Roots Of Resilience

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Florida men’s basketball honors Black History Month

 Florida has a rich history of elite athletic programs. Although there are more than 500 student athletes at UF, only 133 of them identify as Black or African American.  This Black History Month, the Florida Gators men’s basketball program is bringing awareness to the sacrifices and contributions Black athletes have endured in historically adverse situations.

UF Supreme Court appoints its first Black woman as chief justice

Britney Deas couldn’t keep her smile hidden as she opened her email. An unassuming email, something she thought was about administration, was actually announcing one of the biggest achievements in her career: becoming the first Black woman to be chief justice of the UF Supreme Court.

UF students find community through Black organizations

Black UF students form strong bonds through diverse campus organizations at the predominantly white university.

Uptown art exhibit set to debut curations of Black culture

In partnership with the Moisturizer Gallery, a nonprofit art gallery in Gainesville, the Black Space Art Exhibition will open Feb. 16 at the Thomas Center and will feature printmaking, painting, oils and ceramics created by local and out-of-town Black artists. 

Gainesville community implements urban farms to fight food insecurity

In Alachua County, 11.1% of the population is food insecure, according to the Florida Department of Health. In the last decade, several urban farms have sprouted in an effort to combat local food insecurity. These community gardens also tackle other issues stemming from food insecurity, including educating citizens and addressing systemic inequality. 

Male students are outnumbered at UF. Why are Black males outnumbered most of all?

David Canton, UF director of African American studies, calls it the “eyeball test.”

Revisiting Porters Quarters: The ongoing challenge with gentrification

Porters Quarters is a historically Black neighborhood in East Gainesville founded in 1884 by Canadian physician Dr. Watson Porter, who only sold real estate to African Americans.  As the neighborhood continues to battle gentrification among student housing and downtown expansions, the lack of communication between the city and the neighborhood worries residents. The most recent construction has left residents perplexed. 

Local medical providers, residents grapple with health care gaps and food deserts

Addressing limited access to health in southeast Gainesville, community members and health care providers across Alachua County see solutions not only in improving access in policy, community engagement and education, but also in expanding food resources to the town.

Roots of Resilience: A celebration of UF, Gainesville’s Black community

In 2022, Black journalists composed only 6% of American journalists. Sixty-three percent of Black Americans believed news about Black people are more negative than other racial or ethnic groups. Only 9% believed coverage of Black people told “the full story.” 

In defense of diversity: Affirmative inaction Is not an option

Embedded in America’s history and tradition is that diversity has always been our strength. Appearing on the Great Seal of the United States is the Latin phrase: “E pluribus unum” meaning “Out of many, one.” The idea is that our country, unlike any other country in the world, benefits from the rich diversity of its people. 

Black history? Our history

Williston woman aims to revitalize Black representation in art 

Solana Williams couldn’t find any art that looked like her on the walls of the museums she explored. Her only course of action was making it. 

Florida education reform initiatives limit African American studies, DEI funds

Various education reform bills have altered curriculum and cut funding to certain programs in public K-12 schools and universities since the beginning of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration. The initiatives have targeted a wide variety of subject matter including diversity, equity and inclusion programs as well as all critical theory, a blanket term that encompasses the idea of critical race theory.  The passage of new legislation, both in support and opposition of past initiatives, faces the state legislature in 2024. 

Pride from past to present to future: Gainesville’s Black LGBTQ+ community

The growing Black Queer community in Gainesville addresses struggles of intersectionality.

Matthew Lewey: A story left behind

However, Matthew Lewey, an unknown name to most, is an important part of Florida’s history, said renowned author and historian Paul Ortiz.

‘Se me hizo difícil identificarme con una raza’: Estudiantes Afrolatinos comparten sus experiencias con la raza en los EE.UU.

Muchos países en Latinoamérica tienen ascendencias cruzantes. Sin embargo, los inmigrantes latinoamericanos que vienen a los Estados Unidos ven que sus mezclas de ascendencia blanca, negra, e indígena muchas veces chocan en el contexto de las dinámicas raciales de los EE.UU.  

‘I did find it hard to identify with one race’: UF Afro-Latino students share experiences with race in the US

  Many countries in Latin America have intersecting heritages. For Latin American immigrants who come to the United States, however, their mixes of white, Black and indigenous heritage often conflict in the context of the U.S.' racial dynamics.

Florida gymnasts embrace Black identity through aspects of the sport

Black gymnasts use floor routine, hair as an opportunity to infuse their identity into the sport.