Our 5 favorite iPhone and Android apps from black developers
As we wrap up the celebration of Black History Month 2023, it’s still important to recognize and appreciate the contributions made by black people in a variety of fields, including technology and the smartphone apps we use every day. From social media platforms to productivity tools, black developers and other people of color have worked hard to create apps that are innovative, useful, and just plain fun.
Here we focus on five useful apps developed by black people that you should check out. These iPhone and Android apps range from apps that help discover and support black-owned businesses, to emergency legal help, to apps that curate and highlight news and entertainment sources from black creators.
We read too
We Read Too is an app that features books written by authors of color. The app was created by developer Kaya Thomas in response to the lack of diversity in children’s and young adult literature she experienced as a teenager. The app debuted in 2014 with the goal of making it easier for young people to find books that reflect their experiences and identities.
“I went to the library, the bookstore, and the book fair at school, and I saw a very specific set of books,” Thomas said in an interview with Apple. “When I got to high school, I started getting really frustrated and wondering why there weren’t any books I was exposed to that had black characters or were by black authors. I started doing my own research and realized that these books do exist—they just aren’t on the bestseller lists or in the library or the bookstore.”
When you download We Read Too, you’ll find that it includes a wide range of books by genre and category, from picture books to young adult novels. The app’s interface allows users to search for books by author, title, or category, and includes a description and review for each book. Built-in support for black-owned bookstores is also available, so users can find stores where they can buy the book they want.
Download We also read (iPhone)
Legal Equalizer
Legal Equalizer is an app created by Mbye Njie to try to combat racial discrimination in law enforcement. The app is designed to allow users to assert their rights during police encounters. Njie developed it in 2014 after police pulled him over for the third time in a month, mistaking him for another man who had a warrant out for his arrest.
Following this experience, he developed the app and an eponymous company. The app gives users access to vital information and tools to document interactions with law enforcement, including audio and video recording, distress messages to designated contacts, and access to legal resources. The application can also provide users with access to a lawyer through a video conference function. Legal Equalizer can also help you meet with immigration officers.
Download Legal Equalizer (iPhone)
Download Legal Equalizer (Android)
ReDawn
ReDawn is a slightly more sober concept compared to most on this list. It was developed by Sopha Ongele, a student at Fordham University at the time, and aims to heal sexual assault and sexual assault victims. It does this through a digital assistant called Dawn, which can answer support or reporting questions without judgement. Dawn can also direct people to hotlines for immediate help, including crisis centers and 911, if needed.
ReDawn includes a map feature for quick access to neighborhood health and crisis centers, and a reporting feature that lets you log events for simultaneous confirmation if you want to follow up with the police.
Download ReDawn (iPhone)
EatOkra
Tired of McDonald’s and Popeye’s? There’s an app for that too, and it’s not Grubhub. EatOkra is a popular cross-platform app that helps people find black-owned restaurants and food delivery businesses in their local area. It was created by a Brooklyn couple, Anthony and Janique Edwards, after looking for food they would appreciate in their neighborhood. The app has now built a strong reputation for not only supporting black-owned businesses, but also diversifying users’ culinary experiences.
EatOkra allows users to search for black-owned restaurants and food businesses by location or type of cuisine. When you open the app, you can choose from a wide list of businesses – and add your own. At the time of writing, EatOkra supports more than 9,500 listings in the United States. According to the EatOkra website, the app has also partnered with Uber Eats, Apple, Pepsi and others. If you’re hungry and looking for black-owned food, this is a great choice.
Download EatOkra (iPhone)
Download EatOkra (Android)
Black – News + Culture
Black – News + Culture is a news app developed by MIT graduate Adam Taylor with the goal of creating a safe space for black people. It would focus on telling stories that are not the typical stories of crime or deprivation, but instead focus on uplifting news that improves mental well-being.
Black highlights sources like The Root, Atlanta Black Star, BET, Essence, HuffPost Black Voices and more. In addition to curating sources, the app also uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to curate stories of interest to the audience.
“My company, Langston LLC, uses machine learning and language processing technologies to track the emotional tone of articles and aggregate content about people who identify as black,” Taylor told Essence, a media company targeting black women. .
Black Download (iPhone)
Editor’s recommendations
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