[tiffanyricks]

I am TORN because I love that YC is funding African American founders. I love the traction that the company has and that the team is solving a real problem. BUT I hate how it feeds into a stereotype that all black men are criminals. It is exhausting how hard we have to work to get others to see blacks in a different light.

[nickalewis]

How do you feel it feeds the stereotype

[tiffanyricks]

The article has the black CEO, Frederick, dressed in all black with gold chains and talks about him selling drugs. The article leads with the stereotype and not what makes the company unique. I believe we need more positive images of black men. Again, let me say I love the work that CEO and Pigeon is doing but I do not like they way this article portrayed him because it is perpetuating the stereotype that all black men are drug dealers and thugs.

[nickalewis]

I didn't see the image, thats helps me understand what you meant more, I see. I'm particularly sensitive to this because as a "young black male in tech" myself i've had to navigate around some the bias, though when I read the article I didn't get the feeling it added to the stereotype. I am excited to see YC involved with more minority founders though, so TC article aside, hopefully this leads to more.

[maxerickson]

A lot of it seems to come from the man himself:

http://frederickhutson.com/

http://pigeon.ly/press.html

It doesn't give the press a free pass, but the consistency with which those articles mention the prison time does at least suggest that pigeon.ly is embracing that angle when they deal with the press.