For me, Juneteenth is a time for reflection: to celebrate how far we have come while recognizing how far we still have to go. Beyond the lingering methods used to keep Black and African Americans systematically oppressed, whether at the polls, through property ownership, or gerrymandering, we have continued to face oppression. A characteristic used against us has continued to perpetuate not just inferiority but insignificance, making clear that the freedom presented to us is just an illusion.
They have found new ways to systematically keep African Americans oppressed, and this is now most evident in the disconnect in technology. Social racial inequality is mirrored in technological advancements. To the Audience: How many people have experienced some level of bias while using technology? I know I have. One recent example occurred in my marketing innovation class. We were asked to use AI to create a persona of ourselves based on our own descriptions, what we do in our free time, what we like to watch, and our outside-of-school activities. I input all the things about myself: my possibly unhealthy obsession with The Real Housewives and Love Island, my interest in sports like basketball and football, and my love of spending time with my friends and family. What it gave back to me made me take a pause. They gave me a blonde-haired, blue-eyed girl; all the photos in her room represented her friends and family, and all had the same phenotype. This is a small look into techno-racism. Techno-racism, a term coined in 2019, refers to the lack of inclusion in technological developments. As technology is developed by people, it carries the same bias as its developers, who are typically white men, leaving a lot of room for exclusion. This is increasingly shown with the development of Artificial Intelligence.
Technology will show us our flaws if we are willing to look and change them. Keep an eye out for new policies introduced, and see whether they reinforce systemic oppression or leave some space for us to fill. Not all is lost, as we are starting to be seen in rooms in the technology sector. Such as Dr. Mark Dean, who holds 3 of the 9 original patents for IBM. Or Kimberly Bryant, who founded Girls Who Code, has conducted extensive research in biotechnology. And Timnit Gebru, whose work is specifically focused on artificial intelligence ethics. These intellectuals are helping keep some level of equity in the development of technology.
I did not come into college intending to go into tech. I have my undergraduate degree in Marketing. But gaining a deeper understanding of these nuances has shown me the importance of having people in the room who look like me. Knowing that someone is there to speak to the community's experiences and perspectives that others have yet to see is important. In the same way that those in the past have done. For example, Katherine Johnson, the NASA engineer, may be remembered from Hidden Figures, as she was portrayed by Taraji P. Henson. As well as Otis Boykin, who holds 26 patents for a range of things, from pacemakers to guided missiles. Furthermore, Annie J. Easley was another NASA “human computer”. These trailblazing figures put their foot in the door to hold it open for the rest of us. It is now our turn to continue to push the charge they led.
The next time you find yourself looking for something to do, try this. Use an AI tool of your choosing, then input your own key personal values and identities, the things that make you who you are. Take note of any biases that you find in what it gives back to you, and share the biases you noticed. Seeing it for yourself is the first step to understanding how deeply rooted this issue is. Juneteenth reminds us that freedom delayed is not freedom denied, but it is freedom that demands vigilance. So as we celebrate today, continue to use a critical lens when learning about the systems being built, questioning who is building them, and insisting on a seat at that table. The freedom our ancestors waited 89 years for was never meant to be an illusion, and it is up to us to make it real, in every space, including the ones being coded right now.