The Last Black Man in San Francisco Media |
My title is, of course, exaggerated. Jason Parham is not the last Black man in SF media. (He’s technically not even based in SF; I just wanted to exploit the famous movie title.) But still. For the better part of the last year, he’s … kinda sorta felt that way? Well—those are my words. Not his. For his words, you should probably read his new WIRED essay: “DEI Died This Year. Maybe It Was Supposed To.”
I’ve edited Jason, on and off, for eight years. I know this piece was one of the hardest he’s ever had to write. I hope you’re challenged by it—and amazed, and annoyed, and ashamed, and alarmed. Feel what you feel! But also, try to understand, and to empathize, and to imagine. What else, really, is a good essay for? P.S. No newsletters from me over the winter break. Talk in 2026, friends! |
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Story originally published in July 2021 |
Jason has a rare ability to dissect the layers of our cultural moment. Holding each fragment under a microscope, he traces its roots, weighs its contributions, and reveals its meaning. He demonstrated this skill in 2021 with the seminal three-part series “A People’s History of Black Twitter.” Each installment catalogs a period of the digital community’s evolution—from its early days when the platform was still in its infancy through the contentious years of the first Trump administration and the 2020 protests. Jason’s “record of Blackness” painted such a definitive history that Hulu turned it into an award-winning docuseries.
In the years since the series’ writing, Elon Musk has laid waste to Twitter and everything that made it such a fruitful space for Black community-building. Black Twitter’s legacy lives on, in cultural touchpoints will stick with us forever, on other social media platforms, and within Black spaces. What is the new iteration of Black Twitter? What might the next chapter of Black expression online look like? Send your thoughts to samantha_spengler@wired.com or comment below the story.
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Is the latest iPhone operating system aesthetically appealing? No. But is it useful? Also no. At least I have company among the disgruntled. |
If a major disaster like Fukushima or Chornobyl ever happens again, the world would know almost straight away, thanks to an array of government and DIY radiation-monitoring programs running globally. |
After controlling shareholders failed to take Grindr private and controversies over data and the banning of the phrase “No Zionists,” Grindr’s CEO opens up about AI, privacy, and big expansion plans. |
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Last week’s Big Story about a newly uncovered potential cause of Parkinson’s Disease landed with a bang. Hundreds of readers weighed in—on social media, in WIRED’s mailbox, and in the story’s comment section. The response should come as no surprise—Parkinson’s is the second most common neurological disease, and its cause remains a mystery. Dozens of people expressed gratitude after reading the feature, including those who are afflicted with the disease, who are caring for loved ones with it, or who have lost loved ones to it. Many of them had ties to US military bases, and many more had experiences with potentially dangerous chemicals. Not every magazine story can inspire such community: Check out the comments below the article to see how WIRED readers engaged with the science presented in the piece, and with each other.
Tell us about your favorite WIRED stories and magazine-related memories. Write to samantha_spengler@wired.com, and include “CLASSICS” in the subject line. |
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