Can An Algorithm Make A Racist Assumption?

How a flawed theory caused unexpected embarrassment

A computer search on YouTube five years ago triggered humiliation after searching for a TV video clip from Will Smith’s 90s iconic sitcom Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.

Inspired by an invitation to pin content on Pinterest boards for ELA and English language teachers, I wanted to post humor.

One idea: show the difference between formal and relaxed English speech using a hit song for comparison.

And I thought I had a great example.

You see, the prince’s proper cousin, Carlton Banks, and his Bel-Air private school glee club wanted to perform their interpretation of a hit R&B song from the late 1970s.

The song: “Brick House.” Band: The Commodores, a group that started primarily with Southern first-year college students including, lead singer Lionel Richie.

Banks and his glee club performed the first few lyrics of The Commodore’s song “Brick House.” And it was pretty bad and funny.

Suddenly, my landline phone rang as the video ended. The unexpected caller was the director of a nonprofit organization for entrepreneurs. The Irish, no-nonsense but friendly, retired businesswoman and former music teacher had called to check on my activities.

As we spoke, to my horror, I saw a YouTube pop-up that read something like, “We think you would like this.” Too far away, I could not reach the computer mute button. So, trumpets blared, and a Rick James smash hit played loud.

An explanation was in order because I still could not reach the computer.

The music blared in the background, and it seemed the foreground, with lyrics to a PTA inappropriate hit. And I tried to stammer out an explanation about searching for a Pinterest pin.

Before I could finish, the director interjected.

“You post Rick James on a group board for elementary-high school teachers, and you will have a lot of explaining to do!”

I choked back laughter.

The memory recalls a mixture of embarrassment and amusement and YouTube’s exasperating presumption.

Why was there an assumption I wanted to listen to Rick James?

Thank you for reading.

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