AfroCrowd
Formation2015 (2015)
FounderAlice Backer
Websiteafrocrowd.org

AfroCrowd (stylized as AfroCROWD) is an initiative to create and improve information about Black culture and history on Wikipedia. The New York City-based project was founded by Alice Backer in 2015.[1][2]

Background and description

Some observers have noted a dearth in content pertaining to sub-Saharan African history on Wikipedia.[3]

In 2015, Daniella Bien-Aime of The Haitian Times called AfroCrowd "a multilingual initiative to increase Afrodescendant participation in crowdsourcing initiatives such as Wikipedia".[4] Described as a "do-it-yourself initiative",[5] AfroCROWD hosts edit-a-thons and talks across the New York metropolitan area.[1] The group has partnered with the Brooklyn Public Library[6] and other organizations such as the Haiti Cultural Exchange and Haitian Creole Language Institute to host these events.[7] AfroCROWD also seeks to increase the number of people of African descent who actively take part in the Wikimedia and open knowledge movements.[8]

History

Alice Backer in 2015

In 2015, lawyer Alice Backer launched AfroCROWD to "rectify Wikipedia's lack of articles about black history and black culture".[1][2] According to Backer, the aim of the project is to "give people of color opportunities to do more than participate in and consume social media".[9] Daniella Bien-Aime included Backer in The Haitian Times' 2015 list of 10 "Haitian social media influencers you should follow".[4]

In 2020, leading up to Juneteenth, AfroCrowd hosted efforts to improve Wikipedia articles related to civil rights.[10] The group has received funding from the Wikimedia Foundation.[11]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Allum, Cynthia (February 29, 2016). "Women leading movements to champion equality on Wikipedia". The New York Times. Archived from the original on August 10, 2017. Retrieved October 20, 2017.
  2. 1 2 Delices, Patrick. "Black Digital Empowerment Through AfroCROWD workshops". Black Star News. Archived from the original on August 10, 2017. Retrieved October 20, 2017.
  3. ↑ Matsuuchi, Ann (2017). "Connecting Wikipedia and the Archive: Building a Public History of HIV/AIDS in New York City". WikiStudies. 1 (1). Archived from the original on January 21, 2021. Retrieved April 1, 2019.
  4. 1 2 "10 Haitian Social Media Influencers You Should Follow". The Haitian Times. June 15, 2015. Retrieved February 15, 2023.
  5. ↑ Harrison, Stephen (January 14, 2019). "Happy 18th birthday, Wikipedia. Let's celebrate the Internet's good grown-up".
  6. ↑ Proffitt, Merrilee (April 2, 2018). Leveraging Wikipedia: Connecting Communities of Knowledge. American Library Association. ISBN 978-0-8389-1732-9.
  7. ↑ Jean, Fabiola (February 19, 2015). "AfroCrowd: Owning Haitian History Through Digital Empowerment". Haitian Times. Archived from the original on August 10, 2017. Retrieved October 20, 2017.
  8. ↑ "AfroCROWD, ALP & CCCADI present AfroLatinoCROWD!". AfrobeatRadio. Archived from the original on October 7, 2022. Retrieved July 9, 2022.
  9. ↑ Murphy, Carla (February 4, 2015). "Can 'Black Wikipedia' Take Off Like 'Black Twitter'?". ColorLines. Archived from the original on October 21, 2017. Retrieved October 20, 2017.
  10. ↑ Harrison, Stephen (June 9, 2020). "How Wikipedia Became a Battleground for Racial Justice". Slate. ISSN 1091-2339. Retrieved February 15, 2023.
  11. ↑ Harrison, Stephen (December 2, 2022). "The Huge Fight Behind Those Pop-Up Fundraising Banners on Wikipedia". Slate. ISSN 1091-2339. Retrieved February 15, 2023.

Further reading

Wikimedia Commons has media related to AfroCROWD.
Meta has related information at: AfroCROWD User Group
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