Digital Delights and Disturbances: Black Digital Currents with Francesca Sobande
On November 13th, John Cabot University welcomed Dr. Francesca Sobande (Cardiff University) for a talk titled “Black Digital Currents.” The event, sponsored by the Department of Communications and Media Studies and the Minor in Gender Studies, was part of the Fall 2024 Digital Delights & Disturbances (DDD) series. It explored the intersections of race, gender and technology, and how digital culture shapes and is shaped by Black life.
Dr. Sobande started by introducing Black Oot Here (Bloomsbury Academic, 2022), a collaborative project with layla-roxanne hill that consists of a book and a graphic novel. Black Oot Here explores the archives of Black people’s experiences in Scotland and Wales with a focus on Black media, art and activism, while connecting them to global histories and networks of solidarity. She underlined the value of acknowledging shared struggles and histories while embracing the unique views that emerge from specific contexts. Dr. Sobande described the role of storytelling as a process of “dreaming, remembering, holding, and realizing.”
Dr. Sobande emphasized that being “lost in translation” is a common experience for Black people in specific circumstances. An upcoming online exhibition organized by Sobande and her collaborators as part of Black Oot Here will showcase Black media and artwork in a world that frequently oversimplifies and misinterprets Black experiences. Sobande explained the spirit of the exhibition through the Welsh word “cwitch,” which refers to a warm hug and a gesture of sincere support. This approach rejects the urge to deliver flawless narratives in favor of embracing the “messiness” of life, recognizing that identity and experience are rarely uncomplicated. “Sitting with mess” was a constant topic throughout the presentation, indicating a commitment to transparency and sincerity.
The Concept of Digital Nesting
Reflecting on digital delights and disturbances, one of the key ideas Dr. Sobande explored was the concept of “digital nesting,” a Black feminist practice of carefully creating ephemeral spaces in which to settle in for some time within digital platforms that were not designed by and for Black feminists. Nesting is about more than simply establishing a safe space; it is also about opposing the oversimplification of Black life and creativity in both digital and physical environments. As a digital “home-making practice,” nesting is not tied to a particular platform, but it involves re-imagining and recreating spaces in ways that often defy market logic.
Connection and Conflict in Digital Spaces
Dr. Sobande’s discussion focused on the dual nature of digital spaces as areas of both connection and conflict. She remarked how the internet has encouraged partnerships that transcend physical borders while emphasizing obstacles as well. “Although you are faced with moments of joy and delight, being a Black person out there still involves having to think through and share common struggles and negative experiences,” she said. The talk also touched on how important authenticity and acceptance of imperfection are, both in art and life: “The worst thing we can do as writers, researchers, creatives, or artists is to portray things as much neater and tidier than they are.”
Dr. Sobande’s views on digital currents struck a chord with the audience, providing an insightful perspective on how social media influences and is influenced by Black life. She challenged listeners to reimagine digital spaces as more equitable and inclusive, while embracing the complexities of language, identity, and storytelling. As she concluded, she reminded the audience of the need for combating the ongoing oppressive power regimes that employ technology. She stated, “We must continue to work to tackle the pervasive power regimes that position oppressed people as disturbing and disturbed, whether online or offline.”
Dr. Francesca Sobande is a writer and reader in digital media studies at Cardiff University. Her work explores the intersections of race, gender, feminism, and popular culture. Her books include Big Brands Are Watching You: Marketing Social Justice and Digital Culture (University of California Press, 2024), The Anti-Racist Media Manifesto, co-authored with Anamik Saha and Gavan Titley (Polity, 2024), and The Digital Lives of Black Women in Britain (Palgrave Macmillan, 2020). Dr. Sobande is co-author/co-dreamer with layla-roxanne hill of Black Oot Here: Black Lives in Scotland (Bloomsbury, 2022), the free graphic novel and animation Black Oot Here: Dreams O Us (2023). She is also co-editor with Akwugo Emejulu of To Exist is to Resist: Black Feminism in Europe (Pluto Press, 2019).
