Getting Woke to the Digital Divide | Youngmoo Kim | TEDxPhiladelphia

Summary

The script addresses the paradox of the digital divide, suggesting that while access to technology has increased, true equity in economic opportunities has not. It highlights the underrepresentation of people of color and women in tech, particularly in Silicon Valley and Philadelphia's STEM workforce. The speaker advocates for a cultural shift in the tech industry, emphasizing the importance of diversity and inclusion for innovation, and suggests that the focus should be on creating a more inclusive environment rather than just improving access.

Takeaways

• 🌐 The digital divide is not just about access to technology but also about economic opportunity and equity, which is often overlooked.
• 📉 Despite increased access to technology, representation of black and Latina/o employees in Silicon Valley companies remains very low.
• 🏙️ Philadelphia, recognized for diversity in STEM, still has a significant gap between the percentage of black STEM employees and the city's black population.
• 👩‍💻 The gender disparity in the tech industry is also highlighted, with only one-third of STEM employees in Philadelphia being women.
• 📚 Representation of black students in computing fields has increased slightly from 2002 to 2017, but there is still a long way to go for true equity in education.
• 🎓 The lack of black representation on the covers of Make Magazine, a flagship publication of the maker movement, underscores the absence of diversity in tech culture.
• 🎼 The speaker advocates for a cultural shift in tech, comparing the need for diversity to the evolution of the music industry, which has embraced various genres and artists.
• 🛠️ The tech industry's focus on new gadgets and apps has led to an unintended widening of the digital divide, impacting those without socio-economic privilege.
• 🎨 The speaker promotes the integration of arts and design into STEM education (STEAM) as a way to foster creativity and a more inclusive learning environment.
• 🤝 Partnerships and collaborations, such as with the Malcolm Jenkins Foundation, are essential to create programs that break down barriers and offer inclusive learning experiences.
• 🔍 The speaker encourages informed consumerism and support for organizations that promote equity and inclusion in the tech industry, as well as skepticism towards tech initiatives that may overlook these values.

Q & A

What is the digital divide according to the script?

The digital divide is the gap between those who have easy access to computers, the internet, and emerging technologies, and those without. It's also about the greater economic opportunity made possible through technology, often falling along socio-economic lines and closely tracking with race.

Why is access to technology not enough to close the digital divide?

Access to technology alone is not enough because the real goal is equity and equal economic opportunity. Fixating on access has led to an unintended consequence of widening the divide, as it overlooks the need for broader representation and inclusion in the tech industry.

What percentage of employees in Silicon Valley companies are black according to the study mentioned in the script?

In the study, just 2.5 percent of employees in Silicon Valley companies are black.

How does the representation of black individuals in STEM fields in Philadelphia compare to the city's population?

In Philadelphia, 18 percent of STEM employees are black, which is significantly lower than the city's population where 42 percent is black.

What is the percentage of women in STEM fields in Philadelphia?

Only one-third of the STEM employees in Philadelphia are women.

What was the percentage of bachelor's degrees awarded to black people in computing fields in 2002 and 2017?

In 2002, 3.6 percent of bachelor's degrees in computing fields were awarded to black people, which increased to 3.7 percent in 2017.

Why is the lack of representation of black individuals on the cover of Make Magazine a troubling sign according to the speaker?

The absence of representation on Make Magazine's cover speaks volumes about the exclusionary nature of the tech and maker culture, indicating a lack of diversity and inclusivity in the field.

What is the speaker's view on the tech industry's approach to solving problems?

The speaker believes that the tech industry tends to fixate on new devices, apps, or services as solutions, which has led to widening the digital divide and impacting people of color and those lacking socio-economic privilege.

What does the speaker suggest as an alternative to the current tech culture?

The speaker suggests a culture transplant, replacing the exclusionary white and Asian male monoculture with one of equal representation and inclusion.

What is the significance of the music industry's evolution in the speaker's argument?

The music industry's evolution to include a broader representation of society serves as an example of how the tech industry could embrace diversity and avoid amplifying an exclusionary monoculture.

What is the acronym S.T.E.A.M. stand for and what does it represent in the context of the script?

S.T.E.A.M. stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math. It represents an integrated approach to learning that celebrates creativity in both the arts and sciences, which the speaker believes is a more profound way to learn.

What is the 'Young Dragons' program and how does it integrate S.T.E.A.M. education?

The 'Young Dragons' program is a six-week summer S.T.E.A.M. camp for middle school students in West Philadelphia. It breaks down the walls between disciplines and offers hands-on, relevant arts-integrated S.T.E.A.M. learning activities.

