Roots: Tracking Family History; Designed for BIPOC Families

RooTs

Tracking Family History; Designed for BIPOC Families

Jaya Duhaylongsod | DES 505 | Summer 2021

abstracT

Trying to keep track of family lineage, memorabilia, and photos is a tedious task, this task is even more difficult for BIPOC Americans due to various reasons such as colonialism or assimilation. This often leads to a weak sense of pride or identity in one’s own heritage and culture, which can leave a person more susceptible to developing mental health challenges. Critical race and ethnic studies has analyzed the importance of history and proven that by learning about our own ethnic and cultural background from our families, it grounds us and helps develop our own sense of self identity. By making the process of learning family history more accessible it can encourage more BIPOC families to record their family narratives and improve overall community resilience and well-being.

Contents

ch 1 introduction

8 - Project Introduction

- Significance of Study

Environmental Context

Project Scope

Definition of Terms

- Assumptions

- Hypothesis

- Chapter Summary

ch 3 ideation

- Chapter Introduction

Design Solution

Design Inspiration

Comparative Analysis

- Mapping Matrix

Story Boarding

- Design Guide

ch 4 solution ch 2 research

18 - Chapter Introduction

- Research Methodology

- Panel of Experts 23 - Survey Findings

- Personas

- Scenarios

- Proposed Solution 27 - PERT Chart

- Chapter Summary

Through

Chapter Summary

Evaluation & Feedback

Summary & Conclusion

What is wrong with current genealogy tracking systems?

How are BIPOC communities historically excluded from this process and how does this impact those affected? The following chapter will answer these questions.

Project Intro

Using a critical race and ethnic studies perspective, there is emphasis on the importance of family history and gives the foundation of learning our family history and grounds us to better develop our own sense of identity. Those with a weak sense of identity are susceptible to developing mental health challenges.

When able to research and learn more about our own family history and lineage, it is found to improve overall resilience and pride, thus improving overall mental health. A focus group used for this project showed that while majority of BIPOC folks find family history very important, they also lack the methods to keep track of that information.

Problem Purpose

It is often difficult for BIPOC families in America to learn about or keep track of family history. Being able to record, store, and access family genealogy and oral history is a heavy task and often turns families away from trying to keep track.

To create a systematized and accessible way for families to track family history that would encourage the practice of learning and recording those narratives and stories - to then improve the overall sense of pride in identity in BIPOC families and communities.

significance of study

By creating and designing a system for BIPOC communities to keep track of stories and gain a better understanding of one's lineage it will improve one's sense of identity, and overall mental health and well being.

users & beneficiaries environmental context

BIPOC & Immigrant family members of all ages who want to record their family stories. People who want to record their family history but have trouble keeping track of various memorabilia.

In the melting pot of America, the BIPOC experiences are often not taken into account. The perspective is to create more ease of use when recording family narratives for interpersonal and historical use.

project scope

Since the identified target users are BIPOC family members who want to actively record their family history, the scope of the project would be based on family members who have the means to engage with their family members and have access to the internet.

Historical documentation and research is a heavy task, and in the context of how BIPOC Americans have diverse situations, not everyone is going to find it helpful or even doable. The minimum that can be addressed is giving people a manageable place to start.

limitations

Definition of terms

BIPOC

Black, Indigenous, People of Color

Culture

Ethnic Studies

Family History

Genealogy

the customs, arts, social institutions, and achievements of a particular nation, people, or other social group

the study of the histories, experiences, cultures, and issues of racial-ethnic groups in the United States

a record of one's ancestors

an account of the descent of a person, family, or group from an ancestor or from older forms

Heritage

Identity

Lineage

valued objects and qualities such as cultural traditions and historic buildings that have been passed down from previous generations

the characteristics determining who or what a person or thing is

lineal descent from an ancestor; ancestry or pedigree

BIPOC families would benefit from learning and recording their family history, including having more medical knowledge on hereditary chronic diseases that could potentially develop.

Students will have a stronger foundation to learn about ethnic studies when they have a better understanding of how their culture and lineage relates to society.

