Dawn M. Comer - City of Los Angeles
The Digital Divide in Black Communities. Is it Real?
When Rebrand Cities set out to connect small businesses and tech opportunities across the country we connected with Dawn and the City of Los Angeles. I knew it would be a rewarding and equally eye-opening experience. I was ready for it. I expected to encounter gaps in the application of technology and resources. My journey thus far has solidified that the digital divide can and has indeed segmented our communities and the small businesses that comprise 54% of the fabric of the United States.
It has been almost 30 years since the Internet became a thing on March 12, 1989, however, this does not indicate an equal distribution of access throughout the last three decades. A look at the disparities in technology can be daunting. There is a digital gap between affluent and non-affluent communities in America due to a lack of infrastructure for high-speed internet which impacts job creation and impacts the widening wealth gap.