Building Black Tech Futures with Dr. Fallon Wilson

Our guest on today’s episode of “B The Way Forward” is dreaming of a black tech future that makes digital infrastructure more inclusive for everybody. Host Brenda Darden Wilkerson talks with Vice President of Policy at the Multicultural Media and Telecommunication Internet Council (MMTC) and creator of #BlackTechFutures Research Institute, Dr. Fallon Wilson, about ways to close the digital divide. Together, they address the disparities in Internet access across black communities and why Fallon is fighting for actionable change like getting computers in the hands of all school children and creating better access for people to do remote work at home. You’ll hear some really shocking facts around who has Internet access – and who doesn’t– while Brenda and Fallon talk through some major misconceptions around technology gaps. Plus, we learn why Fallon is sick and tired of the conversation around Artificial Intelligence and why she’s working to humanize an index that measures disparities in cities. 

“When we think about data science or data scientists, I always think about Ida B. Wells and her ability to develop a type of data set to talk about lynching and lynching of Black bodies, and what does that look like, and what are the policy implications for it? I think Black people have always, I think with every new type of tool to tell story, or a new type of technology to tell narrative, we have always been at the forefront of crafting our story and trying to show this is injustice.”

For more of Dr. Fallon Wilson and her work check out...

X - @SistahWilson | @mmtconline | @BlackChurchesDE

Instagram - @mmtconline | @blackchurches4digitalequity

Facebook - /mmtconline | /blackchurches4digitalequity

Linkedin - /fallonwilson | /mmtconline

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At AnitaB.org, we envision a future where the people who imagine and build technology mirror the people and societies for whom they build it. Find out more about how we support women, non-binary individuals, and other underrepresented groups in computing, as well as the organizations that employ them and the academic institutions training the next generations.

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Our guests contribute to this podcast in their personal capacity. The views expressed in this interview are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Anita Borg Institute for Women and Technology or its employees (“AnitaB.org”). AnitaB.org is not responsible for and does not verify the accuracy of the information provided in the podcast series. The primary purpose of this podcast is to educate and inform. This podcast series does not constitute legal or other professional advice or services.

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B The Way Forward Is…

Produced by Dominique Ferrari and Paige Hymson

Sound design and editing by Neil Innes and Ryan Hammond 

Mixing and mastering by Julian Kwasneski 

Associate Producer is Faith Krogulecki

Executive Produced by Dominique Ferrari, Stacey Book, and Avi Glijansky for Riveter Studios and Frequency Machine 

Executive Produced by Brenda Darden Wilkerson for AnitaB.org

Podcast Marketing from Lauren Passell and Arielle Nissenblatt with Riveter Studios and Tink Media in partnership with Carolyn Schneller and Coley Bouschet at AnitaB.org

Photo of Brenda Darden Wilkerson by Mandisa Media Productions

For more ways to be the way forward, visit AnitaB.org