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AfroCrowd

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AfroCrowd
Formation2015; 10 years ago (2015)
FounderAlice Backer
Websiteafrocrowd.org

AfroCROWD (Afro Free Culture Crowdsourcing Wikimedia), is an initiative founded in 2015 by Alice Backer in New York City.[1][2] Its mission is to increase awareness and participation of people of African descent in the Wikimedia and free knowledge, culture, and software movements. The organisation addresses the underrepresentation of Black history and culture on Wikipedia and other Wikimedia projects by organising edit-a-thons, workshops, and partnerships with cultural and educational institutions.

Description

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AfroCROWD Manager Sherry Antoine talked with German Wikipedia editor Sebastian Wallroth at WikiConference North America 2018 in Columbus, Ohio for podcast WikiJabber

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 and Mission

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Alice Backer in 2015

Alice Backer, a Haitian-American attorney and digital activist launched AfroCROWD to after attending a Black Lunch Table (BLT) edit-a-thon. Inspired by the event’s emphasis on diversifying Wikipedia content, Backer aimed to create a platform that would empower Black communities to contribute to the digital knowledge space.[9] AfroCROWD’s mission aligns with broader efforts to confront systemic bias in digital knowledge platforms and to promote inclusivity in information sharing.[10]

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.[11] The group has received funding from the Wikimedia Foundation.[12]

Activities and Collaborations

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AfroCROWD conducts regular edit-a-thons and training sessions, mainly in collaboration with libraries, museums, and academic institutions. These events are designed to teach participants how to edit Wikipedia. They try and encourage creation and improvement of articles related to African and African diaspora histories and cultures. Notable collaborations include partnerships with the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture and the Brooklyn Public Library.[13]

AfroCROWD has also participated in international Wikimedia campaigns aimed at increasing the representation of marginalized communities. It has been involved in initiatives such as #VisibleWikiWomen and frequently collaborates with user groups like Art+Feminism, Whose Knowledge?, and the Black Lunch Table to advocate for greater diversity on the platform.[10][14]

Impact and Significance

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AfroCROWD has played a significant role in addressing the content and contributor gaps on Wikipedia. By focusing on the inclusion of Black voices and histories, the initiative challenges the systemic biases that have historically marginalised these narratives in digital spaces. Scholars have recognised AfroCROWD's contributions to diversifying Wikipedia's content and community, highlighting its role in fostering a more equitable information ecosystem.[15]

Recognition and Academic Engagement

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The work of AfroCROWD has been acknowledged in academic literature as a model for community engagement and digital activism. Researchers have examined the organization's strategies for promoting inclusivity and have emphasized the importance of such initiatives in reshaping the digital knowledge landscape. AfroCROWD's efforts have been featured in discussions on the role of libraries and archives in supporting marginalised communities' participation in knowledge creation [9][13]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b 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. ^ 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. ^ a b "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. ^ a b Smith, Kai Alexis (September 15, 2021), "Do Black Wikipedians matter? Confronting the whiteness in Wikipedia with archives and libraries", Wikipedia and Academic Libraries, Michigan Publishing, retrieved May 23, 2025
  10. ^ a b Bridges, Laurie; Pun, Raymond; Arteaga, Roberto (2021). Wikipedia and Academic Libraries. Ann Arbor, MI: Maize Books. ISBN 978-1-60785-670-2.
  11. ^ Harrison, Stephen (June 9, 2020). "How Wikipedia Became a Battleground for Racial Justice". Slate. ISSN 1091-2339. Retrieved February 15, 2023.
  12. ^ Harrison, Stephen (December 2, 2022). "The Huge Fight Behind Those Pop-Up Fundraising Banners on Wikipedia". Slate. ISSN 1091-2339. Retrieved February 15, 2023.
  13. ^ a b Barera, Michael (October 20, 2020). "Mind the Gap: Addressing Structural Equity and Inclusion on Wikipedia". UTA Libraries Staff Publications.
  14. ^ Bridges, Laurie M.; Park, Diana; Edmunson-Morton, Tiah K. (October 28, 2019). "Writing African American History Into Wikipedia". OLA Quarterly. 25 (2): 16–21. doi:10.7710/1093-7374.1987. ISSN 1093-7374.
  15. ^ Bridges, Laurie; Park, Diana; Edmunson-Morton, Tiah (October 28, 2019). "Writing African American History Into Wikipedia". OLA Quarterly. 25 (2). doi:10.7710/1093-7374.1987. ISSN 1093-7374.

Further reading

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to AfroCROWD.
Meta has related information at: AfroCROWD User Group
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=AfroCrowd&oldid=1292255139"