I grew up on 55th and Avalon blvd. My grandfather who died before I was born owned two dry cleaners on central ave in the 1920's and 30's. I remember the old theaters that were on Central , but were closed when I was growing up there in the 1970's and 80's. I am proudof that place and miss it very much. Everyone I knew was alive at that time with the exception of my grandfather.
Thank you!!! I'm in my 20's and always wanted to know the LA my mom, grandma, and beyond lived in. There are no videos you can find about black LA. I'm so happy you posted this. People like you who post historical pieces like these to youtube are a gem for the many generations to come. :)
Jennifer Danielle i got lots of pics and videos of south LA. I grew up my whole life here in Hooper Ave. I like history and I go around neighbors documenting what they know
Me too Jennifer. My grandmother was apart of the Central Ave. scene as it was ending. However Watts, Compton and West L.A. were popping in the '50 and '60' s too.
I'm also glad I came across this video. I grew up partly on Central AVe. My great grandfather was the pastor of New Hope Baptist Church. He built the church with the help of Paul Williams, the first black architect in the Los Angeles architect's union. Williams also designed the Shrine Auditorium and several other Los Angeles landmarks. In the late 60s and 70s it was a nice black city. There were problems but it was still nice with a lot of jobs for black people from Compton to the foot of Culver City and into Baldwin Hills, View Hills where Ray Charles once lived and Inglewood. It was almost like a black mecca in some ways
My dear Nextdoor neighbor from Windsor Hills and my grandfathers friend famous saxophonist/ clarinetistMr. Marshall Royal at 16:44 he used to play with country Basie band 1952-1970 man I wish I could gone back n interview him about back in the day. 🙏 We have a very rich n resilient history!
My family moved by what used to be Santa Barbara Blvd and is now MLK Blvd. That was in the Seventies. There were still so many Black homeowners then. Not too many left today. But them sure were glorious days. Today in the 2020’s, I drive down central avenue and can still see hints of a what was once great place . I love living in a history rich community. It’s amazing!!!🤣👍🏼🎖🤙🏼🌞❤️
My grandfather, his mother, and aunts moved to Los Angeles in the mid-1920s from San Antonio, TX. They lived near Central Ave. My granddad was a 1931 graduate of Jefferson High. At this point, my family has been in Los Angeles close to 100 years.
It's a piece of LA history and it's a shame that in time, that community left that area. I was born in the wrong era. Just imagine all those Jazz clubs being there today. I grew up in the Florence/Firestone area and I am truly blessed to see videos about our city.
I grew up off of Central Avenue . I didn't know this rich black history in Los Angeles , CA until , I found your video . Thank you for sharing this info .
Once the restrictive race covenants were declared unconstitutional in 1948 the blacks with money moved to the west side of South L.A. The east side got poorer and poorer, which eventually became a gate-opener and permanent residence for illegal immigrants from south of the border.
I love our people.Our deep rooted history...Im sure that if our foregone elders were able to see the cesspool of what has become of all of their blood,sweat and tears,there would be no peace in their places of rest-
Me too , I used to do the same thing at the YMCA as a boy . I used to try to swim in the pool . It's where I learned to play basketball . The YMCA staff even took a group of us camping . I had a great time . Thanks to the kind people of the YMCA . I a lot of good memories being apart of that community .
my aunts and uncle bought a home in 1956 off Slason and Vaness.. Inglewood CA My uncle was a UCLA Medical School Grad and a resident doctor at County medical center. He said the white people has issues but then learned to accept them . He said we made sure to always look good, dress good and outside all them
I used to live behind Jefferson HS on 33rd st back in the late 80s stayed there till the late 90s I attended Jefferson HS and Carver Jr high man it was rough back then. Later I moved to Compton of Roscrans and Compton blvd
What happened to the blacks of old? South Central has become an immigrant community and now a because of gentrification they are being kicked out. A house on Normandie and 29th street sold for 900k.
I can’t place 29th and normandie in my head right now like picture that area but there’s some beautiful homes in south central in the 20s and 30s. Big historic looking 2 story houses, a lot of them just look like they would need a little fixing up.
