The Griot Institute co-hosted a lunch event, “Dissecting the Moral and Social Implications of Modern Technology”, as part of their Martin Luther King, Jr. week series this Wednesday, January 21. The event was co-hosted by Dr. Darakhshan Mir, Marcus Scales, and Griot intern Jean Marie Ngabonziza. The event saw a great turn out, with a majority student audience.
After introducing themselves, the hosts turned over to Marcus who read a portion of Dr. King’s 1964 Nobel Prize Lecture. The passage emphasized the importance of continuing to progress socially, as well as his concerns that social progress would take the back seat in comparison to technological advances. Marcus shared that what he loves most about Dr. King is that he “attempted to hold the country to the highest ideals it was founded on”. He then invited the audience to reflect on it within the context of Dr. King’s concept of a “thing oriented” as opposed to “person oriented” society. Jean-Marie related this idea back to the question of technology, stating that while technology can be a good thing, there are problems with it, such as AI facial recognition not recognizing people of color. Attendees reflected on their own experiences with technology and how Dr. King’s words relate to their own experiences with the internet and devices such as phones. Some international students spoke about their experiences with technology in America differing from their experiences in their home countries. One student pointed out that because the internet is slower and less readily available in her home country, she feels more connected to the people around her.
The hosts then prompted the audience to think about whether or not there should be restrictions placed on technology. One audience member pointed to Australia’s social media ban on children under the age of sixteen, stating that while technology is not a bad thing, it is rapidly evolving, so we must make the decision as humans about how to control ourselves as well as the technology. Most of the attendees were in favor of implementing a similar ban in America, one attendee citing Dr. King’s own criticism of institutions as a connection between the two ideas. Others raised concerns of entering a gray area which may violate consumer rights.
This lunch event was a great opportunity for members of the Bucknell community to engage in thoughtful discussion about Dr. King’s legacy in a modern context, breathing new life into his words by engaging them in contemporary questions of morality.
-Lily Hebda