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I recently asked these four questions. Below is one reply, from Irving Wladawsky-Berger. Please join the conversation either by tweeting @Digital_Du_Bois or by leaving a comment at the bottom of this or any other post on www.digitaldubois.net]
Ernie,
While far from an expert on the life of W.E.B. Du Bois, here are some thoughts on how he would view the power of the Information Revolution. I think he would appreciate the power of the information revolution in three key areas: communications; community organization; and education.
1. Communications: Above all, Du Bois would celebrate the power of Social Media to fight racism, by shining sunlight on the horrible things that were going on throughout the country, including overt discriminations, lynchings, Ku Klux Klan activities, propaganda like Birth of a Nation, etc., etc., etc.
2. Community Organization: He would appreciate the power of the Information Revolution as a tool for community organization, political action, etc., that is, a way of engaging communities and groups to get actively things done.
3. Education: Finally, as I understand his life, he was a huge advocate of education, and he would very much appreciate the potential for the Information Revolution to help provide a high quality education to all the groups that are now being left behind by the system, as well as a tool for life-long learning.
These are just some perhaps overly simplistic thoughts. I am sure others my have deeper comments.
– Irving Wladawsky-Berger
Here is information about Irving Wladawsky-Berger. Also, read his blog. And watch video of him speaking while serving as the USC Annenberg Innovator in Residence.