CHAPTER 6
DO BLACK WIKIPEDIANS MATTER? CONFRONTING THE WHITENESS IN WIKIPEDIA WITH ARCHIVES AND LIBRARIES
Kai Alexis Smith1
1 Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Abstract
Wikipedia is in the top ten of the most visited websites in most places in the world and makes up the backbone of the Internet’s information ecosystem. Despite the global presence of the website and its sister projects, the knowledges of the African diaspora, in particular the Caribbean, are poorly represented. This chapter introduces and outlines Black-led projects, campaigns, and initiatives both within and outside of the formal networks of the Wikipedia communities and the Wikimedia Foundation. The history and value of Black encyclopedic sources are explored and frame the important work by projects like Black Lunch Table, WikiNdaba, Ennegreciendo Wikipedia, and AfroCROWD, which were started to help these editors and bridge content gaps.
In June 2020, the Wikimedia Foundation released a statement in support of Black Lives highlighting the support they provide to U.S.-based projects. This was followed with criticism from the community on missed opportunities