What actions does the speaker suggest for those in technology, education, and leadership roles to help change the culture of tech?

For those in technology, the speaker suggests engaging with organizations like Code 2040 and promoting inclusive design. In education, they recommend supporting schools that integrate technology with community and social justice. For leaders, the speaker calls for making it clear that the status quo is unacceptable and advocating for a culture of equity, innovation, and inclusion.

Outlines

00:00

🌐 The Digital Divide and Socio-Economic Inequality

The first paragraph discusses the digital divide, which is the disparity in access to technology and its economic opportunities, typically along socio-economic and racial lines. Despite efforts to make technology more accessible, the speaker points out that the divide persists, evidenced by low representation of black and Latina employees in Silicon Valley and a lack of diversity in STEM fields in Philadelphia. The paragraph also highlights the underrepresentation of black individuals in computing degrees and the absence of black individuals on the covers of Make Magazine, suggesting that mere access to technology does not guarantee equity or equal opportunity.

05:07

🎼 The Cultural Shift Needed in Technology

The second paragraph emphasizes the need for a cultural shift in the tech industry to address the widening digital divide. The speaker criticizes the tech industry's focus on new gadgets and services as a solution, arguing that this approach has unintentionally exacerbated the divide. Drawing from personal experiences as an Asian-American in academia and the arts, the speaker advocates for a more inclusive culture that values representation and equity. The paragraph concludes with a call to action for the tech industry to undergo a 'culture transplant' to become more inclusive, using the evolution of the music industry as a positive example of cultural diversity and representation.

10:07

🚀 Pioneering Innovations in Music and Tech

The third paragraph draws parallels between the pioneers of music, such as jazz and hip-hop, and the need for similar pioneers in technology. The speaker challenges the tech industry's reverence for its 'classical giants' and suggests that following only their traditions could stifle innovation. The speaker discusses the importance of embracing a diverse range of contributions and the potential risks of amplifying an exclusionary monoculture. Initiatives at the excite Center in Philadelphia are highlighted as examples of using culture to better understand and integrate technology, including the Young Dragons program, which offers a summer STEAM camp integrating arts with traditional STEM disciplines.

15:10

🛠 Actions for a More Equitable Tech Culture

The final paragraph offers actionable steps for individuals to help change the culture of tech towards greater equity and inclusion. The speaker suggests engaging with organizations like Code 2040 and the Algorithmic Justice League to promote diversity within the tech industry. For consumers, the speaker recommends scrutinizing tech companies' diversity reports and supporting those making genuine progress. In education, the speaker endorses the Connected Learning Alliance and schools that integrate technology with social justice. The paragraph concludes with a call for leaders in higher education to address the 'culture crisis' and to foster a culture of innovation and inclusion, rather than relying solely on technology to solve systemic issues.

Keywords

💡Digital Divide

The term 'Digital Divide' refers to the gap between individuals who have access to modern information and communication technology (ICT) and those who lack such access. In the video's context, it is not just about access to technology but also the economic opportunities it provides. The speaker highlights that despite increased access, there is still a significant divide along socio-economic and racial lines, as evidenced by the low representation of certain groups in the tech industry and in higher education.

💡Socio-economic Lines

Socio-economic lines refer to the divisions in society based on social class and economic status. The video discusses how the digital divide generally falls along these lines, which closely relate to race. The speaker points out that efforts to close the digital divide have not adequately addressed the socio-economic disparities that continue to affect access to technology and economic opportunities.

💡Economic Opportunity

Economic Opportunity refers to the potential for individuals to improve their financial situation through various means, such as employment, education, or entrepreneurship. In the video, the speaker emphasizes that the digital divide is not just about access to technology but also about the greater economic opportunities that technology can provide, which are currently not equitably distributed.

💡Representation

Representation in this context refers to the presence and participation of different groups in a particular field or industry. The video script discusses the lack of representation of certain racial and gender groups in the tech industry, as well as in higher education, particularly in STEM fields, indicating a significant disparity in opportunities and equity.

💡Maker Movement

The Maker Movement is a cultural phenomenon that encourages hands-on creation of tangible items, often using technology. The video mentions this movement as a way to broaden participation in technology. However, the speaker points out that despite its potential, the movement has not effectively represented all demographic groups, as evidenced by the lack of black individuals on the covers of 'Make Magazine'.

