Herbert Ruffin, associate professor of African American Studies, was quoted in a USA Today article titled, "The race to save Silicon Valley's untold Black history: 'Nobody had recorded any of this ever'." The article highlights stories of Black professionals who were pioneers in Silicon Valley.

Ruffin, who is author of Uninvited Neighbors: African Americans in Silicon Valley, 1769–1990, spoke to the importance of preserving the historical accounts of Black Americans who played an integral role in the early days of Silicon Valley.