The Push for Emojis For Black Women's Styles and the Larger Implications For #Technology
Dan S?dergren
Inspirational professional keynote speaker / trainer and author about the #FutureOfWork, #Technology and #AI Hire Dan as an inspirational #keynotespeaker / corporate trainer or as your private workshop provider.
It was lovely to be asked on the BBC Breakfast and then Radio 5 Live this morning and get beamed into the nation's homes whilst they eat their cornflakes and toast. To talk about a topic, which on the surface of it might not feel important. That of black hair style representation in emojis.
Why is this actually very important indeed???
In today's digital age, emojis have become a universal language, breaking down communication barriers across cultures and geographies. But as we increasingly rely on these tiny symbols to express ourselves, it's clear there's still work to be done on inclusivity.?
The recent push for the inclusion of Black women's hairstyles in emoji libraries reflects a growing demand for representation and visibility in the digital world. This movement isn't just about adding new icons — it's about recognizing and celebrating cultural identity on a global scale.
The Bigger Picture: Tech and Funding Disparities
Just as there are 4000 emojis and non for black women hairstyles so the black female presentation in technology (especially around funding) is appalling. Black founders continue to be underrepresented in venture capital (VC) funding, despite making up 13.6% of the U.S. population. In 2023, Black-founded female startups received just 0.3% of VC funding, a gap that is even more pronounced in the UK, where the figure is around 0.24%.?
The conversation around emoji inclusivity shines a light on broader systemic issues, especially in the tech sector. The struggle to see oneself represented in something as universal as an emoji mirrors the challenges faced by Black entrepreneurs seeking to carve out a space in the tech industry.
"An emoji will help us to feel seen."
The BBC has spotlighted efforts by Rise.365, a community group actively working on designing new emojis to address this gap. These symbols are particularly crucial for younger Black individuals, for whom an emoji can validate their identity and serve as a powerful tool for self-expression. "Afro hair emojis will help them feel seen," said a young advocate from London, summarising the emotional and cultural significance behind this movement.?
But let’s not kid ourselves - we ALL use emojis. With about 92% of the world using them. You could argue that they are actually the world’s MOST used language as I joked on BBC Radio 5 live in my interview with them afterwards.. But joking aside this issue speaks of a deeperissue…?
The Need for Representation
Currently, the Unicode Consortium, which manages the standardization of emojis, has approved close to 4,000 emojis. Despite this extensive collection, there's still a noticeable gap when it comes to representing Afro hairstyles, often worn by Black individuals.?
For a system that includes mythical creatures like mermaids and even vampires (as noted by the presenter Ben on the BBC sofa) this absence highlights a missed opportunity for inclusivity. And so Rise.365, a community group in London is designing some new emojis for black hair. However, this is not the first time this has happened Rhianna Jones, tried in? 2019 with a proposal backed by over 65,000 signatures. And still nothing happened…?
Remember that in 2020 the ninja emoji was introduced - are you telling me that there are more ninjas than black women in the world? With more than 600 million black women in the world - I very much doubt that… Black women are around 7% of the USA demographic and a billion dollar market in hair products alone.
It’s seems truly odd that the tech companies haven’t noticed this. But that’s my point in my interviews today. “Just because it’s not important to you, doesn’t mean it’s not important.” It’s just not to you. And if 99% of the coders and makers of mobile technology and platforms are white and male - we can see why this has taken so long… But why hasn’t this already happened sooner??
Jennifer Daniel, the first woman to lead the Unicode Consortium, the shadowy cabal that decides the emojis for the world, a non for profit based (of course) in America. She understands the importance of creating a more inclusive digital ecosystem. She notes,?
"It takes two years to make an emoji from start to finish. And within those two years, so many decisions are made."?
Her leadership is vital in ensuring that digital symbols reflect the diversity of the communities they serve.But isn’t it interesting that it took until 2021 for the Unicode Consortium to have a female lead. Some 2 years after Rihanna James and her pedition.?
Why Emojis Matter
Emojis go beyond being digital stickers — they're cultural artifacts that help shape how we communicate. A survey found that 61% of respondents had experienced discrimination or bullying due to their hair type or style, and 74% felt there was no emoji that accurately represented their hairstyle. This lack of representation can lead to feelings of exclusion and invisibility.
While the Unicode Consortium's quarterly meetings, involving major players like Adobe, Apple, and Google, determine which new characters are added, the process can be slow. Yet, it's essential to continue pushing for inclusive representation, because every small step matters.?
Technology needs to change. To represent. We cannot allow those making the decisions to leave people out - as they are minorities - but let’s be honest at 500 million and at least 7% of the USA market - black women are a heck of a minority to not give a voice to.?
Giving people the right emoji for them seems to be the very least #tech can do.
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About The Author Dan Sodergren.
Keynote speaker, professional speaker, Ted X talker, serial tech startup founder, ex marketing agency owner, digital trainer, and now author and media spokesperson Dan Sodergren’s main area of interest is the future of work, technology, data and AI
In his spare time, as well as being a dad, which comes first, Dan is a digital marketing and technology (and now AI) expert for TV shows and the BBC and countless radio shows. Occasionally donning the cape of consumer champion on shows like BBC WatchDog, the One Show and RipOffBritain and being a marketing tech specialist for SuperShoppers and RealFakeAndUnknown and BBC Breakfast.
He is also a host and guest on podcasts and webinars speaking as a tech futurist. And a remote reporter / content creator for tech companies at tech events and shows. His main interest is in the future. Be that the future of marketing, or the future or work or how AI and? technology will change the world for the better as part of the #FifthIndustrialRevolution
Find out more about him over on bit.ly/DanSodergren with all his links
And his books on Dan Sodergren #FutureOfWork on Gumroad.com
And his AI marketing course on The AI Marketing Course
And his non for profit: The AI Teacher Course
And his new idea on AI Leadership Training
Should have Played Quidditch for England
1 个月Such an important issue Dan S?dergren thanks for raising and sharing with my network … great to see you on TV this morning