The Our Authors Study Club (OASC) will conduct its exclusive Black History Bus Tour of Los Angeles on Saturday, April 5, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Rescheduled due to the recent fires, led by expert guides with extensive knowledge of Los Angeles’ African American history, participants will journey through historically significant sites including the Biddy Mason Wall, Sugar Hill, El Pueblo De Monumento, Central Avenue, Leimert Park and more.
This year’s tour features a brief journey on L.A. Metro to explore the intersection of African American and Japanese communities, complete with art installations that capture these cultural convergences.
“Our tour goes beyond standard landmarks to reveal the hidden narratives that have shaped our city,” says Lura Ball, president of OASC.
“We provide rare access to sites with limited public recognition while delivering a unique blend of storytelling, historical context, and cultural pride.
“Members of the planning committee took a mock tour to the regional station escorted by Metro Ambassadors and Metro Commissioner Jacqueline Dupont-Walker,” she added.
Limited spots remain available. Interested participants can RSVP at www.oascla.org/rsvp.
Thanks to OASC’s long standing partnership with the Consolidated Board of Realtists of Southern California, the tour will depart from the organization’s location which is a traditional Spanish Adobe building built on a Spanish land grant named “Rancho De La Cienega D Paso De La Tijera.”
L.A. Metro joins the 2025 Bus Tour as a major sponsor accompanied by supporting sponsors Black Hollywood Education and Resource Center (BHERC), L.A. City Public Library, Office of the Mayor, Department of Cultural Affairs UTLA, Brotherhood Crusade, SEIU-USWW, and Council Districts 8, 9, and 10.
Also, OASC will sponsor a film screening of “10,000 Black Men Named George,” which
exploring the rise of the Black middle class and marks the 100th celebration of the Pullman Porters Union. The screening takes place on Sunday, March 23, at 2:30 p.m., at the Mark Taper Auditorium in the Los Angeles Public Library in downtown L.A.
Currently, OASC is accepting contributions for its book project, “The Roads We’ve Traveled: Blacks in Labor.” “The Roads We’ve Traveled: Lifting up OUR OWN Black History Stories through the Journey of our Families,” uplifts the Black history stories of L.A.-area families.
“These are snapshots of success, struggle, resilience, disappointment, humble beginnings, beauty, and brilliance, will be presented in a digital and print book project. OASC invites community members to contribute to a landmark collection celebrating Black excellence in labor by sharing family stories,” said Ball.
Submissions should include one historical photo of a family member connected to the labor movement, tell the person’s story in 75 words or less, and submit the information at bit.ly/SubmissionOASCLaborBook. Submissions will be accepted through April 21.
Accepted stories will be featured in both print and digital collections, preserving these vital narratives for future generations. “The Roads We’ve Traveled: Blacks in Labor” Book Project will be unveiled at a live event in May.
For more information log on to www.oascla.org