Families of immigrants will be able to bridge the gap of knowledge and prevent loss of family history and be more encouraged to learn more when there is access to shareable records.

hypothesis

If encouraging families to learn and record their family history improves intergenerational familial relationships and builds understanding of history in society, then it can build community amongst social spaces, and improves sense of identity due to pride in lineage, heritage, and culture.

chapter summary 1

Genealogy tracking in its own right, is already a difficult task. While there are other systemic issues that cannot be solved through means of learning about your family history, it is a stepping stone that can benefit and empower the BIPOC community by building up the sense of pride in culture, thus strengthening community resilience.

20 - Research Methodology

- Panel of Experts

- Survey Findings

- Personas & Scenarios

- Proposed Solution

- Chapter Summary

Upon establishing the basis of why there is a need for better genealogy systems for BIPOC families in America, the following chapter outlines research methods and deepens the data around the subject matter.

research methodology

Selected methods to learn from the users are as follows: empathize

Article/Literary Research

Panel of Experts Interview

Community Survey

Personas and Scenarios

To deepen the research, these are other informative methods: exercise

Comparative Analysis of Existing Methods

Mapping Matrix

Story Boarding

Journey Mapping

research findings

"History is highly complex, and as individual stories are told, what emerges are both the broad patterns and also the nuances and textures of the diverse people living within and across those patterns."

"Family history provides a vehicle for each of us to situate ourselves, both within our own family narratives, and also within the broader, sometimes harmonious and sometimes highly discordant, narratives of others. Critical Family History helps us raise questions, interrogate assumptions, and understand ourselves better."

-

Christine Sleeter (2014)

panel of experts

To better understand the importance of learning our family history in full cultural and historical context, this required consultation with these experts who practice this in their respective fields.

“Oral history often gets swept under the rug due to credibility, but it is really insight into seeing their (family members) perspectives and hearing their point of view.”

Research Assistant at Archives & Special Collections and Santa Clara University

Northern California Pilipinx

American Student AllianceInternship Chairperson

"To learn about your ancestors is to learn about yourself and how you continue to be what they have always dreamed of."

Historian, Co-Founder of the Bulosan Center at UC Davis

National Coordinator for Culture and Heritage for National Alliance for Filipino Concerns

Trizha Aquino Kirby Araullo

survey findings

FOCUS GROUP OF 20 PEOPLE

of participants find family very important to them and have benefited from learning about their family history 85%

Majority of the focus group either did not have a clear way of keeping record of their family history or had difficulty with it 75%

Ihavegainedabettersenseofidentity

Ilearnedmoreaboutmycultureandheritage

"How has learning about your family history impacted you?"

personas

Marcus

BIPOC Student

Marcus is a senior in high school who is taking an ethnic studies class to learn more BIPOC history.

Medical Professional

Jess is a medical physician who specializes in hereditary diseases that affect patients of all ages.

1st Gen Immigrant ETHS professor

Michelle is the first in her family to go to college. She and her family immigrated to the U.S. when she was young.

Immigrant

George has been teaching Ethnic Studies for a decade and has family tree projects for his class each semester.

Mother BIPOC Youth

Nanette immigrated from Haiti to the U.S. seeking a better life but was only able to bring her young child with her.

Tony was born and raised in California and spends a lot of time with his cousins and grandparents.

George

Nanette

Tony Jess

Michelle

& scenarios

Each of these personas were created to identify a group of the target users and scenarios they would possibly experience. Each of these personas are unique in their needs and will be kept in mind throughout the development process.

In theorizing the difficulties of each of these BIPOC personas based on real experiences, the following sub-problems were found to be the most common amongst all of the personas' scenarios.

MAIN SUB-PROBLEMS

1 2 3

User unsure of where to start keeping track of family history or unsure of what kind of questions to ask.

User has difficulty keeping track and organizing the information they have about their family.

User has difficulty when trying to share the family history with other family members.

