Event Spotlight | Black Boys and the Future of Technology
Cross-posted on the DSI website
by Lauren Brace
John Pasmore, Jonathan Cropper, and Kareem Edouard, in conversation with Rayvon Fouché, discuss the importance of mentoring young Black boys and increasing media representation to create a more equal technological future.
Image: Kiki Chen
As we look to the future of technology, John Pasmore says that the Black community “cannot drop the ball” with Artificial Intelligence, specifically Language Learning Models. AI has integrated itself into our daily lives, and although it’s a machine, it’s not a machine without bias. Creating an alternative to ChatGPT, Pasmore founded Latimer.AI, an inclusive language model named after Lewis Latimer, an inventor whose work was crucial for the development of the lightbulb, the telephone, air conditioners, and more.
To discuss how to get young Black entrepreneurs excited about technology, the Northwestern University Humanity and Technoscience (HAT) Lab, in collaboration with The DISCO Network, organized the event: “Black Boys and the Future of Technology” on January 29, 2026, as the fifth installment of their programming series titled “Voices in Protest (VIP).” The event featured panelists John Pasmore, Jonathan Cropper, and Kareem Edouard in conversation with Rayvon Fouché.* I had the pleasure of attending both the panel and a student lunch with the panelists, which took place before the event.
With YouTube tutorials and a wealth of knowledge at our fingertips, learning new skills such as coding is more accessible than ever, but that access across communities still isn’t equal. Being well-versed in new technologies is not just an asset but an expectation. Representation in new tech is necessary to expand viewpoints beyond a White, Westernized perspective. This requires creating equal access to STEM spaces for marginalized groups. But how do we achieve this? The panelists explained that we must create spaces of networking and mentorship for the Black community.
Edouard’s lab, The Informal Learning Linking Engineering Science and Technology (ILLEST) Lab at Drexel University, brings in young minds K-16 from marginalized communities. The lab focuses on empowerment and anti-bias practices to inspire students within a safe learning environment. At the lab, students gain hands-on experience in science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) competencies, bringing their acquired knowledge back to their own communities.
Another program designed to provide young innovators with hands-on experiences is The Lewis Latimer Fellowship Program, co-founded by Cropper to “provide special access and mentorship to an exceptional small group of visionary innovators.” The fellowship is built around the pillars of community, curriculum, content, and capital, and it provides the resources and opportunities for participants to hone their skills and craft.
Black representation in the media, too, is crucial to bring more Black boys into the STEM fold. For Cropper, his goal has always been to “create Black superheroes.” We need more books and films like Black Panther (2018) that represent Black identity. Cropper pointed out that imagination comes before innovation, and great storytellers are vital to demonstrate the inclusive spaces we want to create.
Eduard is a co-creative producer on the new PBS Kids show Work It Out Wombats!, which features the first Haitian family on kids’ TV. The show integrates many elements of Haitian culture, such as Haitian Creole, Kompa dance lessons, and a “Tap Tap” food truck. When young Black boys can see themselves in the media, it completely changes the narrative for what’s possible.
These practitioners and scholars were brought together by Fouché to have a robust conversation around the intersection of race and STEM careers. The panelists come from different generations and regions of the country, bringing “different perspectives on what we need to as we think about the evolution of technology and how it influences black lives.” This event is a continuation of HAT Lab’s mission, researching the ways past, present, and future societies shape and are influenced by our world’s technoscience.
By using inclusive ChatGPT alternatives, mentoring young Black students, and increasing representation in the media, we can make sure that the Black community doesn’t get left behind in an increasingly technology-dependent world. Honing in on the science fiction metaphors, Cropper encourages us to all “become obsessed with our craft and surround ourselves with fellow jedis,” giving back to our communities and inspiring the next generation.
*John Pasmore is the Founder and CEO of Latimer.AI.
Jonathan Cropper is the Co-founder of the Lewis Latimer Fellowship Program and the Founder of Futurlogic Advanced Concepts.
Kareem Edouard is an Assistant Professor of Learning Technologies at the School of Education, Drexel University.
Rayvon Fouché is a professor of Journalism and Communication Studies and director of the HAT Lab at Northwestern University, which is housed within the DISCO Network.
