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Race After Technology

Abolitionist Tools for the New Jim Code

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About this listen

From everyday apps to complex algorithms, Ruha Benjamin cuts through tech-industry hype to understand how emerging technologies can reinforce white supremacy and deepen social inequity.

Benjamin argues that automation, far from being a sinister story of racist programmers scheming on the dark web, has the potential to hide, speed up, and deepen discrimination while appearing neutral and even benevolent when compared to the racism of a previous era. Presenting the concept of the "New Jim Code", she shows how a range of discriminatory designs encode inequity by explicitly amplifying racial hierarchies; by ignoring but thereby replicating social divisions; or by aiming to fix racial bias but ultimately doing quite the opposite. Moreover, she makes a compelling case for race itself as a kind of technology, designed to stratify and sanctify social injustice in the architecture of everyday life.

This illuminating guide provides conceptual tools for decoding tech promises with sociologically informed skepticism. In doing so, it challenges us to question not only the technologies we are sold but also the ones we ourselves manufacture.

©2019 Ruha Benjamin (P)2021 Tantor History & Culture Racism & Discrimination Social Classes & Economic Disparity Social Sciences Sociology Technology & Society Technology Discrimination Social justice Thought-Provoking
All stars
Most relevant
After observing the world I had come to a similar conclusion. I had just been struggling to explain what I had noticed as concisely as Ruha has.

Its a hard topic to bring up without getting stopped at the door after you even bring up the concept of "Racist Robots".

It seems these days, if you are black, you are expected to pull the "race card" for everything. As a result, you end up being ignored.

Ruha present her ideas well.

Just what I had been looking for

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A colleague recommended this book and I am glad I went for it. It is not just insightful and revealing but equally troubling. My conclusion is that the more things change the more they remain the same for the black race.

Insightful and revealing!

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I was taken out by misplaced pronunciations, uncommon inflictions of the voice, etc. Very irritating and unpleasant to listen to.

the content is brilliant! absolutely insightful and very well written and presented.

very robotickly read

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To have perspective on a structure you need to step outside or communicate with those who are marginalised by it’s effects. Ruha Benjamin does a great service by articulating the problems the way she does, advocating for organisations and individuals fighting for fairness and freedom.

Essential analysis

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