Race After Technology: Abolitionist Tools for the New Jim Code

In "Race After Technology: Abolitionist Tools for the New Jim Code," Ruha Benjamin offers a rigorous and expansive critique of the assumption that technology is neutral or inherently progressive. Published in 2019, this work situates itself at the intersection of critical race theory, science and technology studies, and sociology to reveal how racial bias is not an accidental flaw but a fundamental feature embedded within contemporary technological systems.

Benjamin introduces the concept of the "New Jim Code," a term that draws a deliberate parallel to Michelle Alexander’s "The New Jim Crow," to describe how modern technologies—especially algorithms, artificial intelligence, and surveillance tools—can encode and perpetuate racial hierarchies. These technologies, often celebrated as objective or innovative, instead mask old forms of racial control in new digital forms. This "New Jim Code" operates subtly, embedding discrimination in the design, data, and deployment of technology, often without overt malicious intent but with deeply harmful consequences.

The book grounds its argument in a wide array of real-world examples that illustrate how technology can reinforce systemic racism. Benjamin details how hiring algorithms, trained on historical data reflecting discriminatory practices, tend to filter out Black applicants, perpetuating employment inequities. She also examines predictive policing software, which disproportionately targets Black and Latinx communities by amplifying biased crime data, leading to over-policing and reinforcing cycles of marginalization. Surveillance technologies, particularly facial recognition systems, are another critical focus; these tools often have higher error rates when identifying people with darker skin tones, resulting in misidentifications and unjust surveillance that disproportionately affect Black individuals.

Benjamin’s analysis goes beyond pointing out problems; she interrogates the processes by which bias enters technology—through design choices, data selection, and deployment decisions—highlighting that these are social and political decisions rather than purely technical ones. She challenges the Silicon Valley narrative that technological innovation is inherently emancipatory or socially beneficial, emphasizing that without critical scrutiny, technology can entrench and amplify existing inequalities.

A distinctive feature of the book is its call for an abolitionist approach to technology. Drawing inspiration from movements that seek to dismantle oppressive systems rather than reform them superficially, Benjamin advocates for reimagining how technology is designed, governed, and implemented. This approach demands not merely fixing biased algorithms but fundamentally transforming the social and institutional structures that produce and sustain racial injustice. She urges technologists, policymakers, and activists to develop tools and frameworks that actively undo racial harms rather than replicate them.

While the book is praised for its interdisciplinary approach and accessible prose, it has limitations. Its primary focus on the United States context may limit its applicability to global or non-Western settings. Additionally, some readers note that although Benjamin’s abolitionist vision is compelling, the book offers fewer concrete, actionable steps for technologists and policymakers to implement in the short term. The emphasis is more on raising critical awareness and fostering systemic thinking than on providing a detailed blueprint for change.

"Race After Technology" is a timely and urgent contribution to ongoing debates about the social implications of emerging technologies. It challenges readers to confront uncomfortable truths about the digital tools that increasingly mediate social life and to participate in shaping a more just technological future. By exposing the "New Jim Code," Benjamin compels us to question the veneer of neutrality that technology wears and to recognize the racialized power dynamics embedded in every line of code.