In a nondescript brick warehouse on Preston Street in Houston, a diverse crowd gathered with their hopes cast on the future. Among the 60-person flock were Byron Spruell, president of league operations for the NBA, and TikTok food influencer Keith Lee, who stood in the back wearing a Yankees varsity jacket, evading any attention. Assembled for AfroTech, the annual technology conference for Black professionals, the attendees sipped champagne and mingled at Microsoft’s Creator Unplugged event. However, this year’s conference was overshadowed by the recent election of Donald Trump and the concerns it raised for the tech industry.
As I arrived at the venue, temporarily named House of Black Techxcellence, I ran into a former Twitter employee and our conversation quickly turned to the nightmare of Trump’s victory. It wasn’t just his campaign tactics that troubled us, but also the tech man-babies like Elon Musk who aligned themselves with him. The former employee even joked that buying Twitter was a “brilliant move” for Musk, as he used the platform to influence the election. We both agreed that we needed better heroes in the tech industry.
AfroTech, organized by Blavity, began in 2016 as a small networking event for Black people in tech who were frustrated by the lack of representation. Over time, it has grown into a major attraction for dreamers and professionals alike. While it still hosts a recruiting fair and panels, it has also become a nonstop networking gauntlet, drawing in anyone chasing a vibe.
This year’s AfroTech was focused on adaptation, rather than just representation. In the aftermath of the election, where a Black woman lost as an expert tech journalist, the conference aimed to address the challenges and opportunities facing the industry. Despite the uncertainty and fear surrounding the election, AfroTech remained a space for Black professionals to come together, support each other, and continue to push for progress in the tech world.