Proposed solution

Personal Family Archival System

A virtual template structure which supports users when learning and recording the history and stories of their family members. Making this service virtually accessible will allow for more people to gain a better understanding of family history and culture which in turn will improve overall mental health.

pert chart program evaluation research technique

Week 1

June 15

Week 2 June 22 Week 3

RESEARCH

IdentifyProblem+ Purposestatements

Developresearch methodology

DUE:

Beginoutlining projectproposal

6 Week 5

13 Week 6

Week 7

20

27

Week 8 Aug 3

PROTOTYPING & USER TESTING

DevelopCh3+4 Developprototypes

Working prototypeto showcase Usertesting Analyze surveydata

DUE:

Midterm Presentation Midterm Report

ProjectPitch Presentation Midterm Report DUE: Finalize research topic "Day-in-theLife" Personas/Sce narios

Establish processblog Reviewpast reports Develop personasand scenarios Persona journey maps 10Parts research proposal outline

Develop Abstract Comparative analysesand mapping

DevelopCh3 Develop prototypes DevelopCh4 Develop prototypes

Finalizewireframe Usertesting feedback

Design Booklet Prototype DUE:

Finalizedraft ofdesign booklet Finalslides and presentation

Final Deliverables Final Presentation

Final presentation poster Finalreport booklet

chapter summary 2

The research confirms the hypothesis from the first chapter was a correct assumption. With those in mind, it will continue to inform how the proposed solution can address the need for a system that can help BIPOC family members to record their family history and the difficulties people face during this process.

Comparative Analysis

Design Guide

Prototype Walk Through

ideation3

Chapter Summary

The research clearly shows the need for improvement in how BIPOC families are able to record their own family history and stories. In this next chapter, ideation and iteration will develop the previously proposed solution.

design solution

If encouraging families to learn and record their family history improves intergenerational familial relationships and builds understanding of history in society, then it can build community amongst social spaces, and improves sense of identity due to pride in lineage, heritage, and culture.

By developing a virtual template structure which supports users when learning and recording the history and stories of their family members. Making this service virtually accessible will allow for more people to gain a better understanding of family history and culture which in turn will improve overall mental health.

design inspirations

Inspiration for this project is being drawn from the ways the BIPOC community has already been coming together to document and share stories with one another within historical context. Along with those, pulling aspects from the best practices of already existing genealogy methods, such as archival work and family tree apps.

Since this is made specifically for folks who have been historically excluded from historical narratives, the main design drivers and concepts are to ensure this would be beneficial and really encapsulate family storytelling to last throughout the generations.

Interactive Storytelling

Real family history is the stories and memories we have with loved ones, not just the genetics. This service is driven to provide virtual space to write those stories to be able to be told for many generations and ensuring the narratives are memorable and shareable to all of its users.

MadeforLasting Connections

BIPOC families often have a strong emphasis on the importance of family. This would serve as a tool for these bonds to be strengthened through the sharing of experiences as BIPOC in America. This must be sustainable to last throughout the generations and continue to serve its purpose as time goes on.

Inclusive& Accessible

Current systems fail to take into account BIPOC perspectives and narratives in the context of American history. This service would shift the needs to fit BIPOC families by taking into account historically excluded perspectives and histories. This also must be accessible for those of all ages at their leisure.

comparative analysis

Looking at what systems already exist, the most common methods of tracking genealogy is through physical record keeping, flow charts, spreadsheets, and through commercial genealogy databases.

Physical / Oral Record

Traditional lineage tracking such as written record or oral history are authentic, but are not well maintained or as easily accessible. It can be even more difficult to understand or share these records.

Microsoft / Flow Charts

The online DIY tracking such as Excel sheets or Lucid Chart can work, but are not made specifically made for tracking history. These charts remain mostly static and are limited to tracking names etc.

Commercial Databases

Sites such as the well-known Ancestry.com very rarely take into account the perspective of the BIPOC community in America. These sites are also not accessible to many people.

PROS

PROS

Easy to use Shareable Designed for genealogy

Target Area

An interactive way to keep learn and record family narratives to be experienced through time

PROS

CONS

Easy to use Nostalgic Visual Appeal Personal

PROS

CONS CONS CONS Perishable Single copy Perishable Difficult to edit Limiting Shallow Inaccessible Exclusive

story boarding

Problem

It is often difficult for BIPOC families in America to learn about or keep track of family history. Being able to record, store, and access family genealogy and oral history is a heavy task and often turns families away from trying to keep historical and cultural records.

Purpose

To create a systematized and accessible way for families to track family history that would encourage the practice of learning and recording those narratives and stories - to then improve the overall sense of pride in identity in BIPOC families and communities.

