Website & Research
A Research-Based Platform on Race, Identity, and Social Justice
Black Voices at UC San Diego is a digital platform developed as part of a broader initiative to provide educational resources on race, systemic injustice, and the lived experiences of Black communities. Supported by a TCI (Transformational Change Initiative) grant, the website functions as an accessible academic tool for students, faculty, staff, and community members seeking to deepen their understanding of race, power, and privilege in the United States.
Website Purpose & Audience
The platform serves as a structured educational hub for exploring legal history, identity politics, and contemporary movements related to anti-racism. While the primary audience is the UC San Diego student body, the website is also designed to support faculty, staff, and wider community members through modular learning.
Each module includes a set of curated articles that center on historical and present-day topics relevant to the Black experience. The site’s long-term vision is to become a centralized space for identity-based resources, campus programs, and student-facing support systems.
Structure and Navigation
The website is organized into modules, each representing a central theme such as:
Anti-Racism
Intersectionality
Civil and Social Rights
Each module contains a series of individually researched articles that explore subtopics relevant to that theme. For example, under the Intersectionality module, articles may cover gender identity, Black feminism, ableism, or overlapping systems of discrimination. These articles are intended to provide historical background, theoretical frameworks, and contemporary relevance in a digestible format.
Education and Legal Systems
Black Cultural Expression
Activism and Resistance
Research & Writing Process
All content on the website follows a standardized, multi-step research and editorial process to ensure clarity, accuracy, and educational value:
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Topics are selected and broken down into key subpoints. Each outline includes major themes, relevant dates, notable individuals, and guiding questions.
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Research is conducted using a range of credible sources—including academic journals, verified news outlets, and culturally-relevant media. Quotes, paraphrased content, and citations are compiled and organized under each subtopic.
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Summaries are transcribed into article form, prioritizing accessible language, structured formatting, and factual clarity. While the tone remains academic, it avoids personal opinion or argumentation. Each article includes:
Definitions and Key ConceptsHistorical Context
Notable Figures and Events
Impact and Modern Significance
Common Misconceptions
What Now (Learning Resources)?
References
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Once content is written, it is formatted for web readability. This includes visual design, text hierarchy, source drawers, and linkable sections. Research previously used in other articles or media posts may also be cross-referenced and linked.
Integration with Social Media
The website works in tandem with Black Voices' broader communication strategy. Research conducted for web modules often informs companion content for social media, where key concepts are translated into visual posts, educational summaries, and interactive prompts. These posts are formatted using templates aligned with monthly content themes and always include proper citations, calls to action, and accessible captions.
Broader Impact and Educational Intent
The Black Voices platform is more than an archive—it is an evolving educational resource. The content is designed to provide tools for critical thinking, self-awareness, and structural understanding of race and inequality. By rooting content in both historical analysis and modern-day relevance, the platform helps visitors reflect on their positionality and equips them with actions they can take within their communities.
Modules are continuously updated as new topics are researched and as the team identifies areas for expansion—ensuring the site remains responsive to current discourse and community needs.