Read with me: Prince Harry, star names, and Isabel Wilkerson’s new book
Read with Me is my weekly selection of articles and more from across the internet— an assortment of current events, commentary, contemplations and more.
From Isabel Wilkerson: Racism is a manifestation of something deeper — a caste system
Isabel Wilkerson’s World-Historical Theory of Race and Caste via The New Yorker: By comparing white supremacy in the U.S. to the caste system in India, her new book at once illuminates and collapses a complex history.
Prince Harry calls up corporate leaders: We need a more just, compassionate digital world
“Prince Harry: Social media is dividing us. Together, we can redesign it”via Fast Company: “We all need a better online experience. We’ve spoken with leaders across the racial justice movement, experts in humane tech, and advocates of mental health. And the collective opinion is abundantly clear: We do not have the luxury of time. We need meaningful digital reform, and while the role of policymakers and regulators is important, we can’t just wait for them to take the next steps. This is a moment for companies around the world—companies with business and advertising models directly tied to digital platforms—to consider how they can bring about reform to ensure the betterment of all.”
From Ed Yong: The pandemic took America down
How the Pandemic Defeated America via The Atlantic: “A virus a thousand times smaller than a dust mote has humbled and humiliated the planet’s most powerful nation. America has failed to protect its people, leaving them with illness and financial ruin. It has lost its status as a global leader. It has careened between inaction and ineptitude.”
Who gets to name stars?
The Fault in our Star Names via Pacific Standard: “The International Astronomical Union has established a committee to finalize a list of official star names. Some companies offer unofficial naming rights for purchase. But the voices of certain communities are often left behind.”
The struggle with paywalls
The Truth is Paywalled but the Lies are Free via Current Affairs: “We are a long way from the world in which all knowledge is equally accessible. Hopefully someday our patchwork of intentionally-inefficient libraries will turn into a free storehouse of humanity’s recorded knowledge and creativity. In the meantime, however, we need to focus on getting good and thoughtful material in as many hands as possible and breaking down the barriers we can.”
THOUGHT OF THE WEEK
“We have an opportunity to do better and remake the digital world, to look at the past and use it to inform the future. We must take a critical eye to the last two decades, where advancements in technology and media have outgrown many of the antiquated guardrails that once ensured they were being designed and used appropriately. It shouldn’t be seen as a coincidence that the rise of social media has been matched by a rise in division amongst us globally.“
—Prince Harry, this week in Fast Company