The Black Lives at Cal Audio Tour
Many are familiar with UC Berkeley’s connection to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.—his speech at Sproul Hall protesting the Vietnam War in 1967 and how his contributions to the free speech movement were recognized by naming our Student Union building after him. But few people know the other parts of Berkeley’s Black history and how it has touched nearly every part of this campus, transforming UC Berkeley into the school it is today.
As a Black student in Berkeley, it is really easy to feel like a small fish in a big pond. Learning about this history helped me feel how big the Black community here truly is, in impact if not size. The Self-Guided Black History Audio Tour put together by Black Lives at Cal (BLAC) explores 14 key landmarks and their connection to Black history, following the stories of notable Black alumni and significant campus movements. The project was created by Gia White, a BLAC faculty member, and Daniella Lake, a research apprentice who recorded narration for the tour. It was originally launched in 2023. Learn more about how these incredible women were able to put this tour together.
My experience taking the tour
I was familiar with the tour before, as there was significant coverage around it during its kickoff, but I was actually able to listen to it and take the tour myself for the first time this year. Right away, I was very impressed with how well done it is. It’s extremely high quality, and you can tell a lot of great research went into making it a reality. Each location features beautiful custom artwork by Heaven Jones, and the audio recordings include background music related to each of the stops that make it a really pleasant listening experience. There is also an interactive tour map that guides you through the stops, and multiple listening formats are offered, including a Spotify playlist and a YouTube series. The videos range from one to five minutes in length.
Personally, I found myself fascinated by the facts shared in the audio clips. As a student, I had passed by these locations every day but was not aware of their significance and deep history. There were also so many influential Black figures that I had never even heard of who made a huge impact on the school, broader Bay Area community, and even the country. I was pleasantly surprised by the number of pioneering Black women who had attended UC Berkeley, many going on to be nationally successful. Learning about this history helped me feel more connected to campus and to my community. It made me feel proud to be a student here, especially a Black student.
A sneak peek into the tour
Here is a sneak peek into some of the insights shared in the tour!
Photo Credits (top to bottom): Berkeley Law School; Annie Virginia Stevens Coker, Cal Alumni Association; Walter A. Gordon, Sports Illustrated
UC Berkeley Law School
Berkeley’s Law School is home to several notable Black alumni, including Walter A. Gordon, who was the school’s first Black graduate in 1922. Gordon was the star athlete on the Cal Football team from 1916-1918, playing for both the offensive and defensive lines and becoming the first All-American football player in the history of the University of California. He went on to coach for Cal Football, while simultaneously working for the Berkeley police department, and completing his law degree.
The audio tour also follows Annie Virginia Stevens, who became the first Black woman to graduate from the law school in 1929. She passed the California Bar Examination the same year, making her the first Black female lawyer in the state of California. Although California law firms weren’t hiring Black women as attorneys during that time period, Stevens was able to start her career as a lawyer in Virginia before later returning to California to serve in the State Office of Legislative Council.
The 1968 strike at UC Berkeley, History.com
Dwinelle Hall
The call for a Black studies department on campus began in 1968, inspired by the Third World Liberation Front at San Francisco State College. In 1970, students organized a strike that resulted in the creation of the ethnic studies department at UC Berkeley. Though African American studies was initially part of the ethnic studies department, it was later designated as its own category and moved into the College of Letters and Sciences, which is located in Dwinelle Hall. Now, the African American and African Diaspora studies program thrives under renowned faculty offering a wide variety of intersectional courses.
Photo by Blessing James
The Wall
The Black Wednesday Wall located on Sproul Plaza has been a gathering place for Black students on campus for over 40 years. Black community organizations and Greek life often host events around The Wall, such as dancing and Black Wednesdays every week.
The Fannie Lou Hamer Black Resource Center is another space Black students can gather on campus. Established in 2017 after demands from students, the space offers Black students with academic and wellness resources, as well as a safe space to work or unwind.
Did you know the history behind these UC Berkeley locations? 😯 Our campus holds so many powerful stories and a deep legacy of Black history.
You can learn more taking the Self-Guided Black History Tour from @black.lives.at.cal, researched, written and designed by @mlanagia, with lead voice content contribution by @daniellalake. 🎧💙
#UCBerkeley #UCBerkeleyLife #CollegeCampus #History #BlackHistoryMonth
Try it out!
There is so much more rich history included in the tour than what I can cover here, so I highly recommend taking some time to try it out yourself. All information about the tour, including maps and recordings, can be found on the Self-Guided Black History Tour website. Whether you actually visit each location around campus or just listen to the recordings from the comfort of your home, I guarantee this tour will be worth your time, and you’ll learn something new about Black contributions at Berkeley and beyond.
Happy Black History Month!
Rachel Holmes, Class of 2026, is majoring in media studies and minoring in theater and performance studies. Cover photo by Black Lives at Cal.
Want More?
- Learn more about Black Lives at Cal!
- Discover the Black Resource Center for resources and community.
- Explore how Black History Month is celebrated at UC Berkeley.
- Discover the Black experience at Cal!