Welcome to my Independent Study on Algorithms and Race!

Algorithms and Race - The tough conversations we need.

I'm Sarah Gordon and I belly laugh at parrot jokes. This is my first blog post ever so bear with me as I practice with my new wings. I saw my Independent Study as a chance to share my learning journey and hopefully inspire one reader and let another know I see them.

On October 27th, 2022 I had an Ah-HA moment. One that has sent ripples into every aspect of my life since. The time and energy I have invested in my mental health, my job, my education, and my family all fell into alignment. The further I have explored the intersection of people, data, and technology, the more that powerful feeling had radiated into my life. I now can say I'm a racist and have incorporated another daily vow, more to come on those later.

I am an Accountant by training and having been in the field for a decade. I have historically job hopped every two years and I have worked at some interesting places and have some funky experiences to share. This blog is about the places I've been and default modes I've been operating in. There's lots of assumptions, weird rules I didn't know I made up, and unlearnings I want to cue others in on...because I am part of the others.

I am blogging because I want other white women, especially Moms to see themselves in me. I want to share the power ethically based data systems and algorithms can be. And because I'd like to graduate my University of Washington Masters of Science in Information Management program having produced something I can be incredibly proud of.

SO, you can expect a mix of my take on Algorithms and Race from the Individual, Community, and Workplace perspective. I believe I have a responsibility to myself and to those around me to break the cycles of trauma I have inherited. I believe I can practice my skills imperfectly and share my learnings along the way. I intend to ride this bicycle of life with intention even though it will mean scraped knees sometimes. I like having skin in the game.

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