On Friday, August 25, the Los Angeles Sentinel was recognized by the Los Angeles City Council for 90 years of journalistic excellence. The event was held in Los Angeles City Council Chambers as part of the city’s Black Business Month observance.
Councilwoman Heather Hutt (CD 10) introduced the proclamation honoring the Sentinel during the City Council meeting. Also taking part in the presentation was Council President Pro Tem Marqueece Harris-Dawson (CD 8) and Councilman Curren Price (CD 9).
Hutt, in her acknowledgement of the Sentinel and its 90 years of service in the city of Los Angeles, told the story of the newspaper’s founding by Col. Leon H. Washington and his wife, Ruth Washington, in 1933. Col. Washington used The Sentinel as a “potent vehicle to gain respect for the Black community from the larger society.”
Washington led a series of peaceful protests against white shop owners operating in Black communities who refused to hire Black workers. The publisher was subsequently arrested for leading the campaign with the slogan, “Don’t Spend Your Money Where You Can’t Work.” Col. Washington died in 1974 and his wife Ruth Washington led the Sentinel until she passed away 16 years later.
In 1990, the Sentinel’s ownership was headed by Attorney Kenneth Thomas and his wife, Jennifer. The two guided the historic paper through a series of changes within the community including the relocation from the Sentinel’s original offices on Central Avenue to the current office location on Crenshaw Blvd.
Attorney Thomas was president and CEO for seven years until he passed away in 1997. Following Mr. Thomas death, the paper was led by his wife, Jennifer Thomas, until 2004.
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 300,000 people and hundreds of local businesses the heart of the African American community, and serves as a tremendous economic generator for the area.
In accepting the award Bakewell said, “It is both an honor and privilege to be empowered as the oice of our community speaking for itself. Our team works daily with a true commitment to excellence and a commitment to ensuring that the Black community and our stories are told and forever archived for generations to come.”
In addition to Councilmembers Hutt, Harris-Dawson and Price, Council President Paul Krekorian, Councilwoman Eunisses Hernandez, Councilman Hugo Soto-Martinez, Councilman Tim McOsker and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass all personally thanked Bakewell and the Sentinel staff for their leadership and continuous work to empower and chronicle the stories and struggles within the Black Community.
Harris Dawson said, “The Sentinel continues to be a beacon of light and leadership within our community.” He also shared that as a lifelong Angeleno while studying at Morehouse College, it was the Sentinel that he relied on weekly to keep him updated to all of the action and activities in his community.
Price, whose district the Sentinel originally was initially located in, shared his many experiences in working with the newspaper to empower the community. He expressed appreciation for the newspaper’s dedication in informing the community of the basic needs and services available to South L.A. residents. Price added that he was honored that the residents of his district rely on the Sentinel for information on what is going on in the city.
