Black LinkedIn Is Thriving. Does LinkedIn Have a Problem With That? – The New York Times

Other stars of Black LinkedIn target specific companies. Ms. Joseph, for example, has recently called out Wells Fargo, DoorDash, Microsoft and Google.

There has also been no shortage of criticism of LinkedIn itself. Users are holding the company to a standard it set for itself in June, when Melissa Selcher, the chief marketing and communications officer, wrote an open letter on the platform.

We have a responsibility to use our platform and resources to intentionally address the systemic barriers to economic opportunity, she wrote. We also believe we play a critical role in amplifying Black voices.

Also in June, with Black Lives Matter protests spreading across the country, LinkedIn highlighted Black Voices to Follow and Amplify, a curated list of chief executives, media personalities and other influencers, including the Rev. Bernice King and Karamo Brown from the Netflix show Queer Eye. For the most part, members of the list post content that is general, motivational and safe.

Ms. Joseph and others took to LinkedIn to say the group contained too many establishment names and not enough activists. Where are the Tamika Mallorys of LinkedIn on that list? Ms. Joseph wrote, referring to a co-founder of the 2017 Womens March.

Black voices arent just corporate C-Suite ones, wrote Patricia S. Gatlin, a talent sourcing specialist in Las Vegas. All Black voices need to be heard in this moment, added Scott Taylor, a recruiter in Los Angeles. Not just the ones your team of analysts think we should hear from.

Ms. Leverich, the LinkedIn spokeswoman, said by email: We use a number of factors in our selection, including members who have self-identified as Black, people from a variety of industries and with an interesting perspective to share. Were constantly adding new voices and sorting through requests to join this program.

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Black LinkedIn Is Thriving. Does LinkedIn Have a Problem With That? - The New York Times