Jonathan Sterne examines the structural racism inherent in our society through the context of computer access. He points out the disparity in access to computers, and the racial assumptions apparent in the rhetoric discussing access. While Sterne correctly identifies the discrepancy in computer use between socioeconomic levels, he does not take into account the increased exposure to the internet, and other computer media. He continually associates the technological aid given to students in primarily minority areas with white guilt, implicating the donations of computers in a perpetuation of a racial and social dichotomy.
Sterne concludes that the attempts made at reparations for social constructs fail because they do not take into account the social distinctions which create computer culture. What Sterne identifies as something of a self-fulfilling prophecy of structural racism, is actually an endeavor to close the gap between those with readily available internet access and those without. The motivations of some corporations in their donations to the education system comes with some questions of their honorable intentions, but the result is still one which helps minorities. Sterne addresses a problem which stems from a much larger social issue, but picks at a result of that dilemma.
In order to fully understand the implications of disparaging access to the internet and computers in general one must examine the fundamental social stratification. A large portion of the minority population in the United States falls disproportionately at a lower socioeconomic class than their white counterparts. This disparity in income and educational access creates an environment in which social climbing is hard to do. Increasing access to computers, however, provides a space where everyone can interact freely and without the constraints of race and socioeconomics. Access to the internet significantly increases educational exposure. Although those whose families care less about education are less inclined to pursue educational endeavors, exposure to the internet increases the amount of reading and writing they have to do.
The rhetoric which Sterne speaks of is another issue entirely. Without a fundamental uprooting of the way the people of the United States think about their speech, the rhetoric can only be changed little by little. Bringing to light the gap in access is the first step in this process, and the continuation of awareness will aid in the correction of racism.
Sterne concludes that the attempts made at reparations for social constructs fail because they do not take into account the social distinctions which create computer culture. What Sterne identifies as something of a self-fulfilling prophecy of structural racism, is actually an endeavor to close the gap between those with readily available internet access and those without. The motivations of some corporations in their donations to the education system comes with some questions of their honorable intentions, but the result is still one which helps minorities. Sterne addresses a problem which stems from a much larger social issue, but picks at a result of that dilemma.
In order to fully understand the implications of disparaging access to the internet and computers in general one must examine the fundamental social stratification. A large portion of the minority population in the United States falls disproportionately at a lower socioeconomic class than their white counterparts. This disparity in income and educational access creates an environment in which social climbing is hard to do. Increasing access to computers, however, provides a space where everyone can interact freely and without the constraints of race and socioeconomics. Access to the internet significantly increases educational exposure. Although those whose families care less about education are less inclined to pursue educational endeavors, exposure to the internet increases the amount of reading and writing they have to do.
The rhetoric which Sterne speaks of is another issue entirely. Without a fundamental uprooting of the way the people of the United States think about their speech, the rhetoric can only be changed little by little. Bringing to light the gap in access is the first step in this process, and the continuation of awareness will aid in the correction of racism.