Why Race and Place Matter: Examining the Intersection of Cybersecurity and Digital Equity.
The COVID-19 pandemic exposed various cybersecurity threats as more people relied on multiple digital communication modes to function socially and financially. In the 2021 National League of Cities report, responding to the economic impact of the pandemic, the U.S. Congress appropriated federal reso...
| Published in: | Journal of Black Studies Vol. 57; no. 1; pp. 28 - 51 |
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| Main Authors: | , , , |
| Format: | Article |
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Sage Publications Inc.
Jan2026
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | View this record in EBSCOhost |
| fields | @attributes: recordID: 1 pdfLink: plink: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ssf&AN=190221846&site=ehost-live header: @attributes: shortDbName: ssf uiTerm: 190221846 longDbName: Social Sciences Full Text (H.W. Wilson) uiTag: AN controlInfo: bkinfo: jinfo: jid: 00219347 BLT jtl: Journal of Black Studies issn: 00219347 maglogo: Y pubinfo: dt: Jan2026 vid: 57 iid: 1 pid: 344 pub: Sage Publications Inc. artinfo: ui: 190221846 10.1177/00219347251358957 ppf: 28 ppct: 23 formats: tig: atl: Why Race and Place Matter: Examining the Intersection of Cybersecurity and Digital Equity. aug: au: Layne, Asha Liu, Larry Akanaga, Chukwunomso Comert, Gurcan affil: Morgan State University, Baltimore, MD, USA Benedict College, Columbia, South Carolina, USA su: Digital inclusion People of color COVID-19 pandemic Socioeconomic factors Digital literacy Internet access Internet security sug: subj: Digital inclusion People of color COVID-19 pandemic Socioeconomic factors Digital literacy Internet access Internet Publishing and Broadcasting and Web Search Portals Wired Telecommunications Carriers Internet security keyword: cybersecurity digital equity intersectionality underserved communities cybersecurity digital equity intersectionality underserved communities ab: The COVID-19 pandemic exposed various cybersecurity threats as more people relied on multiple digital communication modes to function socially and financially. In the 2021 National League of Cities report, responding to the economic impact of the pandemic, the U.S. Congress appropriated federal resources to ensure broadband connectivity through legislation. Despite these efforts, accessing reliable broadband in communities of color remained a persistent challenge, preventing underserved populations like the elderly and low-income adults from fully participating in society. This study explores the need for digital inclusion in communities of color by discussing the intersection of cybersecurity and digital equity in a predominantly Black city in the Mid-Atlantic region. The findings of this study underscore the pivotal role that employment provides in cybersecurity knowledge and practices while highlighting digital disparities due to infrastructural shortcomings, thus supporting that race, geography, and socioeconomic status are three critical barriers to achieving digital equity. Moreover, the findings of this study highlight skills and knowledge barriers in cybersecurity and digital literacy. Despite its many benefits, this study draws attention to the exclusionary side of technology in urban communities by emphasizing the need for better local and state efforts to address cybersecurity threats and digital infrastructural inequities. Plain Language Summary: Despite the COVID-19 pandemic revealing various forms of digital inequities and infrastructural needs in underserved communities, there is little information about how these communities are faring today. This study examines the complexity of the digital divide and digital insecurity by comprehensively taking into account socioeconomic factors, digital behaviors, and digital knowledge in improving information and communication technologies in underserved communities after the pandemic. The findings support the need for increased digital literacy among various age groups, while highlighting the importance of employment in enhancing digital literacy and cybersecurity knowledge. pubtype: Academic Journal doctype: Article src: R language: English refInfo: copyright: @attributes: flag: N holdings: @attributes: islocal: N |
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