Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, husband of tennis star Serena Williams, called Friday for his seat on the board of the social media company to be given to a black candidate.
Ohanian said in an online post that he resigned from the board of Reddit, which he co-founded 15 years ago.
He vowed to use any future gains on his stock in the enterprise to serve the black community, predominantly by curbing racial hate.
I co-founded @reddit 15 years ago to help people find community and a sense of belonging.⁰
— Alexis Ohanian Sr. 🚀 (@alexisohanian) June 5, 2020
It is long overdue to do the right thing. I’m doing this for me, for my family, and for my country.
I’m saying this as a father who needs to be able to answer his black daughter when she asks: “What did you do?”⁰https://t.co/4UiozIOo8P
— Alexis Ohanian Sr. 🚀 (@alexisohanian) June 5, 2020
I've resigned as a member of the reddit board, I have urged them to fill my seat with a black candidate, + I will use future gains on my Reddit stock to serve the black community, chiefly to curb racial hate, and I’m starting with a pledge of $1M to @kaepernick7’s @yourrightscamp
— Alexis Ohanian Sr. 🚀 (@alexisohanian) June 5, 2020
Ohanian also pledged a million dollars to former NFL star Colin Kaepernick’s Know Your Rights Camp.
“It’s long overdue to do the right thing,” Ohanian said in a video posted online.
“I’m saying this as a father who needs to be able to answer his black daughter when she asks ‘What did you do?’”
Ohanian and Williams married three years ago and have one child.
“I believe resignation can actually be an act of leadership from people in power right now,” the 37-year-old Reddit co-founder said.
“To everyone fighting to fix our broken nation: do not stop.”
Reddit chief executive Steve Huffman said in a blog post this week that the online bulletin board is exploring what it can do to give people a voice and be an impetus for change when it comes to racial justice.
“We work for this platform because we care deeply about community and belonging,” Huffman said.
“But community and belonging are not possible without safety from violence, and now is the time to stand in solidarity with the Black members of our communities.”
Reddit last year “quarantined” a popular forum of supporters of President Donald Trump, claiming users repeatedly violated platform rules by promoting violence.
Having diverse views on any boards is important. So proud of you Alexis. I know Olympia will be too https://t.co/kVUaJZoe7v
— Serena Williams (@serenawilliams) June 5, 2020