The phrase data visualization is, at least for me, a modern phrase, often connected to computers. I suppose I exposed my technological provincialism there. Anyways, I was surprised to run across some historical research on data visualization involving … W. E. B. Du Bois, the famed Black scholar. In this presentation from October of 2019, current scholar Silas Munroe presents a study of the work of Du Bois and other Black scholars of his era in the area of data visualization. Just a couple of examples here, lifted from the presentation:
While perhaps not as impressive as Charles Minard’s classic graph of the French invasion of Russia in 1812 (right), they succeed in graphically getting their points across.
If you have an especial interest in data visualization history or W. E. B. Du Bois, it might be worth your time to look at Munroe’s presentation.
