Blacks Turn to Internet Highway, And Digital Divide Starts to Close

Blacks Turn to Internet Highway, And Digital Divide Starts to Close - The New York Times

The progress Marriott speaks of merits caveat emptor 'let the buyer beware'. Consuming technology is not the same as creating it.

The article mostly describes the Internet as a consumption vehicle. Connected Blacks do gain, but not from contributing to this advancing technology.

Contributing comes from participating in its creation and diffusion, including the acquisition of underlying engineering and science skills.

The National Science Foundation reports that from 1992-2001, Blacks earned only 3% of PhDs in engineering science. This under performance is a sobering and continuing indication of Black inability to span the digital divide.

The number of PhDs is critical because results at the top of the technology waterfall indicate progress in the early education of Black kids. Using the Internet to bolster advancing skills, rather than consumption, should be the focus.

When the pittance of Black PhDs in engineering sciences increases, then we celebrate.

James C. Collier

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