Post #1631166

2026-02-26 18:11 UTC

@nicol @izby @HeptaSean @ccarlson71 @blogdiva You started with “How many people know that #WordPress was co-founded by a black man, Mike Little?” I answered the question. A question that sounded a bit like an accusation.

Replies (1)

@nicol@social.coop 2026-02-26 19:59

@Stefan_S_from_H goodness no - nothing accusatory meant or implied. The whole point of this story is that (almost) no-one knows who he is. Those who know WordPress (my intended audience) think of it as having one founder - a white moustached Texan, Matt Mullenweg. He’s seen as the ‘founder’ like Zuckerberg is linked to Facebook. Adding extra info (black, British, Stopfordian) helps establish (to them) I’m not talking about Mullenweg. The British and Stockport part isn’t so interesting to anyone not from there, hence ‘black’. In the interview I don’t talk to Mike about his experience of racism so I don’t say more than questioning if it’s a factor (of several) in his lack of fame or wealth - a fair question that I can’t answer. If I would accuse anyone it’s the companies who’ve made a fortune from his work, and the computing / British establishment for not championing him more. But even then, Mike doesn’t seem to carry anger so it seems wrong for me to add my own on top.

Open ##1631167