Data For Black Lives Movement

What connects data for black lives movement to ancient empires, modern technology, and everything in between? More than you'd expect.

Uncovering the Hidden Histories

The roots of the Data For Black Lives Movement stretch back much further than its founding in 2016. In fact, the idea of using data as a tool for social justice has its origins in the civil rights struggles of the 20th century. During the 1960s, pioneering black activists like Bayard Rustin and Ella Baker recognized the power of data and information to expose systemic racism and drive change.

These early data activists laid the groundwork for a new generation of technologists and organizers. In the 1980s and 90s, the National Neighborhood Indicators Partnership began using community-level data to document and address urban inequities. Around the same time, W.E.B. Du Bois's pioneering data visualizations from the 1900 Paris Exposition were rediscovered, showcasing how data could be a powerful tool for social justice even a century ago.

The Rise of the "Black Tech" Movement

The 2010s saw the emergence of a vibrant "Black tech" movement, with a new generation of black technologists, entrepreneurs, and activists harnessing the power of data and technology for social change. Organizations like Black Girls Code and Code2040 worked to increase diversity in the tech industry and cultivate the next generation of black tech leaders.

At the same time, high-profile cases of algorithmic bias and data-driven discrimination - from predictive policing to algorithmic hiring - spurred growing awareness of the need to address the racial inequities embedded in data-driven systems. The Data For Black Lives Movement emerged as a key player in this landscape, bridging the worlds of social justice and data science.

"Data is not neutral. Data can be used as a tool of oppression, but it can also be a tool of liberation." - Yeshimabeit Milner, founder of Data for Black Lives

The Radical Approach

What sets the Data For Black Lives Movement apart is its radical, unapologetic approach. Rather than simply trying to "fix" biased algorithms or data sets, the movement's founders argue that the entire data ecosystem is irreparably tainted by systemic racism. Their solution? To build new, alternative data infrastructures that center the experiences and perspectives of marginalized communities.

This involves everything from developing community data trusts that give residents more control over their personal information, to creating data cooperatives that allow communities to collectively own and steward their data. The movement also advocates for greater transparency and accountability in the tech industry, calling out companies that profit from data-driven discrimination.

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The Global Impact

Although the Data For Black Lives Movement is rooted in the United States, its influence has rippled outward across the globe. Inspired by the movement's radical vision, similar efforts have sprung up in countries like the United Kingdom, Brazil, and across Africa. These international initiatives are adapting the movement's principles and strategies to address the unique data justice challenges facing their own communities.

At the same time, the Data For Black Lives Movement has forged powerful international alliances, partnering with organizations like the UN Special Rapporteur on Racism to advocate for data rights and algorithmic accountability on a global scale. As the movement continues to grow, its influence is likely to only become more widespread and profound.