💡Cultural Perspective

Cultural Perspective refers to the viewpoint or lens through which a society or group interprets and engages with the world. The speaker suggests that adopting a cultural perspective can reveal underlying issues in the tech industry, such as exclusionary practices and a lack of diversity. This perspective is used to argue for a more inclusive tech culture.

💡Equity

Equity in the video refers to the concept of fairness and justice in the distribution of resources and opportunities. The speaker argues that while access to technology has improved, true equity—meaning equal economic opportunity for all—has not been achieved, and this is a critical issue that needs to be addressed.

💡Inclusion

Inclusion is the act of involving and integrating all members of a society or group, ensuring that no one is marginalized or excluded. The video emphasizes the need for greater inclusion in the tech industry, suggesting that a more diverse and inclusive culture would lead to broader representation and more innovative outcomes.

💡STEAM

STEAM is an educational approach that integrates Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics. The video script mentions STEAM as an alternative to the traditional STEM approach, arguing that integrating the arts and design can lead to a more holistic and engaging learning experience that values creativity and fosters a culture of innovation and inclusion.

💡Implicit Bias

Implicit bias refers to the unconscious attitudes or stereotypes that affect our understanding, actions, and decisions. The video discusses a study that revealed implicit bias in maker learning programs, suggesting that even well-intentioned educational initiatives may perpetuate exclusionary practices if they are not consciously designed to be inclusive.

💡Innovation

Innovation in the context of the video is the process of translating an idea or invention into a good or service that creates value or for which customers will pay. The speaker argues that a more inclusive and diverse tech culture would not only be more equitable but also lead to greater innovation, as it would draw from a broader range of perspectives and experiences.

Highlights

The digital divide refers to the gap between those with access to technology and those without, with a focus on economic opportunity.

Efforts to close the digital divide have historically focused on access, assuming economic benefits would follow.

Despite widespread access to technology, representation of black and Latina/o employees in Silicon Valley remains low.

Philadelphia's STEM workforce is more diverse than Silicon Valley, but still underrepresents the city's black population.

Women are underrepresented in Philadelphia's STEM workforce, making up only one-third of employees.

Progress in higher education for black students in computing fields has been slow, with minimal increases in degree representation.

The maker movement, promoted for broadening tech participation, has a lack of representation, with no black individuals on Make Magazine covers.

The speaker argues that access to technology is not enough; equity and equal economic opportunity are the real goals.

The tech industry's focus on new devices and services may inadvertently widen the digital divide.

The speaker shares personal experiences of feeling out of place due to appearance, not talent, in the music and tech industries.

A cultural perspective can reveal the need for a more inclusive tech industry, moving from an exclusionary monoculture.

The music industry has evolved to include a broader representation of society, unlike the tech industry.

Pioneers in music, like Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington, created new genres by going against traditional music culture.

The tech industry needs its own pioneers to shake the foundations and create a more diverse and innovative field.

The EXCiTE Center in Philadelphia uses cultural touchstones in youth outreach programs to explore technology.

The Young Dragons program is a summer STEAM camp integrating arts with traditional STEM subjects.

Collaboration with organizations like the Malcolm Jenkins Foundation aims to amplify the impact of inclusive education programs.

The speaker encourages informed consumption, supporting companies with real progress in diversity and inclusion.

Maintaining skepticism towards new tech initiatives is important due to potential blind spots in equity and inclusion.

Leaders in tech and education should promote a culture of equity, innovation, and inclusion, not just focus on STEM deficits.

The future of tech can be more inclusive and innovative, but it requires collective effort to make it happen.

