Race After Technology by Ruha Benjamin
- 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) Industrial Revolution
B) Information Age
C) Civil Rights Movement
D) Jim Crow era
- 3. What does Benjamin say about the 'default setting' of technology?
A) It promotes free expression
B) It is not neutral but reflects creator biases
C) It is universally accessible
D) It prioritizes user privacy
- 4. Benjamin critiques the notion that technology will naturally lead to what?
A) Social progress and equality
B) Economic decline
C) Political instability
D) Cultural homogenization
- 5. According to Benjamin, what role do designers play in technological systems?
A) They are completely objective
B) They follow user preferences exactly
C) They embed their values and assumptions
D) They avoid all social considerations
- 6. What does Benjamin mean by 'innovation' in the context of discriminatory technology?
A) It always promotes equality
B) It has no social consequences
C) It eliminates all bias
D) It can reinforce existing inequalities
- 7. Benjamin discusses how technology can create what kind of segregation?
A) Physical segregation
B) Digital segregation
C) Educational segregation
D) Linguistic segregation
- 8. What does Benjamin say about the 'colorblind' approach to technology design?
A) It promotes racial equality
B) It ignores real racial disparities
C) It eliminates all bias
D) It focuses on economic factors
- 9. According to Benjamin, what is needed in technology education?
A) More programming courses
B) Faster computers
C) Critical race and ethics training
D) Larger classrooms
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