:34:23
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  10. Anil Dash
    O'Reilly Conferences
    Tue, Oct 11 2011 14:31:30
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  11. wadhwa
    @anildash you have hit on the problem: these people haven't experienced discrimination themselves and believe it doesn't exist
    Vivek Wadhwa
    Wed, Oct 26 2011 19:57:37
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  12. arrington
    @Mona @anildash and being a woman actually helps with funding and press.
    Michael Arrington
    Wed, Oct 26 2011 19:59:22
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  13. arrington
    @kapriforce "Shitty ideas get funded all the time" - yes but that's not a race or sex issue, it's human psychology.
    Michael Arrington
    Wed, Oct 26 2011 20:01:26
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  14. anildash
    @wadhwa FWIW, I think @arrington can be empathetic about it, but starts by being defensive. To be fair, he does that with everything. ;)
    Anil Dash
    Wed, Oct 26 2011 19:58:31
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  15. anildash
    @arrington prominent female founders whom you & I both know have told me about VCs responding to their pitches with propositions. Regularly.
    Anil Dash
    Wed, Oct 26 2011 19:55:45
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  16. But where were the minority startup founders? Kalimah Priforce, founder of the education startup Qeyno, quickly jumped into the conversation as well. Check out a pitch about his startup below. 
  17. Kalimah Priforce and Qykno (Careerspoting 4 Kids) at IdeaKick SF
    kapriforce
    Wed, May 18 2011 15:11:53
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  18. kapriforce
    RT @jilldruschke: @kapriforce @arrington You would decline the funding if you knew that was a consideration? What if it opened a door?
    Kalimah Priforce
    Wed, Oct 26 2011 20:12:15
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  19. kapriforce
    @jilldruschke My integrity won't accept money from half-assed VCs/angels who want me to shut up and go away and fill a quota.
    Kalimah Priforce
    Wed, Oct 26 2011 20:13:11
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  20. kapriforce
    @arrington Witch-hunting solves nothing. I'm against it. It's about who will step out of their motherf'cking comfort zone.
    Kalimah Priforce
    Wed, Oct 26 2011 20:16:46
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  21. kapriforce
    @arrington I DO NOT wanted to get funded because I'm Black. I want VCs/Angels to embrace something different/unknown/new.
    Kalimah Priforce
    Wed, Oct 26 2011 20:05:54
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  22. wadhwa
    My last debate with Mike: http://t.co/dWLWC1Iy and some more articles: http://t.co/4iOZ8QqB http://t.co/4iOZ8QqB http://t.co/OwD74nxf
    Vivek Wadhwa
    Wed, Oct 26 2011 19:46:41
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  23. wadhwa
    @arrington This started because you challenged what I said in the CNN documentary about racism that I had experienced. Don't make up garbage
    Vivek Wadhwa
    Wed, Oct 26 2011 20:25:39
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  24. lyneka
    @arrington I'll eagerly await your opinion on Nov. 14. I'm sure you're going to receive a lot of twitter messages.
    lyneka little
    Wed, Oct 26 2011 22:11:53
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