Identified User Sub-Problems

User has difficulty when trying to share the family history with other family members. 1 2 3

User unsure of where to start keeping track of family history or unsure of what kind of questions to ask.

User has difficulty keeping track and organizing the information they have about their family.

Taking into account the findings from the previous chapters, this story board developed general ideations about what a positive experience would look like for any of the identified personas within the group of target users and beneficiaries.

Problem Talk Record Share

The user does know much about their family but is able to ask their family members what they know about it or about their own experiences

The user starts to have conversations with family members about their lineage and learns about their family's immigration story to the United States

They begin to write record the information and pictures on their computer to remember everything they are learning about the family tree and history

Now that they have that information stored and easily accessible, they are now able to share and pass on the information across the family and generations

design concept

By developing a virtual template structure interface to help families track and share the history and stories of family lineage, it will build stronger inter-generational bonds between family and geographically. Overall, creating this system will strengthen BIPOC mental health and community resilience through capturing BIPOC family narratives across generations.

design parameters

Guidance

Talking to family members varies in comfortability for each user. Having question guidance can help with what information is being documented and story telling.

Assistance

Knowing how to organize data can vary, making this process easier will serve as a way for less barriers in the recording process and allow for more space to share.

Security

Some narratives are sensitive and often wanted to kept within the family. Must allow for users to be at ease and secure in where the information is stored and can be shared at their consent.

design guide & ideation

RooTs

vintage smooth

abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz

"Roots"oftenrecallsimageryof treeroots,butcanalsosignify one'sownhistoricalrootswithin theirenvironmentorculture.

Montserrat

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ abcdefghijklmnopwrstuvwxyz

Learn your roots, learn to grow

Logo imagery of roots, learning, growth and love.

#f1eada

#9a8472

#aa812b

#717251

Keeping the storyboard in mind, sketching the wire frame for each step in the process generated more ideas on how to both generate information to populate the system, and then how to sort that information in a way that is intuitive and meaningful for the user.

prototype walkthrough

To access Roots, log in with username and password. The account ensures the stored information is protected, and can virtually be accessed from any compatible device.

The Home screen serves as the hub to all of your stored information and quick access to record new memories. Records added are sorted into sections once recorded.

The Family Tree section is intuitively formatted to add family members as you learn. Zoom in and out to view the tree. Simply tap a family member's image on the family tree to see their information, stories, photos, and edit their history.

The Stories section can record audio, video, scan documents, family recipes at any given time. With the premade sections, it is easy to navigate and share. All sections can be sorted and customized to fit the user's needs.

chapter summary 3

Informed by the various experiences of the projected target users, ideation of how the proposed system could work were all informed by the challenging experiences that BIPOC families have faced when trying to start learning about their own lineage. At the forefront of the design is the BIPOC experience and how to specifically address the shortcomings of other systems.

design solution4

50 - Design Recap

& Feedback

- Development Steps

- Summary & Conclusion

The user experience determines how well the research, ideation, and prototyping stages addressed the identified issue and ultimately, if the proposed solution solves it.

Problem

It is often difficult for BIPOC families in America to learn about or keep track of family history. Being able to record, store, and access family genealogy and oral history is a heavy task and often turns families away from trying to keep historical and cultural records.

Purpose

To create a systematized and accessible way for families to track family history that would encourage the practice of learning and recording those narratives and stories - to then improve the overall sense of pride in identity in BIPOC families and communities.

Hypothesis

If encouraging families to learn and record their family history improves inter-generational familial relationships and builds understanding of history in society, then it can build community amongst social spaces, and improves sense of identity due to pride in lineage, heritage, and culture.

Design Solution: Personal Family Archival System

A virtual template structure which supports users when learning and recording the history and stories of their family members. Making this service virtually accessible will allow for more people to gain a better understanding of family history and culture which in turn will improve overall mental health.

SolutionEvaluation

"Thisisoneofthemostimpactful,thoroughand groundbreakingprojectsIhaveseen.Thisisso neededintoday'ssocietyandinthecommunity."

-DeronGopie(SFSU)

"Having this tool is extremely helpful because I am able to collect, archive, and document my family beyond memorization and through storytelling."

