Unmasking AI: My Mission to Protect What Is Human in a World of Machines

by Joy Buolamwini

In addition to applying binary gender labels, I also hand-labeled each face with what I considered to be the appropriate Fitzpatrick skin type on a six-point scale. Because there was already a precedent for applying race and ethnic labels, I felt if I used the familiar labels, I would be grappling with widely discussed topics about racial and ethnic discrimination. Instead, I was applying skin type labels from the Fitzpatrick scale, and I hesitated, because from personal experience I knew how skin color was often used for discrimination. While many talk about racism (discrimination and prejudice based on perceived race), few talk about colorism (discrimination and prejudice based on actual skin color), which can happen within a delineated racial group. Proximity to whiteness or lighter-colored skin comes with privileges even within a subordinated racial group. As I was growing up fascinated by Hollywood, the Black actresses, in particular, who got desirable roles for the most part would be considered light-skinned. Social clubs and sororities established by elite Black organizations in the United States even used the brown paper bag test as a form of social exclusion. Being too black, darker than the brown paper bag, meant rejection based on skin color.[1] Spending time with immigrant Indian friends, I learned of other forms of colorism around the world, which, as in the United States, influenced who was perceived as a suitable marriage partner, employee, or leader. For pe...