- 1. In her thought-provoking book 'Race After Technology: Abolitionist Tools for the New Jim Code,' Ruha Benjamin explores the intricate relationship between race, technology, and society, dissecting how innovative technologies can perpetuate systemic racism while also offering tools for resistance and liberation. Benjamin argues that technology is not neutral but is deeply imbued with the values and biases of its creators, leading to the reinvention of the 'New Jim Code'—a framework that enables racial discrimination through algorithms and automated systems. She critically examines various examples, such as facial recognition software, predictive policing, and social media algorithms, revealing how these technologies often reinforce existing disparities rather than alleviate them. Furthermore, Benjamin calls for an abolitionist approach to technology, advocating for the development of tools and systems that promote justice, equity, and inclusivity, challenging us to rethink not only how we create technology but also how we engage with society’s structures of power. This enlightening text urges readers to be vigilant and intentional about the implications of technological advancement and to envision a future where technology serves as a means of dismantling oppression rather than perpetuating it.
According to Benjamin, what do discriminatory algorithms often pretend to be?
A) Experimental and innovative
B) Progressive and inclusive
C) Traditional and reliable
D) Objective and neutral
- 2. What historical period does Benjamin compare contemporary technological discrimination to?
A) Information Age
B) Jim Crow era
C) Civil Rights Movement
D) Industrial Revolution
- 3. What does Benjamin say about the 'default setting' of technology?
A) It is universally accessible
B) It is not neutral but reflects creator biases
C) It prioritizes user privacy
D) It promotes free expression
- 4. Benjamin critiques the notion that technology will naturally lead to what?
A) Political instability
B) Cultural homogenization
C) Social progress and equality
D) Economic decline
- 5. According to Benjamin, what role do designers play in technological systems?
A) They follow user preferences exactly
B) They avoid all social considerations
C) They embed their values and assumptions
D) They are completely objective
- 6. What does Benjamin mean by 'innovation' in the context of discriminatory technology?
A) It can reinforce existing inequalities
B) It has no social consequences
C) It always promotes equality
D) It eliminates all bias
- 7. Benjamin discusses how technology can create what kind of segregation?
A) Linguistic segregation
B) Digital segregation
C) Educational segregation
D) Physical segregation
- 8. What does Benjamin say about the 'colorblind' approach to technology design?
A) It ignores real racial disparities
B) It eliminates all bias
C) It focuses on economic factors
D) It promotes racial equality
- 9. According to Benjamin, what is needed in technology education?
A) Faster computers
B) Larger classrooms
C) Critical race and ethics training
D) More programming courses
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