Death to “Black Tech”: Why Labels Hold African-Americans Back

Before I’m crucified, I’d like to open this article with a quote by the GOAT MC, Jay-Z. In his 4:44 album, he reminds us: “They used to not let us ball, those times are now back, it’s called Black Tech.” This powerful line sums up the current tension around African-American innovation. For years, contributions from African-Americans in tech have been undervalued or overlooked, only for others to capitalize on them later. Now, with the rise of “Black tech,” it’s time to reclaim that space and recognize the brilliance that has always existed.

Hip-Hop: Profits for Everyone But African-Americans

Take hip-hop. The culture that was once seen as a passing trend from the streets has become a billion-dollar industry. But who’s benefiting? Record labels and executives, often far removed from the culture, are taking the biggest cuts while African-American creators get sidelined. The same goes for fashion—streetwear, which started in African-American and inner-city communities, was ignored until mainstream brands saw dollar signs.

Tech: A New Battle for Recognition

The same story is happening in the tech world. African-Americans have been innovating in this space for decades, but the term “Black tech” often makes it seem like a niche. That’s wild when you consider the contributions African-American pioneers have made. Companies like AfroTech have tried to reclaim this space by creating platforms specifically for Black tech innovators, but the term still limits its mainstream value.

However, it’s essential to recognize that “Black tech” isn’t a true rival to the big players in tech. There are no Black-owned companies on the scale of Google, Apple, or Amazon. Companies like Fanbase are trying to garner energy around the Black community, but the reality is that most African-Americans don’t recognize or fully support “Black tech.” Instead, they primarily cater to major platforms owned by non-Black counterparts like Mark Zuckerberg’s Facebook and Elon Musk’s X (formerly Twitter).

Mark Dean? He co-invented the color PC monitor and developed the first gigahertz microprocessor. Yeah, that’s kind of a big deal. Dr. Shirley Jackson? Her research gave us the touch-tone phone and fiber-optic cables. Without her, your phone calls and internet would be a mess.

Ever heard of Granville T. Woods, the “Black Edison”? He invented the multiplex telegraph that helped trains communicate wirelessly—a game-changer. And don’t forget Marian Croak, who basically made Zoom calls possible with her work in VoIP. Finally, Lisa Gelobter helped create the GIF format—if you’ve sent a meme, you owe her thanks.

Why Does This Happen?

The system. Historically, African-American creators have been undervalued and overlooked, even when their innovations changed industries. It’s not that the tech they developed wasn’t amazing—it’s that no one saw it as relevant until someone else outside the African-American community found a way to profit from it.

Even today, adding “Black” to anything often makes it seem niche or lesser, while other groups swoop in and cash in on the same ideas once the value is obvious. Jay-Z touched on this in his 4:44 album, where he talked about “letting African-Americans ball” now that Black tech has arrived. The truth is, African-American tech has always been here, but it’s only now getting the shine it deserves.

Conclusion: Time to Kill the Label

The point is, we need to stop letting labels like “Black tech” put African-Americans in a box. Adding “Black” doesn’t make it less valuable—it actually shows just how much value African-Americans have been contributing all along. It’s time to reclaim African-American innovation and get the recognition (and dollars) deserved before anyone else gets the chance. Check out this video from the Breakfast Club Interview with

Issac Hayes III and go join FanBase!!