Danny J. Bakewell, Sr., executive publisher of the Los Angeles Sentinel, was named by the Los Angeles Times as one of Los Angeles Most Influential Leaders.
While the list crosses a number of categories as well as a wide array of ethnicities & genders, Bakewell Sr. joins an exclusive group of influential Black leaders throughout the greater metropolitan region. The list includes elected officials such as Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, Inglewood Mayor James Butts, and Secretary of State Shirley Weber; businessman Leader and philanthropist Ervin “Magic” Johnson, NBA star LeBron James, LAPD Deputy Chief Emada Tingrides, poet and activist Amanda Gorman, and entertainment executives Ava Duvernay, Shonda Rhimes, and Nicole Avant-Sarandos.
Other notable Black leaders cited are Cecilia Myrant-Cruz, president of UTLA; Dr. Va Lecia Adams Kellum, executive director of Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority; cannabis advocate Kika Keith, and affordable housing developer Prophet Walker.
Bakewell Sr. has a decades-long history of social justice activism. For more than 30 years, he served as president of The Brotherhood Crusade, fighting for civil rights on behalf of the Black community in Los Angeles. Even today, if an issue negatively impacts the Black community, Bakewell can be counted on to publicly address the situation and demand remedial action.
He is also the co-founder of the Black United Fund. Also, the Danny J. Bakewell Jr. Primary School in South L.A. was dedicated in his name.
In 2004, the Bakewell family purchased the historic paper and under the guidance of Bakewell, the paper has grown immensely over the years and greatly increased the Sentinel’s readership. Also, the family expanded the publication’s brand into other media platforms including eblast, social media, podcast, and epapers.
Significantly, Executive Publisher Danny J. Bakewell, Sr. created and founded the Taste of Soul Family Festival, now in its 19th year and held every third Saturday in October. The iconic festival, which spans along Crenshaw Boulevard from Obama Boulevard to Stocker Avenue, brings over 500,000 people and hundreds of local businesses the heart of the African American community, and serves as a tremendous economic generator for the area.
Notably, local and national elected officials seek the endorsement and support of Bakewell Sr. when running for political office. However, his influence extends well beyond politics to solid and enduring relationships throughout the community with people from all walks of life.
In fact, Bakewell’s approachability and willingness to unite with a wide range of groups to improve the Black community has led to his popularity and respect from corporate executives to prominent educators to revered theologians to small business owners and reformed gangsters. The common thread is likely that all are inspired and impressed by his dedication to uplifting Black people.
As quoted in the L.A. Times article, Bakewell insisted, “I’m not against anybody. But I am for Black people for sure. That who I come to the table to serve…because I see us always left out, always left behind.
“And if I’m going to have any role of leadership, I want it to improve the lives of Black people.”