Transcripts

what if our efforts to close the digital

divide are actually widening it now the

digital divide is the gap between those

who have easy access to computers the

internet and emerging technologies and

those without but more importantly it's

about the greater economic opportunity

made possible through technology the

digital divide generally falls along

socio-economic lines which of course

track closely with race most efforts to

close this gap have focused on access

it's even in the term Internet access

the basic idea being that if we make

devices the internet and training less

expensive and more broadly accessible to

all then the economic benefits will

follow but here's the funny thing if you

had told me or really anyone in

technology in 1999 hey 20 years from now

77% of all Americans and 90% of adults

under 50 would own a pocket

supercomputer with always-on wireless

high-speed Internet we'd have said sign

me up for that future digital divide

closed now that we're here in 2019 how

are we doing well in a recent study of

Silicon Valley companies looking at

median representation among employees

just 2.5 percent of employees are black

and 5.6 percent or Latina X here in

Philadelphia we were recently named in

the 2017 study as the best city for

diversity in stem that science

technology engineering and math 18

percent of stem employees in Philly are

black which sounds better right until

you remember that 42 percent of our

city's population is black oh and by the

way only one-third of Philly stem

employees are women so in industry we

still have a ways to go

how about in higher education which is

our future workforce right if we look at

black students in the computing fields

starting in 2002 3.6 percent of

bachelor's degrees 1.3 percent of

master's and 1.3 percent of PhDs were

awarded to black people now in 2017

which is the most recent year for which

we have data things have gone up to 3

point 7 percent one point six percent

and PhDs have gone from 10 to 18 yes

all of the black graduates in North

America who received a PhD in computing

in 2017 could fit around a conference

room table clearly in higher ed there's

still some work to do so you might say

well you know there's this hot new trend

in education particularly in k-12 called

making making is a mash-up of shop class

in electronics and computing to create

everything from doorbells to robots it's

been heavily promoted as a way of

broadening participation in technology

well the flagship publication of this

maker movement is Make Magazine which

has been around for more than 10 years

tech and education researcher Lea

Beakley did an analysis of

representation on make magazine covers

and while most of the discussion

subsequently talked about gender she

also pointed out in 2014 that no black

person had ever been on the cover of

make magazine well I'm here to tell you

that in 2019 no black person has ever

been on the cover of make magazine

I think the absence of reputa of

representation speaks volumes and is a

very troubling sign so here we are more

than 20 years since the digital divide

first became a concern and more than 10

years into the smartphone era and while

we've achieved enormous gains

in terms of access to technology we now

know that access is not enough the

unintended consequence of fixating on

access has been that we lost sight of

the real goal equity equal Economic

Opportunity through technology

I think that's because in tech we tend

to fixate on certain things and we have

unintentionally because of the great

games in in economics through technology

we've actually widened the divide not

only adversely impacting people of color

but anyone who lacks socio-economic

privilege the problem is that in tech we

love to believe that the new new thing

will solve the problem a device an app a

service and I have to admit that for

many years I was complicit in this kind

of thinking that if we simply made the

tech good enough then we would achieve

equity but as Columbia professor and

founder of the hip-hop ed movement Chris

emdin has succinctly put it you can't

just take away your problems here's also

where I should check my privilege that I

am an academic I'm a research institute

director I'm an asian-american professor

of engineering absolutely a position of

privilege now I grew up in central

Illinois with an inescapably Korean name

and oops I don't really speak Korean I

studied music in college and graduate

school and as an Asian musician and

performer I've often found myself in a

very different situation one at an

audition or performance where I felt out

of place distinct not because of my

talent or lack thereof but distinct

because of my appearance sometimes I

wished I could fast forward a few

decades to a time where people who look

like me

could have leading roles and Broadway

musicals in Hollywood movies it's just

starting to happen now which is probably

too late from I showbiz career but I

still find it incredibly exciting so I

think this is why a cultural perspective

can be so revealing not my culture not

your culture but the shared culture of

our society the tech industry has tried

so hard to inject tech culture into the

mainstream but what it really needs is a

culture transplant replacing an

exclusionary white and Asian male

monoculture with one of equal

representation and inclusion so I think

it's helpful to look at this from a

completely different lens that of music

now I'm sure you know the classical

composers of old the Bach Mozart and

Beethoven now I'm a music major so I

love Bach Mozart and Beethoven but no

one would suggest that these white men

are the most influential musicians of

2019 no our musical culture of course

has evolved to include artists of

different genres ethnicities and

representations right different

traditions but if you look at the top

that at billboards top song from every

year since the 1940s when they first

started creating this chart you'll

notice something more and more color

figuratively and literally among the top

selling artists now this is not to say

that the music industry is equitable

it's not but only to say it now includes

a broader representation of our society

so how did we get here

there were courageous pioneers

throughout history many of them who

found alternative pathways into the

mainstream who went against

traditional music culture and the

entrenched industry I'm talking about

the early giants of jazz like Louis

Armstrong and Duke Ellington who used