In Compton there is some small pockets where the homes are still owned by the original families that had purchased it back in the 40s and you can tell they still cherish them they take excellent care of them . My parents used to own one of those house which they bought back in the 90s from an elder black lady. We kept it nice in its original color with a beautiful green lawn and a small garden .
@@photosynthesis69 There are some great houses located between Adams and 29th Street just west of Central. Some of those blocks are now declared historic districts.
I grew up on 23rd Street in between Central Ave and Naomi Avenue in the 70’s. I went to 20th Street Elementary School. On the corner of 23rd and Central was the Lincoln Theatre which became a church. I was surprised when I visited there after being away many years how much the neighborhood and it’s demographics had changed.
@@cooper482011 its was theres before white people took it and black people came . It was mexico before and intruders came claiming it as there own as they always do . Most mexicans own what they have including there property/ neighborhood black people didnt do that here
Well, reagan granted amnesty in the 80s, more sneaked over kept breeding and breeding expecting more amnesty... I personally noticed demographics shift in the state around 1996.
My Grandfather built his hm in 1948 on 28th st..my family has been around since blacks couldn't go across Main St. Such great memories The Dunbar Hotel with Nat king Cole and Joe Lewis to name a couple 27th St Bakery and Bowers cleaners..😔 Now in 2022 my family is selling I'm so disappointed but some endings have great beginnings...💎 #centralavenue...
@@AntiMasonic93 central americans bro. Look at east la/cypress park/Lincoln heights...that's mexican. Now look at MacArthur park that's centro Americans
@Citizen De Watts at this point any politician who is a corporate woke wall st. pawn is trying to destroy you. The only ones going against the grain as far as I can see are Donald J Trump and Tulsi Gabbard. And Trump is only willing to go so far. Look up former Georgia congress woman Cynthia McKinney, shes the ony real one willing to do the heavy lifting that I have seen over the last 20 years or so.
The young lady who went to Jefferson HS: "We were an achievement-oriented neighborhood. Education was prized by all." What happened? Former (white) Jefferson teacher here, neighborhood doesn't feel that way now.
Reagan granted amnesty in the 80s, more sneaked over kept breeding and breeding expecting more amnesty... I personally noticed demographics shift in the state around 1996.
@@NAT-turners-Revenge All the illegals basically got amnesty without ever going through the process of applying at least since I've been in California since 2005
desegregation, welfare, deindustrialization, 1965 immigration act, fxminism, freeway system, to name a few. gangs only fucked things up when crack cocaine came into LA, before that gangs weren't nearly as violent.
I grew up on 55th and Avalon blvd. My grandfather who died before I was born owned two dry cleaners on central ave in the 1920's and 30's. I remember the old theaters that were on Central , but were closed when I was growing up there in the 1970's and 80's. I am proudof that place and miss it very much. Everyone I knew was alive at that time with the exception of my grandfather.
You might like this too. ruclips.net/video/_tA7S5xPERI/видео.html
@nameyoufriend thank you. Checking it out now.
My great aunt and uncle lived on 23rd and Central during that time. They were from New Orleans. Amazing being a part of such history.
Thank you!!! I'm in my 20's and always wanted to know the LA my mom, grandma, and beyond lived in. There are no videos you can find about black LA. I'm so happy you posted this. People like you who post historical pieces like these to youtube are a gem for the many generations to come. :)
Jennifer Danielle i got lots of pics and videos of south LA. I grew up my whole life here in Hooper Ave. I like history and I go around neighbors documenting what they know
Me too Jennifer. My grandmother was apart of the Central Ave. scene as it was ending. However Watts, Compton and West L.A. were popping in the '50 and '60' s too.
Glad you enjoyed the program......I too grew up blocks away from such a historical place
@@nameyoufriend This is amazing. Where is this footage from? Did you edit this?
I'm also glad I came across this video. I grew up partly on Central AVe. My great grandfather was the pastor of New Hope Baptist Church. He built the church with the help of Paul Williams, the first black architect in the Los Angeles architect's union. Williams also designed the Shrine Auditorium and several other Los Angeles landmarks. In the late 60s and 70s it was a nice black city. There were problems but it was still nice with a lot of jobs for black people from Compton to the foot of Culver City and into Baldwin Hills, View Hills where Ray Charles once lived and Inglewood. It was almost like a black mecca in some ways
My dear Nextdoor neighbor from Windsor Hills and my grandfathers friend famous saxophonist/ clarinetistMr. Marshall Royal at 16:44 he used to play with country Basie band 1952-1970 man I wish I could gone back n interview him about back in the day. 🙏 We have a very rich n resilient history!