- Celine Corpuz (UC Davis)

UserTesting

"I would definitely utilize this. I think as someone who lives within the diaspora, having a tool such as this could serve as a personal way to be able to better trace and understand my family roots. Especially because our histories are rooted in many formats, I really see this as a way to be able to have a more comprehensive and complete history of my family, and something that could be built upon for generations to come!"

- Peter Camacho (Stanford University)

ExpertFeedback

"Archival work is meticulous, lots of cataloguing that needs to happen. That in itself is a very tough thing to start. having an app that makes it easier, would encourage more people to track their family history. having it like this on a digital platform would make it more accessible for people. Often in history, not a lot of people have access to their own history due to the destructiveness of colonialism."

- Trizha Aquino (Santa Clara University)

next steps

For further development on this project, the following measures would need to be conducted in order to better test and refine and improve the user experience of Roots based on the feedback provided.

Create Full Functioning Mock-Up

Complete tests from the feedback and recommendations

Connect with Historical Organizations

Gain insight on what resources can also be included

Collaborate with Family Members

Engage with relevant users to refine the mock-up

Roots = BIPOC Inclusive Design

Based on the user testing and expert feedback Roots has successfully addressed the originally identified problem and fulfilled the purpose of improving the well-being of the BIPOC community through means of historical documentation.

It is clear that there is a need for a system that assists BIPOC folks on their journey of learning about their family in order to better capture the much needed family and historical narratives that are often erased.

bibliography

Alvarado, Janet. The Alvarado Project, Smithsonian Program for Asian Pacific American Studies, www.thealvaradoproject.com/exhibit/.

BLACRangers. YouTube, YouTube, 7 May 2020, www.youtube.com/watch? v=ZIRhyVaPZh4.

Coleman, Rachel. “Why We Need Family History Now More Than Ever.” FamilySearch Blog, FamilySearch, 26 Sept. 2017, www.familysearch.org/blog/en/family-history-2/.

Czepiga Daly Pope & Perri LLC. “6 Surprising Benefits of Researching Your Family History.” Connecticut Estate Planning Attorneys Blog, Perri LLC, 22 Oct. 2020, www.czepigalaw.com/blog/6-surprising-benefits-of-researching-yourfamily-history/.

“Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum.” California Department of Education, State Board of Education, Apr. 2021, www.cde.ca.gov/ci/cr/cf/esmc.asp.

Lents, Nathan H. “The Meaning and Meaninglessness of Genealogy.” Psychology Today, Sussex Publishers, 29 Jan. 2018, www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/beastly-behavior/201801/the-meaning-andmeaninglessness-genealogy.

Levenick, Denise May. “7 Tech Tools to Organize Your Family History Collection.” Family Tree Magazine, FamilyTree, 11 Dec. 2020, www.familytreemagazine.com/organization/7-tech-tools-organize/.

Michaels, Jeanne C. “5 Ways Your Family History Affects Your Mental Health.” Amen Clinics, Clinics Team, 24 June 2019, www.amenclinics.com/blog/5-waysyour-family-history-affects-your-mental-health/.

Morton, Sunny Jane. “25 Best Genealogy Websites for Beginners.” Family Tree Magazine, Familytree, 12 July 2021, www.familytreemagazine.com/websites/25best-genealogy-websites-for-beginners/.

Nigro, Carmen. “20 Reasons Why You Should Write Your Family History.” The New York Public Library, The New York Public Library, 24 Jan. 2019, www.nypl.org/blog/2015/02/09/reasons-to-write-your-family-history.

Purnell, Derecka. “Do a DNA Test to 'Find out My Roots'? That's Complicated for a Black Woman like Me | Derecka Purnell.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 24 Feb. 2020, www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/feb/24/dna-test-rootsblack-woman-ancestry.

Sleeter, Christine. “Ethnic Studies and Critical Family History.” Christine Sleeter, Christine Sleeter, 5 Sept. 2014, www.christinesleeter.org/ethnicstudies-critical-family-history.

Thorley, Michelle F. “Internalized Racism Hinders Family History Work.” The Exponent, Exponent II, 9 Nov. 2019, www.theexponent.com/internalized-racism-hinders-family-history-work/.

Turner-Childs, Kristal M. “Tracing Family History.” WITF, Where Ideas Take Flight, 10 June 2021, www.witf.org/2021/05/27/tracing-familyhistory/.

