Justice

New Era, Same Struggle: Confronting Fresh and Familiar Challenges in the Digital Age

Congressman Cedric L. Richmond
Chairman, Congressional Black Caucus; Louisiana – 2nd Congressional District

Twitter: @RepRichmond

Technological advancements have created numerous economic and social opportunities—and ancillary challenges. This Congress, the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), has been focused on finding ways to advance the former and address the latter. We want to make sure that African Americans and other marginalized communities aren’t left behind in a nation and world that are becoming increasingly connected. 

Digital Equality: Connecting Communities of Color

Commissioner Mignon Clyburn
Federal Communications Commission (2009-2018)

Twitter: @MClyburnFCC 

While we are living in a fast-paced, digitally-connected, technologically-innovative era, America is on the verge of becoming a more divided nation. Our society is characterized by echo chambers and connectivity cliques where communities of color are, once again, on the wrong side of the opportunities divide. There are, however, rays of hope; and with just a few, intentional steps, we can close many persistent divides with: (1) ubiquitous access to affordable broadband; (2) a free and open internet; and (3) diversity in media.  

​​​​​​​Black and Digitally Invisible: The New Divide

Dr. Nicol Turner-Lee
Center for Technology Innovation Fellow, Brookings Institution

Twitter: @drturnerlee

More than 90% of the U.S. population is connected to the internet and regularly engages its transformative and transactional capacities. Despite this positive trajectory in digital access, recent data from the Pew Research Center shares that 11% of Americans are still not online[1] These non-internet users are disproportionately people of color, low-income, less literate, seniors, and geographically isolated within rural areas. The reasons for their marginal internet use are largely due to a lack of interest, the cost of broadband services, and the inability to secure an affordable device, such as a smartphone, tablet, or computer.[2]

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