The show provides a detailed overview of the life and work of Ruha Benjamin, a Princeton professor and influential scholar focused on the intersection of race, justice, and technology.
The hosts primarily unpack the concept of the “New Jim Code,” which describes how seemingly objective technological systems, such as facial recognition, predictive policing, and biased hiring algorithms, reproduce and amplify existing social inequalities and racial discrimination. Beyond critique, the sources highlight Benjamin’s commitment to abolitionist futures and actionable change, citing her founding of the Ida B. Wells JUST Data Lab and her teaching philosophy, which encourages students to design systems that prioritize equity.
The hosts affirm her growing significance in the tech and justice landscape, emphasizing her recent MacArthur Fellowship and the clear trajectory of her four major books, including the foundational Race After Technology. Ultimately, the explanations underscore her central message that technology is not destiny and must be intentionally built to reflect democratic and just values.