Wardleigh, Chakdell. “5 Benefits of Knowing Your Family History.” Select Health, selecthealth.org/blog/2019/08/5-benefits-of-knowing-yourfamily-history .

Weise, Elizabeth. “Looking for Your Roots? For Asians, Blacks and Latinos, DNA Tests Don't Tell Whole Story.” USA Today, Gannett Satellite Information Network, 3 Dec. 2018, www.usatoday.com./story/news/2018/12/02/asians-blacks-latinosgenealogical-tests-dont-tell-full-story/2132681002/.

“Why Is It Important to Know My Family Health History?: MedlinePlus Genetics.” MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 12 May 2021, medlineplus.gov/genetics/understanding/inheritance/familyhistory/.

panel of experts

Trizha Aquino: With a B.A in History and Anthropology, Trizha is a current Research Assistant at the Archives & Special Collections at Santa Clara State University, where they intake historical documents and artifacts which is also a resource open for the general public to access. They are also the Internship Chair for the Northern California Pilipinx American Student Alliance where they program and oversee the development of interns across NorCal.

Kirby Araullo: Kirby Pábalan-Táyag Aráullo is the National Coordinator for Culture and Heritage for NAFCON (National Alliance for Filipino Concerns). He is a Filipino American artist-scholar-activist and a renowned Kapampángan and Tagálog culture bearer whose upbringing exposed him to the contradicting worlds of traditional politics and grassroots community organizing. He is well-rooted in his culture and passionate about his heritage; he strives to empower and serve the people through knowledge and creativity. Kirby is a Dátû by blood and an Activist at heart.

Bobby Dalton G. Roy: Bobby Dalton G. Roy is a crusader for socio-economicpolitical justice. An Education Programs Consultant at the Department of Education in Sacramento with more than a decade in state service, they apply expertise in a wide variety of education areas to plan, develop, administer, and evaluate programs in California’s schools with the goal of improving educational outcomes in public schools. They are also active in the Government Alliance on Race and Equity initiative to bring racial justice to government. Since 2016, Roy has been elected and reelected to the Unit 21 Bargaining Team, which negotiates and enforces Local 1000’s contract with the state. Roy is also an appointed member of the SEIU API Caucus Executive Board and liaison to the Immigration Rights and Racial Justice Center. Bobby is a committed community member as well, perpetually active in working to give their neighbors the opportunity for a good life. They are an organizing committee member for the People’s Collective for Justice and Liberation and Treasurer for the Filipino American National Historical Society and the Philippine National Day Association.

survey questions

Whatisyouragegroup?

Under18

75andolder

Howdoyouidentify?

Non-binary

Prefernottosay

Other[openanswer]

Whichofthefollowingbestdescribesyou?

AsianorPacificIslander

BlackorAfricanAmerican

HispanicorLatino

NativeAmericanorAlaskaNative

WhiteorCaucasian

Notlistedhere[openanswer]

Onascalefrom1to10,howimportantisfamily toyou?

(1)Notimportantatall-(10)Extremely important

Howmuchdoyouknowaboutthehistoryof yourfamily?

(1)Noneatall-(10)Agreatdeal

Doyoucurrentlyhaveawayofkeepingtrackofyour familyhistory?ifso,how?

Yes

Somewhat[openanswer]

No

Howhaslearningaboutyourfamilyimpactedyou?

Ihavegainedabettersenseofidentity

Ilearnedmoreaboutmyowncultureandheritage

Ithashelpedmegainmoreclarityonmylineage

Ifeelmoreconnectedwithmyfamily

Idonotknowmuchaboutmyfamily

Thishasnotimpactedme

Other[openanswer]

Areyouawareofanyhealthconditionsthatruninyour family?

Yes

Unsure No

Whatisthemostdifficultpartoflearningaboutyour family?

Theydon'tknoworremember

Theydonotwanttotalkaboutit

Idon'thavetimetokeeprecord

Idon'tknowhowtokeeprecord

Other[openanswer]

Isthereanythingyouwouldliketoaddafterfillingout thissurvey?Questionsorclarifications?

[OpenAnswer]

Know

history, know self; No history, no self.

J O S É R I Z A L