Race After Technology

Race After Technology Book Cover

Race After Technology: Abolitionist Tools for the New Jim Code is a seminal work by Ruha Benjamin, a professor of African American Studies at Princeton University. The book, published in 2019, delves into the intersection of race, technology, and justice, exploring how digital tools and platforms perpetuate racial biases and inequalities. Benjamin introduces the concept of the "New Jim Code" to describe the ways in which technology, under the guise of neutrality and objectivity, reinforces existing racial hierarchies and discrimination.

Overview

Race After Technology argues that technology is not neutral, nor does it exist in a vacuum. Instead, it is embedded within a social context that includes racial biases and inequalities. Benjamin uses the term "New Jim Code" as a nod to the Jim Crow laws that enforced racial segregation and discrimination in the United States. She suggests that, much like these laws, modern technologies can serve to uphold racial discrimination through algorithms, surveillance, and automated decision-making systems that disproportionately target and affect people of color.

The book is divided into several chapters, each examining different aspects of how technology impacts race relations. These include discussions on algorithmic bias, digital redlining, and the use of surveillance technology in policing. Benjamin provides numerous examples of how these technologies, often touted for their efficiency and objectivity, actually perpetuate harm against marginalized communities.

Key Concepts

• New Jim Code: A term coined by Benjamin to describe the ways in which technology perpetuates racial biases under the guise of neutrality.
• Algorithmic Bias: The book discusses how algorithms, which are often thought to be objective, can reflect and reinforce racial prejudices.
• Digital Redlining: Benjamin explores how practices akin to redlining, a historical policy of discriminating against residents of certain areas based on race, are replicated in digital spaces, affecting access to services and information.
• Surveillance and Policing: The use of technology in policing, such as facial recognition software, is critiqued for its disproportionate impact on communities of color.

Reception

Race After Technology has been widely praised for its insightful analysis of the intersection between race and technology. Scholars, activists, and technologists have lauded Benjamin's work for highlighting the urgent need to address and dismantle the racial biases embedded within technological systems. The book has sparked discussions in academic circles, policy-making bodies, and among the general public about the need for more equitable and just technological practices.

Impact

Benjamin's work has contributed significantly to the fields of Science and Technology Studies (STS), Critical Race Theory, and Digital Humanities, offering a framework for understanding and combating racial bias in technology. Race After Technology has also influenced the development of more ethical and inclusive technological practices, encouraging designers, developers, and policymakers to consider the social implications of their work.

See Also

• Algorithmic Justice
• Digital Divide
• Ethical Technology
• Social Implications of Technology

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