My family moved by what used to be Santa Barbara Blvd and is now MLK Blvd. That was in the Seventies. There were still so many Black homeowners then. Not too many left today. But them sure were glorious days. Today in the 2020’s, I drive down central avenue and can still see hints of a what was once great place . I love living in a history rich community. It’s amazing!!!🤣👍🏼🎖🤙🏼🌞❤️
My grandfather, his mother, and aunts moved to Los Angeles in the mid-1920s from San Antonio, TX. They lived near Central Ave. My granddad was a 1931 graduate of Jefferson High. At this point, my family has been in Los Angeles close to 100 years.
It's a piece of LA history and it's a shame that in time, that community left that area. I was born in the wrong era. Just imagine all those Jazz clubs being there today. I grew up in the Florence/Firestone area and I am truly blessed to see videos about our city.
You might like this one too. ruclips.net/video/_tA7S5xPERI/видео.html
I grew up off of Central Avenue . I didn't know this rich black history in Los Angeles , CA until , I found your video . Thank you for sharing this info .
Once the restrictive race covenants were declared unconstitutional in 1948 the blacks with money moved to the west side of South L.A. The east side got poorer and poorer, which eventually became a gate-opener and permanent residence for illegal immigrants from south of the border.
Michael ADOS word!
Absolutely, illegals been spreading now for decades with their anchor babies!
I still have family in the area... its maybe 20% blk now
TraRob-EastSide probably just 5 %
Oh brother y’all always blame someone 🤦🏽♂️ Latinos took over bohoo go cry about it we never told y’all to move from there 😂😂
@@TheFons77 it’s like 10 - 20% black nowadays
I love our people.Our deep rooted history...Im sure that if our foregone elders were able to see the cesspool of what has become of all of their blood,sweat and tears,there would be no peace in their places of rest-
I live around central Ave and I went there as a kid, learned to swim at the YMCA memories, that place is now apartments
Wow..... yes my grdma is 86 now and she went there
Me too , I used to do the same thing at the YMCA as a boy . I used to try to swim in the pool .
It's where I learned to play basketball . The YMCA staff even took a group of us camping .
I had a great time . Thanks to the kind people of the YMCA . I a lot of good memories being apart of that community .
Thank you for this video. My grandmother Verna Williams was the host. Yea
I proud to know this... you're welcome
My Neighborhood ...( during my maternal grandmother's generation !) Thanks Guys....John Barnett revisted July 1 2024 ❤❤❤❤❤
Integration destroyed us Black Americans. We were very productive as a segregated people.
@@damuaskari2275 I'm in Valencia right now, nice try
Yes , so true . It's still hurting us today 2020 . Smh
💯 I wish that blacks can united and and prosper again as we should but much father this time💫😌
Go back to the cave white folks so we can re-discover y’all lol
Throughout the country integration caused so many black-owned businesses to fail.
my aunts and uncle bought a home in 1956 off Slason and Vaness.. Inglewood CA My uncle was a UCLA Medical School Grad and a resident doctor at County medical center. He said the white people has issues but then learned to accept them . He said we made sure to always look good, dress good and outside all them
I used to live behind Jefferson HS on 33rd st back in the late 80s stayed there till the late 90s I attended Jefferson HS and Carver Jr high man it was rough back then. Later I moved to Compton of Roscrans and Compton blvd
Why was I born in these days... Its pure hell in LA now...
Thank you for sharing this Post... God Bless you all
I like watching Devil in a Blue Dress with Denzel Washington. It is based in South Central la
Love that movie also. Been meaning to start reading the Easy Rawlins series.
What happened to the blacks of old? South Central has become an immigrant community and now a because of gentrification they are being kicked out. A house on Normandie and 29th street sold for 900k.
I can’t place 29th and normandie in my head right now like picture that area but there’s some beautiful homes in south central in the 20s and 30s. Big historic looking 2 story houses, a lot of them just look like they would need a little fixing up.
democrats
In Compton there is some small pockets where the homes are still owned by the original families that had purchased it back in the 40s and you can tell they still cherish them they take excellent care of them . My parents used to own one of those house which they bought back in the 90s from an elder black lady. We kept it nice in its original color with a beautiful green lawn and a small garden .
