Dr. Ruha Benjamin Lecture - Class of 2026

I had the privilege of attending a lecture led by Dr. Ruha Benjamin, a visionary scholar whose work explores how race, technology, and power shape our world.  Her talk centered on the question of who truly owns the future, and it pushed me to think deeply about how innovation and justice must work together.  Listening to her speak was eye-opening, as she challenged the idea that progress automatically leads to equality.

What stood out to me most was when Dr. Benjamin referenced Dr. Toni Morrison’s reflections on fascism and censorship.  She explained how these systems often begin quietly through small acts that limit imagination and silence voices before people even realize what is happening.  It is also alarming how we are experiencing this in real time, with book bans, misinformation, and growing efforts to control what knowledge is shared.  That insight reminded me of how easily freedoms can be limited when people stop paying attention.  It was powerful to connect Morrison’s words to the present and recognize how these patterns continue to appear in new form. 

Dr. Benjamin also reminded us that technology is not neutral. It reflects the intentions and biases of those who create and control it.  Hearing this made me think about how ownership of the future is not only about who has access to technology but also who gets to shape its purpose. I left the lecture inspired to be more intentional about how I engage with innovation and to think critically about how we can build a future that values justice, imagination, and inclusion.

(3 Points) 

By Logan Smith