Abstract

The underrepresentation of Black men in Information Technology (IT) is at a critical and disturbing low juncture in the United States of America. The historic exclusion of underrepresented minorities in computing must be studied, and interventions recommended to reverse the trend. This paper presents pilot data from interviews conducted with Black men at a Historically Black University and Predominately White Institution. The findings add to the growing body of knowledge about obstacles and barriers faced by Black men pursuing degrees in IT. Additional research must be conducted to identify factors that inhibit minority participation in IT, determine how those factors may change and shift over time, and elucidate their continued impact on participation.