Black Software: The Internet & Racial Justice, from the AfroNet to Black Lives Matter

Author: Charlton D. McIlwain (Author)

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Publication Date: September 1, 2021

Print Length: 312 pages

In this groundbreaking book, Charlton D. McIlwain explores the often-overlooked history of African Americans’ involvement in the development and use of computing technology and the Internet. Spanning nearly five decades, from the civil rights era to the present day, the narrative reveals how activists, engineers, entrepreneurs, journalists, and hobbyists have utilized digital tools to challenge and transform racial power structures.

Beginning with the concurrent emergence of civil rights and computer revolutions in the 1960s, McIlwain chronicles a series of significant events that highlight the intersection of race and technology. He argues that the contributions of these “forgotten figures” were crucial in laying the groundwork for today’s digital activism.

The book delves into how computing technology has both been used to neutralize threats posed by black people to existing racial orders, as well as how black communities have harnessed these tools to build their own networks, economies, and movements for justice. Through extensive archival research and interviews with key historical figures, McIlwain provides a nuanced understanding of the complex dynamics at play.

By centralizing African Americans’ role in the Internet’s creation and evolution, Black Software offers insights into both the limitations and potential of digital technologies for advancing racial justice. It serves as an essential resource for anyone interested in the history and future of technology and social change.