The Archewell Foundation & NAACP Pursue a New Era for Digital Civil Rights
New NAACP-Archewell Award to Recognize Dr. Safiya Noble as First Recipient; The Duke and Duchess of Sussex to Receive NAACP President’s Award
The NAACP announced that Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, will receive the organization’s President’s Award, in recognition of achievement and public service, during The 53rd NAACP Image Awards, airing Saturday, February 26 on BET.
In addition, the NAACP Empowerment Programs and The Archewell Foundation are introducing the NAACP-Archewell Digital Civil Rights Award. This award acknowledges and supports a new generation of leaders that are creating transformational change at the intersection of social justice and technology — working to advance civil and human rights.
Each year, an individual will be recognized for their work in advancing solutions to some of tech’s biggest social justice issues; topics such as discrimination, misinformation, privacy, profiling, surveillance, and increasing diversity in the tech sector. The winner will also be awarded $100,000 to be used to advance new work, expand leadership and expertise, and/or continue their impact in the field of digital equity.
The inaugural recipient of the 2022 award is Dr. Safiya Noble, an internet studies scholar and Professor of Gender Studies and African American Studies at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA). Dr. Noble serves as the Co-Founder and Faculty Director of the UCLA Center for Critical Internet Inquiry, which is a partner to Archewell Foundation. In 2021, she was recognized as a MacArthur Fellow for her groundbreaking work on algorithmic discrimination, which enabled her recent founding of Equity Engine, a new nonprofit committed to creating the conditions for Black women and women of color to thrive through access to education, investments, mentorship and mutual aid. In addition, Dr. Noble is the author of a bestselling book Algorithms of Oppression: How Search Engines reinforce Racism (NYU Press).
Dr. Noble has demonstrated leadership and innovation in her trailblazing approach to creating a digital ecosystem that contributes to a more inclusive and equitable society. It is with great admiration that The Archewell Foundation and the NAACP recognize her for her work.
The 53rd NAACP Image awards air on Saturday, February 26 at 8pm ET/PT on BET. To learn more about the ceremony and honorees, visit the NAACP.
