Black History Month

Culver City Hosts Powerful Black History Month Event

The Black History Month Event in Culver City on Feb. 23 was a powerful and emotional celebration of Black joy, culture, and history. The event was hosted by Vice-Mayor Yasmine-Imani McMorrin, School Board Member Triston Ezidore, and Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove at a small business bookstore called Village Wells.

Black Herstory Month: Women Making Moves and Leading Change in The Music Industry

African Americans have made significant contributions to the art of music in many genres across generations. One musical genre that has roots back to slavery is gospel music. As slaves became Christians, a religion forced upon them, they began singing hymns later termed spirituals. Then with the abolition of slavery, a new form of music began to emerge. Free Blacks found themselves expressing their disappointment in a post-slavery society, birthing the smooth sound of the blues. Fast-forward to the late 1970’s, Hip-Hop was born. This cultural movement encompassed all past and present music expressions like spirituals, the blues, poems, art, stories,

‘Paul R. Williams: Hollywood’s Architect’ on PBS

Paul Revere Williams, born February 18, 1894 with an orphan background, followed his dream of becoming an architect and by the early 1920s was designing homes and commercial buildings in and around Los Angeles. At the time of his death on January 23, 1980, he had created some 2,500 buildings in the United States and around the globe.

HERstory: Kristel Jones, Kendra Settle, and Nicole “Cole” Mitchell

The month of February is dedicated to Black History Month where we honor and pay tribute to those who have made positive contributions to Black history. Historical figures such as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, Maya Angelou, James Baldwin, and many more are often highlighted during this month. While we pay tribute to those who have fought for Black rights and equality, Black History Month is also devoted to acknowledging Black men and women who are currently impacting society in a positive way. Kristel Jones, Kendra Settle, and Nicole “Cole” Mitchell are three Black female entrepreneurs from California who are building a foundation that will last a lifetime.

Black History Month: Business Profiles

Maggie Lena Walker (1864-1934) – Maggie Lena Walker was the first Black woman to charter a bank in the U.S., opening St. Luke Penny Savings Bank, where she served as president. After having three sons, she went to work part time as an agent for an insurance company, the Women’s Union, while attending night school for bookkeeping.  She also volunteered at St. Luke and eventually worked her way up in 1889, to become the executive secretary-treasurer of the renamed organization, the Independent Order of St. Luke.   Walker started publishing the St. Luke Herald in 1902 to publicize and promote the

Black Herstory Month: Learn About Extraordinary Black Women Making History

Black Americans make up 12% of the country’s population, but less than 6% are appointed as chief executive officers (CEO). In November of 2022, CNBC announced that only 5.9% of all CEO’s in the United States are African American. Within those small percentages, Rosalind Brewer and Thasunda Brown Duckett are the only two Black women who have lead Fortune 500 companies.  

Pan African Film & Arts Festival Seeks Volunteers 

Volunteers for the 31st Pan African Film & Arts Festival (PAFF) are sought for February 2023. The festival is returning with in-person films and events from Feb. 9-20, 2023, in Los Angeles at the Cinemark Baldwin Hills and XD and Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza. 

Make Mental Wellness Part of Our Total Health

The next phase of the COVID-19 pandemic in California has arrived. As the state begins to implement its SMARTER Plan, protecting ourselves and our communities from COVID-19 and its fast-spreading variants through vaccination can ensure better outcomes for us all.