The Digital Determinants podcast delves into the complex systemic reasons behind the presence of digital inequity and the challenges surrounding digital adoption within communities comprising generations from the Great Migration.
Stories to Systems: Lessons, Reckonings, and the Road Ahead (Ep. 10)
In this season finale, host Kyla Williams Tate brings the Digital Determinants journey full circle — from her grandmother Clara’s Great Migration story to the modern fight for digital justice.Kyla connects personal history with hard data, drawing on the Opportunity Atlas, the Social Determinants of Economic Mobility Framework, and the Digital Capital Framework to ask: Did the Great Migration truly lead to greater opportunity, or did the same inequities simply move north?She revisits all nine recommendations from the series — from storytelling as a bridge to libraries as digital navigators — and unveils a tenth: the call for a National Digital Equity Accountability Framework that makes progress measurable and shared.
2 Oct 2025
Designing for Us: Digital Tools and the Absence of Black Voices (Episode 9)
What do the Great Migration and today’s digital divide have in common? More than we often realize. In this episode of The Digital Determinants, host Kyla Williams Tate follows the journey of millions of Black families who left the Jim Crow South in search of opportunity, only to find housing, labor, and education systems that were never built for them. A century later, digital platforms are repeating the same mistakes: tele-health that assumes flawless broadband, job portals that filter out qualified candidates, and facial recognition tools that misidentify Black faces at alarming rates. This episode unpacks: 1. How design decisions — past and present — determine who is included and who is excluded. 2. Why trust is essential for building systems that communities will actually use. 3. A newish idea for making technology more inclusive and accountable.
2 Aug 2025
Workarounds & Wounds: Surviving the Great Migration and the Digital Divide (Ep 8)
This episode, Workarounds and Wounds: Surviving the Great Migration and the Digital Divide, dives into the dual legacy of brilliance and brokenness within Black communities navigating systems not built for them. From rent parties in Bronzeville to porch networks in Cleveland and the hustles of Leimert Park, we trace how creative survival strategies during the Great Migration echo in today’s digital workarounds and why the wounds of exclusion still linger.What to expect in this episode:- Stories of resilience from the Great Migration: rent parties, side hustles, and informal economies- How trusted networks then mirror digital survival tactics today- The modern digital hustle from Instagram storefronts to shared WiFi- The hidden cost of digital inequity: mistrust, trauma, and who gets left behind- A call to reimagine systems that center dignity, trust, and community care
13 Jul 2025
Forgotten Networks: Libraries, Great Migration, & Digital Divide (Digital Determinants Podcast Ep 7)
Episode 7 of Digital Determinants is here!In this powerful installment, we explore the hidden history of libraries as both sanctuaries and battlegrounds during the Great Migration and how they continue to shape the fight for digital equity today.From Chicago to Cleveland, Detroit to Los Angeles, Black communities have long relied on libraries for education, connection, and empowerment. But the journey was not always welcoming. This episode uncovers how libraries reflected the racial inequities of their time and how Black librarians and community advocates redefined these spaces as centers of hope and access.What to expect in this episode:-A revealing look at how libraries served Black communities during the Great Migration-Stories of resilience, resistance, and innovation from Black librarians and patrons-The modern role libraries play in bridging the digital divide through technology access, digital literacy, and cultural preservation-The urgent challenges libraries face today and how communities can take action
25 Mar 2025
Superdeterminant of Health (Digital Determinants Podcast Ep 6)
Episode 6 of Digital Determinants is here!Dive into an insightful conversation that connects the past to the present as we explore how digital literacy has become a superdeterminant of health—and why it’s critical for achieving health equity today.This week, we’re unpacking the enduring legacy of the Great Migration, during which over six million Black Americans moved to cities like Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland, and Los Angeles. But while they sought opportunity, systemic racism and segregation created barriers to healthcare, housing, and wealth that still impact health outcomes for their descendants today.What to expect in this episode:1. An exploration of digital inclusion, access, and connectivity as vital superdeterminants of health.2. A closer look at the historical inequities in healthcare access for Black communities in major cities.3. How the Great Migration’s structural challenges laid the groundwork for current disparities in health and technology access.4. The role of today's digital opportunities in closing health equity gaps.This episode dives deep into the intersection of history, health, and digital innovation—and asks the big question: Can digital inclusion truly transform health outcomes in marginalized communities?
