Race After Technology

"The power of the New Jim Code is that it allows racist habits and logics to enter through the backdoor of tech design, in which the humans who create the algorithms are hidden from view." Hidden biases in tech. The New Jim Code refers to how new technologies, often marketed as objective or progressive, can actually reinforce existing racial inequalities. This happens through the incorporation of biased data, flawed design processes, and unchallenged assumptions about race. Examples include: Illusion of neutrality. By presenting these technologies as neutral or scientific, the New Jim Code mak

Lesson 1: The New Jim Code: How technology reinforces racial inequality

This principle from Race After Technology is backed by Ruha Benjamin's extensive research and real-world examples. Understanding it deeply can shift how you approach decisions, relationships, and long-term planning in meaningful ways.

Lesson 2: Engineered inequity: Amplifying social hierarchies through tech design

This principle from Race After Technology is backed by Ruha Benjamin's extensive research and real-world examples. Understanding it deeply can shift how you approach decisions, relationships, and long-term planning in meaningful ways.

Lesson 3: Default discrimination: When "neutral" algorithms perpetuate bias

This principle from Race After Technology is backed by Ruha Benjamin's extensive research and real-world examples. Understanding it deeply can shift how you approach decisions, relationships, and long-term planning in meaningful ways.

How to Apply Race After Technology's Lessons

The real value of Race After Technology lies in its applicability. After reading, the most important step is identifying which of Ruha Benjamin's principles speak most directly to your current situation.

Consider keeping a journal while reading — noting where the ideas challenge your current approach and where they confirm what you already suspected. The friction of your own resistance often points to the most important insights.

Key Quote

"The New Jim Code: How technology reinforces racial inequality" — Ruha Benjamin, Race After Technology

About the Author

Ruha Benjamin is the author of Race After Technology. The book reflects years of research, observation, and synthesis of evidence from multiple disciplines.