Growing up in a predominately white community, I never really thought that technology could be racially prejudice or that it could stereotype certain racial groups. The concept that minority groups must become a cyber human, giving up their race and beliefs in the virtual world is odd. I cannot understand why anybody including minority groups cannot be themselves while they interact online or with technology. Especially the internet where everyone is connected.
The statistics that go along with race and computer use make sense. Minority groups may not have access to computers however I do not believe that this only applies to minority groups. The predominate races in our country also have their demographics that have not used email or have access to computers.
One of the quotes in the article was expressed by an African American male who believed that it is a miracle that minority groups are allowed to browse websites because he believes that the internet is run by Whites who have control over what is posted on the internet. To me this seems dramatic, but for all I know it could be true.
One of the main themes of this article seemed to be that by being misrepresented online, the interest for minority groups to use technology was/is low. This lack of interest is one of the causes for minority groups being behind when it comes to technology use. Interest is one of the factors that affects technological access.
The statistics that go along with race and computer use make sense. Minority groups may not have access to computers however I do not believe that this only applies to minority groups. The predominate races in our country also have their demographics that have not used email or have access to computers.
One of the quotes in the article was expressed by an African American male who believed that it is a miracle that minority groups are allowed to browse websites because he believes that the internet is run by Whites who have control over what is posted on the internet. To me this seems dramatic, but for all I know it could be true.
One of the main themes of this article seemed to be that by being misrepresented online, the interest for minority groups to use technology was/is low. This lack of interest is one of the causes for minority groups being behind when it comes to technology use. Interest is one of the factors that affects technological access.
I do honestly agree with you. Some people don't want to have a interest with technology and they want to live their lives with little or no use.......But one thing I hate is when people point fingers because of this or that....but in reality, do they do any effort?
ReplyDeleteAnd if you read the article one more.....you can probably see that the author is more "one sided" versus talking about both sides and talking about my variables.
But I did enjoy reading this.
I agree and I'm wondering if anybody can come up with an example of a cultural value that Blackmon says minorities are "being asked to give up... in lieu of the raceless culture of the web" (near the bottom of page 162). I don't really understand why she seems to think that "racelessness" is a bad thing... Each of us is a minority of some sort or another, so that makes minorities the majority, right? Lol
ReplyDelete