bold brass instruments to create an

entirely new sound in an era without

amplification I'm talking about the

Motown sound where Motown Records

founder Berry Gordy tuned his music for

the fidelity of car radios to craft an

audio experience that was broadly

accessible and yet signature to his

label and of course the founders of hip

hop who couldn't get access to the

discotheques of the 1970s and instead

used technology tapes and records

spinning and scratching to create an

entirely new genre that is arguably the

most popular today imagine now for a

moment a world without those pioneers

what would our music sound like where

what our society be well in tech we have

our own classical Giants Bill Gates

Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg and our

society in some ways has been so blinded

by their success to an extreme view that

tech can solve any problem but if we ask

all to follow only their traditions how

will we ever see something that shakes

those foundations like jazz like Motown

or the hip hop of technology well you

might say in music things have turned

out okay right why don't we just let

this play out in tech well first of all

we have much greater knowledge than the

early days of jazz more than a hundred

years ago we can and we should be doing

this much better but second and perhaps

most importantly tech is an amplifier

tech is best at accelerating and scaling

but what if we amplify the wrong things

if we propagate an exclusionary

monoculture

we make it less likely for new and

diverse contributions to emerge and take

flight imagine a world without jazz

without Motown without hip-hop so how do

we change the culture of Tek rather than

being changed by it here are some of the

things we're doing at the excite Center

right here in Philadelphia

first we employ culture to better

understand technology our youth outreach

programs use cultural touchstones like

sneakers and music to authentically

reveal and explore the tech that lies

within embracing culturally responsive

teaching research and practice in this

way we promote the value of our shared

culture over pure technology we also

don't think in terms of stem but rather

steam that's integrating the arts and

design alongside science technology

engineering and math 50 years of math

and science emphasis has gotten us into

the situation we're in today we believe

that by integrating and celebrating the

creativity that's inherent in both the

arts and the sciences is a much more

profound way to learn we learned better

we are so proud to partner with the

Malcolm Jenkins foundation who does such

great work in education in sports

programming and social justice together

we've established the young dragons

program a six-week summer steam camp for

middle school students in the West

Philadelphia promise zone in this

program we break down the artificial

walls between disciplines and instead

offer hands-on relevant arts integrated

steam learning activities we also seek

other great partners and collaborate to

amplify their amazing

here are some of the incredible projects

and people that I have the privilege of

working with making culture is a

national study of 30 education maker

spaces revealing pervasive implicit bias

among maker the maker learning program

excuse me among Maker learning programs

black girls steaming through dance this

is an incredible program for West Philly

middle school girls that integrates

fashion and wearable tech and coding and

dance performance hip-hop makerspaces

working with others across the country

to develop welcoming and inclusive

learning spaces so those are some of the

things we're doing but what can you do

to help change the culture of tech well

if you work in technology please check

out code 2040 this is a non-profit

devoted not to coding but to achieving

equal equity and representation in the

tech industry here 2040 refers to the

year in which the u.s. is projected to

become majority people of color there

you'll find others you can work with to

change the culture of tech from within

if you're not in tech be an informed

consumer of products and services look

at tech companies annual diversity

reports and there you'll see which

companies are making real progress and

which companies not so much follow the

work of the algorithmic justice league

this is an organization devoted to

looking at exploring and examining

companies AI systems for racial and

gender bias look for companies that are

embracing the principles of inclusive

design not only for accessibility but

for broadening representation and most

importantly maintain a healthy

skepticism towards new tech driven

initiatives so often they have blind

spots when it comes to equity and

inclusion if you're in education in

addition to those I mentioned previously

follow the connected Learning Alliance

they advocate for interest-driven

learning through technologies in the

service of equity and opportunity and

similarly support some of the great

public schools here in Philadelphia

science Leadership Academy the workshop

school and others that integrate

technology but within a bedrock of

community citizenship and social justice

now if you're in higher education pardon

me but what the hell you waitin for we

should be the ones ahead of the curve

not behind it they say we have a stem

crisis in higher ed no we have a culture

crisis and we can't tech our way out of

that stop trading upon superficial stem

deficits which have more to do with a

student's zip code than their ability to

code look at the data and then do the

hard work it takes to support a culture

of equity and innovation and inclusion

and if you're a leader in a position of

leadership and a position of privilege

make it clear that the status quo is

unacceptable that if we continue to

propagate a exclusionary monoculture we

miss the far greater opportunity of a

richer more inclusive and yes more

innovative society instead we will have

a world without jazz without Motown and

without hip-hop and then we'll all lose

so perhaps this will help you think of

these three not as aspirational role

models but as equivalent to the

classical composers of old encouraging

young people to be like this

is as absurd as asking them to be like

this

instead we need them to be technologies

version of Louis Armstrong or Diana Ross

or Grandmaster Flash or Aquafina

and I am so excited to see that future

it can happen but it won't happen on its

own let's work together to make sure

that it does thank you