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  • Black History at Hewlett-Packard

Black History at Hewlett-Packard

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Hewlett-Packard Company operated on policies of non-discrimination and respectful treatment of all people throughout its history. Racial equality, diversity and inclusion are ever-evolving concepts, however. As times changed and understandings of those concepts grew more sophisticated, HP changed and grew with them, so that the company looked very different by the early 2000s than it had at the time of its founding in 1939. A predominantly white and male workforce had gradually diversified as women and employees of disparate backgrounds gained footholds in an industry that had historically excluded them and HP assumed a leading role in building an inclusive workplace within the tech industry. This collection pays tribute to the Black men and women who led that transformation, proving every day that a diverse workforce is a high-achieving workforce and that innovation often comes from different perspectives and backgrounds. Through their implicit example and explicit efforts, they made Hewlett-Packard a more inclusive workplace.

Aaron Kennedy, Bess Stevens, Tony G. Coleman, Claude Robinson Jr. & Alice Morrison of the Black functional managers network.
The Black Functional Managers Network
Roy Clay, the future Godfather of Silicon Valley speaking with other HP employees in 1968.
Roy Clay: Godfather of Silicon Valley
A Watt's Current article on Willard Jones.
Willard Jones: Diversity Pioneer at HP
A photo of manager Harry Portwood in 1988.
Respect & Minority Success at HP
A photo of Willard Jones, HP's earliest-known Black employee, with the rest of the HP softball team in 1946.
Diversity at Play: Willard Jones
Photo of Robert E. Bob Knowling taken in 2002.
Black Leadership at HP
Photo of Bess Stephens (right) and Kevin Hinkston (left), both honored at the Black Engineer of the Year Awards Conference.
Black Engineers of the Year
Photo of Jean Kimes.
Jean Kimes: Minority Education Leader
Video: African American Students Day
Ken Coleman, personnel manager at HP, speaks to an unnamed employee in 1972.
HP’s First Employee Resource Group
Harry Portwood teaching an electronics class at the Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana in 1975.
HP’s Faculty Loan Program at HBCUs
A 1997 letter from then-President Bill Clinton discussing the formation of the Ron Brown Award for Corporate Leadership.
An Award-Winning Initiative
Pettus Hickman working at Hewlett-Packard as part of the FAME program in 1978.
HP Avondale Division and FAME
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  • About the Archives
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    • EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP
    • MERGERS, ACQUISITIONS & SALES
  • Explore The Vault
POWERED BY
Heritage Werks
© 2022 Hewlett-Packard Company Archives. All rights reserved.
HP, Inc. Terms of Use and HPE Terms of Use