Digital Black Feminism

Digital Black Feminism is a book that explores the long-standing relationship between technology and Black feminist thought, tracing the history of Black feminist technoculture in the United States and its ability to decenter white supremacy and patriarchy. It highlights the technical skill, communicative expertise, and entrepreneurial acumen of Black women's labor, positioning them at the center of discourse about the past, present, and future of technology.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 208 pages
Publication date: 05 October 2021
Publisher: New York University Press

Winner of the Diamond Anniversary Book Award, presented by the National Communication Association, the 2022 Nancy Baym Book Award was awarded by the Association of Internet Researchers. This book explores the enduring connection between technology and Black feminist thought, highlighting the significant role that Black women play in shaping the discourse surrounding technology in the contemporary era.

Black women have been at the forefront of some of the most significant discussions about technology in the 21st century, including trolling, online harassment, algorithmic bias, and influencer culture. However, Catherine Knight Steele argues that Black women's relationship with technology extends far beyond the recent rise of social media platforms like Twitter and Instagram. To truly "listen to Black women," Steele emphasizes the importance of examining the history of Black feminist technoculture in the United States, which has played a crucial role in challenging white supremacy and patriarchy in conversations about the future of technology.

Digital Black Feminism serves as a valuable guide for understanding the technical skill, communicative expertise, and entrepreneurial acumen of Black women's labor, which has been shaped by survival strategies and economic necessity. Through the metaphor of a virtual beauty shop, Steele walks readers through the contributions of Black women to technology, both offline and online. She highlights the ways in which Black women have leveraged their creativity and resilience to create innovative solutions to social and economic challenges.

By positioning Black women at the center of our discourse about the past, present, and future of technology, Steele offers a comprehensive through-line from the writings of early twentieth-century Black women to the bloggers and social media mavens of the twenty-first century. She makes connections between the letters, news articles, and essays of Black feminist writers of the past and a digital archive of blog posts, tweets, and Instagram stories of some of the most well-known Black feminist writers of our time. This book traverses the boundaries between historical and archival analysis and empirical internet studies, providing a rich and nuanced understanding of Black women's technology use in the nineteenth, twentieth, and twenty-first centuries.

In conclusion, Digital Black Feminism is a groundbreaking work that sheds light on the enduring relationship between technology and Black feminist thought. By examining the history and contributions of Black women to technology, Steele offers a valuable perspective on the future of technology and its impact on society. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the role of Black women in shaping the digital landscape and the ongoing struggle for gender equality in technology.

Weight: 328g
Dimension: 151 x 228 x 17 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781479808380