Du Bois and the Power of Data Storytelling

section of What W.E.B. Du Bois Knew That AI Still Doesn’t: A Masterclass in Data Strategy and Ethics

Transcript

1. Du Bois and the Power of Data Storytelling What W.E.B. Du Bois Knew That AI Still Doesn’t: A Masterclass in Data Strategy and Ethics Allen Hillery Anthony Starks
2. “Some mornings as I look about upon the two or three hundred of my companions assembled for morning prayers I can hardly realize they are all my people; that this great assembly of youth and intelligence are representatives of a race which twenty years ago was in bondage.” Letter from Du Bois to Pastor Scudder, Feb 3, 1886 W.E.B. Du Bois at Fisk, circa 1885
3. The Philadelphia Negro, 1897 “This inquiry extended over a period of fifteen months, and sought to ascertain something of the geographical distribution of this race, their organizations, and above all their relation to their million white fellow-citizens”
4. In 1900, it began with them… Thomas J. Calloway Du Bois in Paris
5. …and Atlanta Universty Atlanta University Debating Team, c. 1900 Women seated on steps at Atlanta University c. 1900
6. Calloway's Letter to Black Leaders “… thousands upon thousands will go [to the fair], and a well selected and prepared exhibit, representing the Negro's development in his churches, his schools, his homes, his farms, his stores, his professions and pursuits in general will attract attention and do a great and lasting good in convincing thinking people of the possibilities of the Negro.”
7. Paris 1900
8. Historical Context 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900 “Black America” Fair Plessy v. Ferguson Phila. Negro begins Wilmington Overthrow Lynchings Peak Paris Exposition
9. Calloway's Ten Goals Report of The Commissioner-General for the United States to the International Universal Exposition, Paris 1900, Vol. II, pg. 463
10. Something of the Negro’s history Education of the race Effects of education upon illiteracy Effects of education upon occupation Effects of education upon property The Negro’s mental development as shown by the books, high class pamphlets, newspapers, and other periodicals His mechanical genius as shown by patents granted to American negroes Business and industrial development in general What the Negro is doing for himself though his own separate church organizations, particularly in the work of education A general sociological study of the racial conditions in the United States.
11. Something of the negro's history
12. Education of the race
13. Effects of education upon illiteracy
14. Effects of education upon occupation
15. Effects of education upon property
16. The negro's mental development as shown by the books, high-class pamphlets, newspapers, and other periodicals written or edited by members of the race
17. His mechanical genius as shown by patents granted to American negroes
18. Business and industrial development in general
19. What the negro is doing for himself through his own separate church organizations, particularly in the work of education
20. A general sociological study of the racial conditions in the United States
21. We are here This is who we are This is how far we have come
24. 22” 28”
25. 1900: Du Bois Originals
26. “Where had I failed? There were many answers, but one was typically American, as the event proved; I did the deed but I did not advertise it... in the long run Advertising without the Deed was the only lasting value. Perhaps Americans do not realize how completely they have adopted this philosophy. But Madison Avenue does.”
27. Did Du Bois Do Enough? Can amassing so much knowledge diminish hope? Despite his work not affecting the change he anticipated, Du Bois did the best that he could and more. His work keeps the dialogue going. It's when conversations stop that we have cause for concern.
28. The Du Bois Challenge
29. Ícaro Bernardes
30. Baltimore Office of Performance and Innovation
31. Sai Ram Ved Vijapurapu
32. Or Misgav
33. Daniele Gibney
34. Kate Miller
35. Du Bois Themed Collage Artist Rene Villa was impressed by the Du Bois spiral and created a 34” x 38” collage. The background is inspired by the quilts of Gees' Bend with the graphs superimposed on with suede cord and paper.