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"It is very hard to know the race of a person doing an FTP/HTTP/Git transfer," blogger Robert Pogson pointed out. "Race wasn't in any User-Agent string I have ever seen. So, claiming FLOSS is more racist than non-Free software is rather silly. I would bet Linus has no clue of the race of his ~10K contributors, and perhaps only a guess about location."

FOSS fans are no strangers to difficult topics, and for proof one need look no further than the ongoing sexism controversy that has been debated so many times in every bar and watering hole of the Linux blogosphere.

Recently, however, one came up that's enjoyed far less prominence -- at least since Linux Girl began keeping track lo these many years ago.

"Why Isn't Open Source a Gateway for Coders of Color?" was the title of the provocative post that brought the issue to light last week in an NPR blog, and it's generated more than a little discussion among Linux fans.

The weather may be icy outside, but the debates have been nothing but heated down at the blogosphere's Broken Windows Lounge.

'I Wish I Had a Good Answer'

"This is tricky," began Slashdot blogger yagu, for example. "Without overgeneralizing, many people of color are fighting issues bigger than open source, at least for their personal reasons. As a demographic economically depressed, working for 'free' probably doesn't light a fire for those trying to earn a baseline living."

Add to that the cost of equipment, software and easy Internet access -- things that are not as expensive as they used to be but are still factors to be considered when resources are modest, yagu pointed out.

"Ironically, in Open Source we're talking about 'free' software, but it's not free to have a starter kit," he concluded. "Open Source couldn't be more color-blind; socioeconomics, not as forgiving. I wish I had a good answer to this. I don't."

Go here to read the rest:
Open Source, Closed Doors? FOSS and the Racial Divide