* Race and Hollywood Project — Following up on its Primetime in Black and White research, the Bunche Center is collaborating with Hollywood industry players to produce the definitive, annual report on diversity in front of and behind the camera. This report will 1) provide a comprehensive analysis of the inclusion of diverse groups in film and television, including starring roles, writing, directing, producing, and talent representation; and 2) identify and disseminate best practices for increasing the pipeline of underrepresented groups into the Hollywood entertainment industry.
The Ralph J. Bunche Center for African American Studies at UCLA, established as an organized research unit in 1969, is committed to research which enhances our understanding of the history, lifestyles, material conditions, and socio-cultural systems of African Americans and the Diaspora. The esteemed faculty and affiliated researchers include leaders in the fields of African American studies, education, public policy, environmental issues, public health, the humanities and the social sciences. Our faculty combines practical research with efforts to provide real time solutions to community problems.
Overview
Research is the core of the Bunche Center’s work. The Center’s mandate is to attract top research talent, sponsor innovative inquiry, disseminate relevant, quality research, and contribute to the historical, contemporary and evolving intellectual discourse in African American studies. The Center’s Assistant Director, Research, Dr. Ana-Christina Ramon, working under the supervision of the Center’s Director, Dr. Darnell Hunt, manages the research division. This includes overseeing grant and fellowship competitions, maintaining a conducive and productive research environment, conducting outreach to other community and academic stakeholders and continually exploring new internal and external opportunities for research funding. The Center’s research division also conceptualizes and plans scholarly symposia and other informational, programmatic and outreach events.
The Center’s work spans a wide range of interdisciplinary research. While the majority of the projects are traditional in scope, covering the humanities and humanistic social sciences (e.g. anthropology, cultural/critical studies, history, political science, and sociology), the Center continually seeks opportunities to expand inquiries beyond the traditional norms. The Center conducts research that is multi-disciplinary in scope, and partners with faculty from a wide range of subjects and professional schools to conduct meaningful research which sheds new understanding into the psychological, physical and social dimensions of the black experience. In recent years, the Center sponsored major research projects on Black Los Angeles, college access and diversity in the media. Current and future research projects include: