Panel | Flies in the Buttermilk

Flies in the Buttermilk was a live panel and community dialogue held during AfroTech 2024 that addressed the challenges and nuances of navigating creative, corporate, and academic spaces as one of few Black professionals in design and technology. The session created an open, reflective environment where designers, technologists, and educators shared stories of perseverance, isolation, and empowerment—using personal narratives to spotlight broader issues of access and equity in the industry.

As a moderator and curator, I guided the conversation around themes of representation, belonging, and accountability, drawing parallels between creative culture and systemic structures that shape opportunity. The discussion not only acknowledged the emotional weight of being a “fly in the buttermilk” but also reframed it as a call to build stronger, more visible networks of Black excellence within tech and design.
The event left attendees with actionable insights, a renewed sense of community, and a reminder that visibility and solidarity are essential tools for progress.