Event box
Anti-Racism Reads: Algorithms of Oppression In-Person
The Libraries are excited to introduce a new format for our next installment of Anti-Racism Reads: a six session, in-person book club designed to support deeper conversation and sustained engagement. This term, we'll be reading Safiya Umoja Noble’s book, Algorithms of Oppression: How Search Engines Reinforce Racism, examining how search engines and digital platforms reinforce racism and inequality.
Meeting every other week, this extended format encourages a slower, more reflective approach to Noble’s work. Together, we’ll explore how commercial search engines shape what we “know” about race, gender and difference, and how these systems reinforce long-standing forms of oppression.
Topics include:
• Algorithmic bias
• Representations of Black women and girls online
• Corporate control over information,
• The responsibilities of libraries and educational institutions in resisting data discrimination
This small, conversation-based book club that will meet bi-weekly for six sessions:
March 5: Introduction and framing
March 19: Chapter 1 - Google, libraries, platforms
April 2: Chapter 2 - Misogynoir
April 16: Chapter 3 - Neutrality myths
April 30: Chapter 4 – 5 - Libraries, activism, policy interventions
May 14: Chapter 6 and conclusion
Participants are encouraged to attend all sessions, as discussions are designed as a cumulative learning experience that relies on ongoing engagement.
This is an in-person event with limited capacity; please register to reserve your seat for the full series. If you have accommodation requests or are unexpectedly unable to attend a session, reach out to libevents@uwaterloo.ca.
- Dates & Times:
- 12:00pm - 1:00pm, Thursday, March 5, 2026
12:00pm - 1:00pm, Thursday, March 19, 2026
12:00pm - 1:00pm, Thursday, April 2, 2026
12:00pm - 1:00pm, Thursday, April 16, 2026
12:00pm - 1:00pm, Thursday, April 30, 2026
12:00pm - 1:00pm, Thursday, May 14, 2026
- Time Zone:
- Eastern Time - US & Canada (change)
- Location:
- Dana Porter Library - Third Floor Reading Room (338)
- Campus:
- University of Waterloo - Main Campus
- Audience:
- Faculty / Instructors Graduate Students Undergraduate Students Waterloo staff
- Categories:
- Discussion
Facilitators
Jermal Jones (MEd) is the associate director, EDIA, at the University of Waterloo Libraries and co-founder of Next Gen Men (NGM), a team of staff and volunteers empowering boys (and men) to change the way they see, think and act about masculinity. He is also a third-year PhD student in the Recreation and Leisure Aging, Health and Wellbeing program, where he studies the intersections between race (Black), ethnicity, gender (men) and ag(e)ing from an interdisciplinary lens. Jermal will also be teaching PACS 314: Restorative Justice and Transformative Education this spring at Conrad Grebel University College.
Event Support
Graham Yeates is an administrative assistant at the University of Waterloo Libraries. He helps coordinate event registration. If you have questions about this event, please contact him at libevents@uwaterloo.ca.
Facilitator(s)
Facilitator
Associate Director - Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Access
Event Coordinator
Administrative Assistant