Charlotta Bass’s legacy lives on at USC, where the Bass Lab’s annual celebration continues to champion Black journalism and social justice. On Feb. 11, civil rights figures Philonise Floyd and Lee Merritt joined the Third Annual Charlotta Bass Day, reinforcing the lab’s mission.
The event featured the lab’s signature Second Draft Project interactive program, a catered reception, and a live art demonstration by Los Angeles-based artist Shaylen Nelson.
Charlotta Bass, the namesake of the Bass Lab, was a pioneering journalist and civil rights activist. As the editor and publisher of the California Eagle, one of the first and longest-running Black newspapers in the region, Bass championed racial and social justice. Her legacy serves as the foundation for the lab’s innovative approach, which merges journalism, law, and technology.
Philonise Floyd, the brother of George Floyd—whose 2020 murder catalyzed the global Black Lives Matter movement—is a dedicated social justice advocate. He founded the Philonise and Keeta Floyd Institute for Social Change, an organization focused on police reform, economic empowerment, and education initiatives to advance racial justice.
Lee Merritt, an acclaimed civil rights attorney and Los Angeles native, has represented high-profile cases, including the murder of Ahmaud Arbery. His acute legal insight has shaped civil rights law and fueled national conversations around police brutality and racial justice.
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The Bass Lab was founded by Dr. Allissa Richardson, an award-winning author and professor at USC. A specialist in innovative journalism, Dr. Richardson is dedicated to equipping journalists with the tools to document and disseminate news in times of crisis, especially when resources are scarce.
Among the notable participants in the Second Draft Project is Dr. Ilyasah Shabazz, daughter of Malcolm X and Dr. Betty Shabazz, who contributed her insights to the lab’s interactive database. Additionally, Lora King, daughter of Rodney King and founder of the Rodney King Foundation, was the inaugural participant in the project.
The Second Draft Project, the core initiative of the Bass Lab, is an interactive database designed to amend and expand on historically incomplete or misrepresented narratives. Often referred to as “the first draft of history,” initial news reports can sometimes lack depth or context. By leveraging AI technology, the Second Draft Project ensures that overlooked perspectives are documented and made accessible to the public, providing a more comprehensive understanding of historical and contemporary events.
Charlotta Bass’s enduring impact is immortalized as 9th District Councilman Curren D. Price, Jr. officially designates February 14 as Charlotta Bass Day. This annual celebration validates the necessity of Black journalism and its significance in advocating for civil rights and social justice.
As part of the event’s programming, multidisciplinary artist Shaylen Nelson created a live painting inspired by a selfie of George Floyd. Nelson, who actively participated in the Black Lives Matter protests of 2020, uses his art as a form of activism, capturing the essence of resistance, resilience, and remembrance.
Through Charlotta Bass Day and the Second Draft Project, USC’s Bass Lab preserves history, shapes the future, and upholds justice, equity, and truth in journalism.
