The Diaspora research topics reflect a wide range of interests and perspectives. Our goal is to include subjects that reflect the organization and movement of people and information around the world. Bibliographies, major works, community newspapers, organizational newsletters and interviews, publications and the input of numerous scholars of the African Diaspora identified the twenty-two research topics included here. While some topics are of academic interest, others reflect the day to day lives of those in the Diaspora.

The development of these topics was complex and reflects our experiences as citizens, artists, scholars, activists, students and travelers of the African Diaspora. In addition to identifying several sources, we observed and collected information from every day life, where our students and interested parties perused various locations to determine how those of African descent throughout the world organized around food, personal care, education, social and political life, art and music and culture. More than 15 research associates at UCLA participated in the formations of the topics directly. They included graduate students and undergraduates from the Afro-American Studies Program and graduate students from History, Anthropology, Education and English. In addition, to general education about the African Diaspora, each graduate student was assigned a country for preliminary research on the topics listed above. The countries represented research interests of the students and included Britain, Canada, France, Portugal, and the United States.

Over the year the countries and regions expanded to include the Caribbean, South American and Latin American, most of Europe and Asia and the Pacific Islands. Students, faculty and friends of the Diaspora continue to work on the topics and countries. Topics are organized into wave–lines (flexible time lines) described on the Interactive Media Collaboration section. Once the organizational structure was established, we set procedures for funding travel and supporting interdepartmental course development. Information and links are regularly updated.

The principal aim of CSADP is to consider the ways cultures are produced and negotiated in diverse geopolitical and historical locations. We attempt to present the Diaspora as real rather than imagined. In that sense, we focus on the complexity of the Diaspora and particular experiences that may simultaneously unite, define and conflict. Our discussion represents scholarly, humanistic and artistic interests as well as social, political and cultural considerations. Thus our research topics and content will be under continuous review.