OASC Celebrates African American History

Charisse Bremond-Weaver

Faith D. Culbreath

Hill Harper

Dr. Dolores S. Nehemiah (She’s in the middle)

Wendy Raquel Robinson

Our Authors Study Club, Inc. Celebrates 65 Years of African American History

Our Authors Study Club, Inc. (OASC) was founded on February 14, 1945 when a group of Terminal Annex postal workers brought their proposal to read works by African American Authors and learn the true history of Africans in the Americas to Mrs. Vassie Davis Wright. Mrs. Wright recommended that the group affiliate with Dr. Carter G. Woodson’s organization and Dr. Woodson himself chartered the group and the Los Angeles Branch of his Association for the Study of Negro Life and History now known as the Association for the Study of African American Life and History, Inc. (ASALH).

OASC began citywide celebrations for what was then known as Negro History Week in 1947. In 1950, Los Angeles Mayor Fletcher Bowron issued the first proclamation acknowledging Our Authors Study Club, Inc. as the primary sponsor of Negro History Week and invited citizens of Los Angeles to join in their celebration. Every Mayor through 2004 issued a proclamation to Our Authors Study Club, Inc.

In 1959, while serving as General Chairperson for Negro History Week, the late Gilbert Lindsay moved the Opening Ceremony to City Hall Steps where the celebration takes place every year.

Our current General Chair for Black History Celebrations, Danny J. Bakewell, Jr., is pleased to announce this year’s Extraordinary Corporate and Community Leaders who will be honored on Saturday, February 13, at the Marina Marriott Hotel Bayview Room, 4100 Admiralty Way, Marina del Rey, California. Honorees are:

Charisse Bremond-Weaver, president/CEO, Brotherhood Crusade; Faith D. Culbreath, director, SEIU-United Long Term Care Workers; Hill Harper, actor/author/activist; Dr. Dolores S. Nehemiah, OASC president Emerita/Pioneer Member; Randy Rice, executive rirector, Education Programs, Farmers Insurance; and Wendy Raquel Robinson, actress/activist

Program participants include Nedra Wheeler, renown bassist and her group will bring an outstanding musical performance and renown vocalist, Patrick Minner will perform “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” Other program participants include Bishop L. Daniel Williams.

The Honorary Committee for the 2010 African American History Month Celebrations includes…

Mr. Danny J. Bakewell, Sr., executive publisher/CEO, Los Angeles Sentinel; Mr. Carl A. Ballton, president, Union Bank Foundation; Mr. Kenneth Bentley, vice president, NestlŽ USA; Ms. Charisse Bremond-Weaver, President/CEO, Brotherhood Crusade; Judge Mablean Ephriam, television personality; Ms. Berlinda Fontenot-Jamerson, president, Museum of African American Art Board; Ms. Kimberly Freeman, regional manager, Sempra Energy; Ms. Wendy Gladney, president, Wendy’s Enterprises; Ms. Ingrid Hutt, president, New Frontier Democratic Club; Mr. Leon Jenkins, president, Los Angeles NAACP; Mr. Clifton L. Johnson, Vice President, Union Bank; Mr. Reginald Byron Jones-Sawyer, director, Real Estate, City of Los Angeles; Rev. Eric P. Lee, president/CEO, SCLC Los Angeles; Mr. James A. Smith, president/CEO, Executive Communication Services, Inc.; and Dr. Francille Rusan Wilson, associate professor, University of Southern California

Thanks to support from our Title Sponsor, Northrop Grumman Foundation and our Supporting Sponsors, Union Bank Foundation, NestlŽ USA, Sempra Energy, Walt Disney Parks & Resorts, Walt Disney World Wide Outreach, Brotherhood Crusade, The Nielsen Company and Farmers Insurance we are able to support ten scholars attending colleges or universities.

Dr. Genevieve A. Shepherd is President of Our Authors Study Club, Inc. For

more information about our luncheon call M. Moore at (310) 745-8773 or email [email protected] about reservations.