Bias in Systems, Algorithms, and Modern Technology

All readings for Unit 3 are from Ruha Benjamin’s book Race After Technology (2019). The book can be found at this link.

Week 10

Understandings the environmental consequences of planned obsolescence and discussion the culture and controversies of the modern technology industry.

Response 9: Benjamin (2019), Race After Technology, Introduction and Chapter 1

Week 11

The importance of public engagement for bettering our society.

Reading 10: Benjamin (2019), Race After Technology, Chapters 2 and 3


computer code.jpg

Week 12

Exploring classification systems as technology and a special presentation on Asian American and Pacific Islander solidarity in STEM.

Week 13

Guest speaker Esperanza Arab presenting on building a meaningful engineering career.

Reading 10: Benjamin (2019), Race After Technology, Chapters 4 and 5, Penney (2020), “Denver Wants to Fix a Legacy of Environmental Racism”, and Kolata (2020), “Many Medical Decision Tools Disadvantage Black Patients”


Week 14

Developing techniques to mobilize and educate others and a discussion about the third, and final, milestone for the semester-long project.


On Benjamin’s website, she includes a discussion guide for Race After Technology which can be found here.

In preparation for the second iteration of this course, a reading list for a book club has been put together and can be found here. The page includes the author and title of each book in addition to a short description.