Abstract

“A People’s History of the I.E.” is a digital humanities project that collects and makes available oral histories, photos, and other historical data, geolocating the materials to put people usually erased from view literally “on the map.” By bringing underrepresented voices to the fore, this project brings just historical and cultural narratives to the underinvested Inland California region, which is one of the fastest growing and most culturally diverse areas in the state, and also one of the least resourced and severely impacted by Covid-19. As the only research institution in Inland Southern California and as a land-grant university with a public service mission, many of UCR’s research and community partnership specifically aim to reduce inequality and increase social justice, and to deploy the humanities and social sciences for empowerment. This is especially true for “A People’s History.” Led by UCR’s Dr. Catherine Gudis, who has depth of experience realizing multi-platform public humanities projects that are inter-generational and coalitional, this project brings together activists, BIPOC and LGBTQ+-led heritage groups, social service providers (Rainbow Pride Youth Alliance), and municipal and state agencies (City of Riverside’s Community Development Dept., California State Parks) in collaboration with three minority-serving institutions. We share a pressing, central question for this project: how can we address systemic discrimination and social and environmental injustices with the historical specificity needed to envision and advocate for change, and a just transition? The project challenges the symbolic annihilation of communities of color, women, and LGBTQ+ individuals in dominant historical memory practices, which have mostly focused on white and heteronormative experiences. It maps patterns of historical discrimination and the vital roles played by community members to combat it through social action, resiliency, and mutuality, important lessons if we are to repair past harms–including disproportionate impacts of the pandemic on our region.