For generations, the voices of Black and brown communities of this country have been overlooked and absorbed into the overall noise that has become our political landscape. In the digital age, the amount of information that is being shared about the story of living in America has increased exponentially but without the intentional focus on marginalized voices, we cannot expect for our story to be highlighted.
Black voices have more platforms and reach than ever before in the digital era, but the data that is used to ensure that channels and content are aligned and optimized for the user are not collected or properly analyzed in our communities.
This is where data-based storytelling becomes our superpower both socially and politically. Nobody knows our communities like we do, and nobody cares to invest in us the way that we do – so we are the best data analysts that we have and it is far past time for us to focus on the need to #AmplifyMelanatedVoices.
But we don’t have to let that story stand.
Like the generations before us, Black and brown people have continued to achieve in spite of the obstacles in our way. Entrepreneurship increased significantly for us during the pandemic – in large part due to the access to technology and the new tools available for small businesses. We saw greater access to crucial medical information and more political engagement in the 2020 elections, but many are asking what comes next?
The greatest challenge before us in the digital revolution is the lack of equitable data culture. Organizations that conduct research and polling have invested huge amounts of money in the legwork, but none in the relationship building that our communities need. When pollsters don’t get enough sampling of marginalized groups, those threads are simply segmented out of the broader fabric that is the story of living in America.
Unfortunately, Black people have been victims of the weaponizing of data for many generations. In the rare instances that data is collected, our story is simply swallowed up by the majority rather than highlighted in its uniqueness. When the labor market is flooded with jobs and Black unemployment is at an all-time low, the story of what wages we are earning or the number of jobs that we need in order to make the same as our white counterparts is relegated to the shadows.
We can do something about this problem.
Since the tragic murder of George Floyd, America began to open her eyes to the unique story of Black America. Organizations like the National Equity Atlas have developed new tools like the Racial Equity Index to help marginalized communities take ownership of our stories. However, these tools will only go as far as we are willing to take them.
Analytics and collection will only be equitable if Black and brown people participate in the process. We cannot afford to continue allowing our stories to be told through the lens of those who do not know our experiences or the needs of our communities. Black Futures Lab has launched an opportunity to make our voices heard in the pursuit of building political power for Black people across the country.
The 2022 Black Census Project is the largest survey of Black people in 157 years. We are members of the community who are in the trenches with you, pursuing a more equitable Black future for the next generation.
The work is not easy, but making our communities visible is the most important part of the journey towards the more perfect union that we know America can be one day. If we allow the challenges of today to distract or discourage us from the promise of tomorrow, then we will never be able to wield our power in the way that we should.
This survey will close at the end of October, but the work will not stop there. This midterm election is crucial to the future of our people. We will be working tirelessly along with our sister organization, Black to the Future Action Fund, to ensure fair access to the polls and to advocate for the policies that we want to see.
Regardless of gender, immigration status, or political ideology, we believe that lifting Black voices, participating in decisions that are being made, and owning our place in this country is beneficial for all people living in the United States of America.
Lead Image: Alicia Garza, Courtesy of Black Futures Lab Instagram
