Beginning Jan. 31, 2020, The Daily Orange will capitalize “Black” when referring to a culture, ethnicity or a group of people part of the African Diaspora.

The D.O. takes style changes, especially those related to people and their identities, very seriously. We consulted experts in academia and newsrooms around the nation, along with literature, both in favor and against capitalizing “Black.” After these conversations, The D.O. decided it was in the best interest of our publication to make this change.

Language evolves and we want our style guide to be a living document. This decision was based on research and feedback from our readers. The D.O. strives to tell stories with respect and accuracy, and the language we use is an important part of that.

The D.O. as an institution has had a history of racism and exclusivity, but we’re trying to do better. We frequently review our reporting practices and style guide to better reflect the communities we cover. If we’re missing the mark, we want to know. Our readers can always reach us at editor@dailyorange.com.