7 Dec 2024
From Migration to Digital Equity: Bridging History & Politics (Ep 5)
Dive into this thought-provoking episode of Digital Determinants with host Kyla Williams Tate! Together, we explore the powerful connections between the Great Migration, the fight for digital equity, and the 2024 presidential election. Join us as we examine:
How the Great Migration influenced Black political and cultural power.
The modern struggle for digital equity and its ties to voting rights.
The role of technology in amplifying or suppressing communities ahead of the 2024 election.
Don’t miss the actionable takeaways on how YOU can support the fight for digital equity and strengthen democracy.
💡 Love conversations about equity, democracy, and change? Hit subscribe, share this episode.
To discover who your electives are in your community, check out these websites:
https://voterresourcecenter.com
https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials/
5 Oct 2024
Signs of the Times (Part 1)-Digital Determinants Podcast (Ep 4)
The Great Migration is often split into two waves, the first occurring between 1916 and 1940. This episode is part of a three-part series in which host Kyla Williams Tate shares stories about other political and social happenings from 1916 through 1930. Who were the Presidents of the United States during that time period? Who were the mayors of the City of Chicago? Who already lived in Chicago, and who were the other new migrant populations? This episode covers it. The video, "1919 Chicago Race Riots" from the Decades TV Network is included in this episode.
New episodes of Digital Determinants will be released monthly. The Benton Institute for Broadband and Society partially supports the Digital Determinants Podcast.
16 Jul 2024
Was Chicago Canaan?: Digital Determinants (Ep 3)
In this episode, host Kyla Williams Tate shares stories about Black Churches in Chicago and their role in the Great Migration. This episode references Olivet Baptist Church, the National Baptist Convention, and Black Churches for Digital Equity (BC4DE). Special thanks to it_is_me_dominique on IG for the story on Rev. Lacey K. Williams. New episodes of Digital Determinants will be released monthly on the 15th of the month. The Benton Institute for Broadband and Society partially supports the Digital Determinants Podcast.
19 Jun 2024
Trusted Voices: Digital Determinants Podcast (Ep 2)
Happy Juneteenth! In this episode, host Kyla Williams Tate shares some insights about how Black Southerners traveled to recipient cities like Chicago, the strategic campaign from the Chicago Defender Newspaper, the employment experience for new Black residents in Chicago, a safe place and think tank in the Wabash Avenue YMCA, the Internet Equity Initiative Map, and the Cook County Digital Equity Map. A new episode of Digital Determinants will typically be available on the 1st and 15th of each month. The Benton Institute for Broadband and Society partially supports the Digital Determinants Podcast.
2 Jun 2024
The Beginning:Digital Determinants Podcast (Ep 1)
In this episode, host Kyla Williams Tate introduces the inspiration behind the Digital Determinants Podcast, which includes a story about her Grandmother, an introduction to the Great Migration (special thanks to Clint Smith and Crash Course), and the Benton Opportunity Fund Fellowship. A new episode of Digital Determinants will be available on the 1st and 15th of each month. The Benton Institute for Broadband and Society partially supports the Digital Determinants Podcast.
15 Mar 2024
Welcome to the Digital Determinants Podcast!
The Digital Determinants podcast delves into the complex systemic reasons behind the presence of digital inequity and the challenges surrounding digital adoption within communities comprising generations from the Great Migration. This podcast will explore the impact of trust on digital participation, the implications of digital discrimination, and the unique challenges faced by descendants of the Great Migration in embracing digital technologies. Join us as we unravel the historical, social, and technological factors contributing to this phenomenon and explore potential solutions to bridge the digital divide and promote inclusive digital adoption.
In each episode, our expert hosts and esteemed guests shed light on the impact of historical migration patterns on digital access, the role of generational perspectives in shaping digital behavior, and the influence of community dynamics on digital inclusion. By uncovering the determinants of digital equity and adoption, we aim to empower listeners with actionable insights and strategies to address these critical issues.
Tune in to Digital Determinants and embark on a thought-provoking journey to understand and confront the digital disparities rooted in historical migrations. Let's work together to create a more digitally equitable future for all generations and communities.
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Podcast Authority Score: 26 / 100
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