Web3 & The Pursuit of the American Dream

Explicit content warning

11/15/23 • 39 min

Moral Repair: A Black Exploration of Tech

How has the American Dream transformed in the wake of the Great Recession? Annanda & Keisha examine the impact of the Great Recession on the American Dream focusing on the rise of Bitcoin and blockchain. Through the lens of bell hooks’ philosophical perspectives, they explore the deeper moral stakes. Featuring a captivating conversation with Adorable Earthangel, a web3 entrepreneur and spiritual technologist, who offers unique insights on how to navigate this new landscape.

Work with our Guest Adorable Earthangel!
bell hooks defines white supremacist capitalist patriarchy
bell hooks shows the difference perspective makes in Black Looks: Race and Representation (1992).
Some background on the history of the New Deal and the 2008 crash:
How the New Deal Left Out African-Americans (Smithsonian)
Codeswitch explains the history of housing discrimination and redlining
Economics Professor Richard Wolff (The New School) explains the 2008 subprime mortgage problem
Investopedia breaks down on the AIG Bailout
**In January 2021, the New York Times reported the Biden administration’s intent to include an image of Harriet Tubman in a redesigned $20 bill.
Sam Bankman-Fried, co-founder of FTX and Alameda Research, was found guilty of fraud and conspiracy after his crypto firm collapsed. He faces a lengthy prison sentence. Reuters reports (Nov 2023)
The Income Gap, the US Department of Treasury marks Racial Inequality in the United States
Why the Great Recession Made Inequality Worse by Ken-Hou Lin and Megan Tobias Neely

Explore more on the 53% loss of African-American Wealth During the Great Recession “The Color of Money” by Mehrsa Baradaran

Work with our Guest Adorable Earthangel!
bell hooks defines white supremacist capitalist patriarchy
bell hooks shows the difference perspective makes in Black Looks: Race and Representation (1992).
Some background on the history of the New Deal and the 2008 crash:
How the New Deal Left Out African-Americans (Smithsonian)
Codeswitch explains the history of housing discrimination and redlining
Economics Professor Richard Wolff (The New School) explains the 2008 subprime mortgage problem
Investopedia breaks down on the AIG Bailout
**In January 2021, the New York Times reported the Biden administration’s intent to include an image of Harriet Tubman in a redesigned $20 bill.
Sam Bankman-Fried, co-founder of FTX and Alameda Research, was found guilty of fraud and conspiracy after his crypto firm collapsed. He faces a lengthy prison sentence. Reuters reports (Nov 2023)
The Income Gap, the US Department of Treasury marks Racial Inequality in the United States
Why the Great Recession Made Inequality Worse by Ken-Hou Lin and Megan Tobias Neely

Explore more on the 53% loss of African-American Wealth During the Great Recession “The Color of Money” by Mehrsa Baradaran

Previous Episode

Machine Learning: What’s Good?

Is it possible to control AI? If so, how can we make it more ethical? Damien Williams, PhD, a philosopher of science, technology, and society, has some ideas. Annanda and Keisha chat Marvel movies, Ultron’s bad manners, and what lessons machine learning could take from the world of plant medicine and harm reduction.

SHOW NOTES

NEW: Come talk to us on social media! We’re at @moralrepairpodcast on Instagram and @MoralRepair on X (Twitter). You can also reach us by email: moralrepairpodcast at gmail dot com
The Verge surveys Americans on who’s using AI tools and what worries them (June 2023)
A 2020 note in the Federal Register on how US border-crossing tech expanded and evolved: first for so-called “aliens” (non-citizens) and then to other categories of immigrant or citizen
In 2010, Peggy McIntosh shared some notes on her classic “Invisible Knapsack” article (National Seed Project on Inclusive Curriculum)
Ethicist Shannon Vallor speaks and writes on the AI Mirror https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40UbpSoYN4k); her book with Oxford UP comes out May 2024.
The Associated Press reports on concerns about generative AI producing disinfo during the 2024 election cycle (August 2023)
Harry Frankfurt’s On Bullshit (2004)
A philosophy anthology where listeners can find the Aristotle essay Keisha and Damien mentioned and many other reflections on science, tech, and human values from the fields of technical communication and science, technology and society: Philosophy of Technology: The Technological Condition: An Anthology (2nd edition)
Annanda’s closing nod to Black poet, professor, and theorist Audre Lorde references a conference address Lorde later published in the collection, Sister Outsider: Essays and Speeches (Penguin, 1984/2020)