UCLA History-Geography Project Aims to Shift the Narrative About Black LA
Events in Black History Month and beyond explore hope, joy and persistence of Black communities
As part of the celebration of Black History Month, The UCLA History-Geography Project is launching Shifting the Narrative: Black LA, a conversation series exploring the stories of Black Angelenos.
Engaging teachers and others through scholarly talks, interactive conversations, and analysis of primary sources, the sessions aim to inspire educators to “shift” their instructional approach to teaching Black histories by using local stories, highlighting community members, and exposing students to the rich, resilient, and powerful ways Black Angelenos have transformed and will continue to transform Los Angeles.
“We hope these conversations will help history and ethnic studies teachers rethink the ways they teach Black History and provide them with learning opportunities and resources related to local Black history,” says Danel Diaz, director of the UCLA History and Geography Project.
The series kicks off Tuesday, January 22 at 4.pm with an online discussion with Professor La Garrett King, the director of the newly founded Center for K-12 Black History and Racial Literacy Education at the University of Buffalo. King is an internationally recognized award-winning scholar of Black history education whose research examines the teaching and learning of Black history in schools and society.
Participants in the session will explore King’s six principles for teaching Black stories so that joy, hope, and agency come forth to show the many ways various Black communities in Los Angeles have persisted, fought for justice, and creatively preserved cultural traditions, while overcoming racism and economic challenges.
The conversation with Professor King will be followed on Tuesday March 1, with a closer look at the experiences of members of the Black community in Pacoima. The session will be led by Crystal Jackson, public historian, author, and director of the Pacoima Historical Society, who will share her insights into the little known, yet vital stories of Black Pacoima.
Shifting the Narrative: Black LA culminates April 12 with a conversation with Alison Rose Jefferson, historian and scholar-in-residence at The Getty Center. The conversation will explore the vibrant history of the Belmar community in Santa Monica and how the struggle of Black Americans for leisure and public space reshaped the freedom rights struggle. Jefferson is the author of “Living the California Dream: African American Leisure Communities During the Jim Crow Era.”
More information and Registration is available here