More Black and brown geniuses are being urged by Johnnie and Alexa Turnage to stand up and take charge of their anxieties and fears in new situations. As part of their multi-city tour, the Detroit-based pair, who co-founded Black Tech Saturdays, brought the Bright Future: Black Genius to Houston.
By encouraging community among like-minded tech enthusiasts, the networking event aims to rethink what inclusiveness means. It uses culture and friendship as a foundation to transform anxiety and imposter syndrome into opportunities.
According to Johnnie, being in a space with a large minority causes imposter syndrome. Some of that anxiety is misinterpreted by others as You can’t do this; you’re not ready.
Because of Alexa’s entrepreneurial passion for technology and equality and Johnnie’s experience as an army brat and grassroots activism, the couple conducts Black Tech Saturdays in a distinctive way. In order to establish an environment where professionals of color can prosper and not feel isolated or unsupported, they have combined their viewpoints.
The Houston event included a variety of founders and subjects, such as
- Michael Polk, the creator of Stock Pal
- Investor Dug Song, the head of the MI Founders Fund and the engine behind Michigan s first tech unicorn and multi-billion venture-backed acquisition Duo Security
- Insights into community-driven engagement
- The fundamentals of raising capital and long-term sustainability
The Genesis of Black Tech Saturdays
What began with five people in a conference room in Detroit now attracts hundreds of people. They decided to open it to more people because of the positive feedback they received after their first large turnout in April 2023, which attracted over 250 individuals. The occasion gave Black innovators a forum to share ideas, come up with solutions together, and celebrate their culture. Along with highlighting leaders in their professions and expertise, the events also highlight other learning opportunities and themes.
Their trip to AfroTech in 2022 marked the beginning of it all, as they observed many tech ecosystems throughout the nation exchanging ideas and encouraging one another to achieve the next milestone. They realized from this experience that a place where experts can get together frequently is necessary to see others who are enthusiastic about innovation and finding solutions to enduring issues.
How can we bring some of that excitement back to Detroit, we thought. “Alexa said.”
The initiative’s quick growth emphasizes how important it is for underrepresented groups in tech to feel supported and included.
According to Johnnie, it’s difficult to occupy space. You behave differently when you’re feeling quite alone. By removing that portion alone, we have been able to provide people a plethora of new opportunities and momentum, which makes room for the following section. We may now concentrate on learning.
Rooting tech in culture
Black Tech Saturdays’ deliberate intersectionality of technology and culture is one of its pillars. Familiarity removes the extra effort of attempting to fit in, according to the Turnage concept. Professionals add more value if they are able to show up as themselves.
“We show up differently and unlock our genius differently if everyone has what they need to belong to a community,” Johnnie added. The fact that the computer business isn’t necessarily designed with our inclusion in mind is one of the obstacles that Black people, women, and people of color face when trying to break into it. Many people are othering. We are placed into groups.
Their program schedules reflect this idea. The platform focuses on providing attendees with skills and community-specific solutions while showcasing local IT heroes.
For example, Total Analysis’s originator, Dr. Darrell Marshall, is a pioneer in pathogenic analysis and public health. His trip began when his grandfather was ill at a hospital and died. He dedicated his life to enhancing public health safety and created a pathogen detection tool with funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF). He is a Bioanalytical Chemistry PhD holder. He is among the few Black award recipients in the past ten years and among the 4.7% of grant beneficiaries in 2021.
Another frequent attendee of Black Tech Saturdays is 32-year-old artist and inventor DaTrice Clark, who developed mobile hotspots called Crosstown Connection to provide free internet access to Detroit’s underprivileged neighborhoods.
These initiatives demonstrate the need for a thorough comprehension of the issues affecting Black communities and the creative solutions needed to address them.
The Detroit-Houston Connection
The Turnages say Houston has a particular place in their hearts, even though Black Tech Saturdays began in Detroit. They nearly relocated here, and they are still inspired by the vibrancy of the city.
The Turnages decided to bring their tour here because of Houston’s drive and ambition.
People in Houston are committed to seeing a project through to completion. Johnnie remarked, “I love being around that energy.” Houston is home to many Detroiters; the two cities are practically like kindred spirits.
The couple sees a pipeline connecting the two cities and has seen the city’s economic growth in recent years. According to the Turnages, Houston’s vibrant Black community and entrepreneurial spirit are many times similar to Detroit’s. The final event in Houston that was intentionally organized during AfroTech was a symbolic full-circle moment: Black Tech Saturdays were started as a result of AfroTech’s 2022 gathering.
Advocating for change
The Turnages have positioned Black Tech Saturdays as an advocacy platform in addition to the customary networking and skill-building activities. The focus is on elevating Black voices in tech policy and decision-making.
According to Johnnie, the majority of communities of color lack an advocate who speaks out about their needs in policy. We want to make sure that we are collaborating with and employing from the community. We want to be sure that we are sharing these tales, pushing for the issues, and highlighting unseen talent.
Black Tech Saturdays helped Darren Riley, the founder and CEO of JustAir, carry out his goal. His organization now monitors air quality and provides data to guide policy changes using Internet of Things (IoT) technology. He recently received a Pharrell Williams Black Ambition Prize of $75,000.
Looking ahead
Increasing voices, advocating for systemic change, and continuing to offer a safe space for professionals of color to feel supported are the obvious objectives that the Turnages have set for themselves.
“We saw the need for community, so we started Black Tech Saturdays,” Alexa added. Being surrounded by that community makes things easier. With the support of others around you, you can fail fast and change swiftly.
The duo demonstrates that technology need not be limited to innovation by traveling from Detroit to Houston and beyond. It can also embrace cultural diversity and the bravery to raise your hand. The Turnages’ goal with this project was to construct more than
