Black Studies Illinois
Black Studies Illinois: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow (Black Studies Illinois) is a multifaceted project that includes three textbooks, curricula, a film, and additional resources designed for middle school students. These resources illuminate the contributions, struggles, and movements made by Black people and Black organizations throughout Illinois’ history/herstory and beyond. This project included contributions and work from nearly 100 people, led by Dr. Asif Wilson and Dr. Kylee Coney.
I was extremely honored to support this project with design work - branding, book design, and layout for unit plans and flashcards. I invited and was delighted to collaborate with artists Tonika Lewis Johnson (2025 MacArthur Genius Fellow), Stacey A. Robinson, Tesh Silver, and Deon Reed for featured art in the books.
The textbooks' content (and additional resources) is truly inspiring! Check it all out at go.illinois.edu/BlackStudiesIllinois:
branding
fonts:
FreightText is a font family from Freight Collection designed by Joshua Darden, who at 15 published a typeface, becoming the first known Black typeface designer.
VTC Martin, used for titles and headings, is designed by Tré Seals of Vocal Type and named in honor of Dr. King, inspired by the struggle for economic justice predominantly led by Black sanitation workers in Memphis at the time of his assassination in 1968. The letterforms are derived from the iconic "I AM A MAN" protest signs that demanded recognition of fundamental humanity.
colors:
The color palette is inspired by AfriCobra artists, contemporary Black artists such as Kah Yangni, Nina Chanel Abney, Titus Kaphar, and Bisa Butler, and the featured artists in the textbooks.
graphics:
To symbolize the interweaving of the past, present, and future of Black life in Illinois throughout textbooks, I use a layered ribbon graphic - sometimes woven, always overlapping and angled toward the future. The prism shapes hold solid colors, gradients, or become “windows” into historical imagery and artwork by featured artists.
3 books
Textbooks feature tons of primary sources, accessible narratives, emphasized vocabulary, glossary, index, references, and include interactive elements such as hyperlinks, fields for typing notes, and image zooms.
There are a few file types for different viewing methods, as well as a Spanish translation.
unit plans &
flashcards
Free educational resources for teachers! (16 unit plans developed by educators. Illinois Black Legacies and Movements for Black Liberation Flashcards (research by Khalila Lomax and Mariela Reynaga) are designed for DIY print, cut, and assemble for easy classroom use.
motion
& swag