@@westcoastmex629 blacks weren't allowed in compton until the 60's.
@@photosynthesis69 There are some great houses located between Adams and 29th Street just west of Central. Some of those blocks are now declared historic districts.
I grew up on 23rd Street in between Central Ave and Naomi Avenue in the 70’s. I went to 20th Street Elementary School. On the corner of 23rd and Central was the Lincoln Theatre which became a church. I was surprised when I visited there after being away many years how much the neighborhood and it’s demographics had changed.
DJ Astro Black
The once-beautiful Central Avenue corridor is now a safe haven for illegal immigrants. It was done under the democrats’ watch. Smh.
20th st school same here
@@cooper482011 its was theres before white people took it and black people came . It was mexico before and intruders came claiming it as there own as they always do . Most mexicans own what they have including there property/ neighborhood black people didnt do that here
Well, reagan granted amnesty in the 80s, more sneaked over kept breeding and breeding expecting more amnesty...
I personally noticed demographics shift in the state around 1996.
@@ignorantatheist4258 borders, language, culture..... american territory, american sovereignty.... get over it
My Grandfather built his hm in 1948 on 28th st..my family has been around since blacks couldn't go across Main St. Such great memories The Dunbar Hotel with Nat king Cole and Joe Lewis to name a couple 27th St Bakery and Bowers cleaners..😔 Now in 2022 my family is selling I'm so disappointed but some endings have great beginnings...💎 #centralavenue...
Central look like Tijuana today
because blaccs sold their houses ans moved to long beach and atlanta
Eleven Deuce BGC And Moreno Valley
Mexicans and Central Americans took over.
@@xotiller5177 When gang bangin was at an alltime high, around 81-97
@@AntiMasonic93 central americans bro. Look at east la/cypress park/Lincoln heights...that's mexican. Now look at MacArthur park that's centro Americans
But someday it will be reborn for the better 💟
nope. Maxine and demonrats will never allow us to fix what they have done.
@Citizen De Watts at this point any politician who is a corporate woke wall st. pawn is trying to destroy you. The only ones going against the grain as far as I can see are Donald J Trump and Tulsi Gabbard. And Trump is only willing to go so far. Look up former Georgia congress woman Cynthia McKinney, shes the ony real one willing to do the heavy lifting that I have seen over the last 20 years or so.
Let's face it: people from the 1930s were better than us.
I grew up on 77th Place, just off Central Avenue. At that time most of the businesses were black owned
A lot of mixed black folks and see back in those days
GetMoney23 The King you are very right about that a lot of my dads relatives left NC to move to NYC in the 70s/80s seems
Most likely Louisiana Creoles
awesome info thanks
Slauson Girl .your welcome, this is our story I'm Avalon guy
@nameyourfriend ,
Great share of historical information . Where can I get a copy of this video ?
Contact PBS
The title is "Ode To Central Avenue"
The young lady who went to Jefferson HS: "We were an achievement-oriented neighborhood. Education was prized by all." What happened? Former (white) Jefferson teacher here, neighborhood doesn't feel that way now.
Where did this film come from?
Contact PBS
The title is "Ode To Central Avenue"
Hi! where is this video from? thanks :)
When did south L.A. become predominantly Hispanic? There are way more Hispanics than blacks in South L.A. now.
Reagan granted amnesty in the 80s, more sneaked over kept breeding and breeding expecting more amnesty...
I personally noticed demographics shift in the state around 1996.
Sounds about white like some nwo shit to keep their race expanding lol
@@NAT-turners-Revenge All the illegals basically got amnesty without ever going through the process of applying at least since I've been in California since 2005
Democrats and their liberal laws have negative consequences for Black Americans.
What year was this film?
TheFons77
Late 1980s - probably 1988 or 1989.
What year was this made?
1980
October 12, 1989. My grandmother Verna Williams was the host.
And now it's a mess
Gangs fucked LA up
Dead wrong .. Problem started way before Gangs were on the scene....
desegregation, welfare, deindustrialization, 1965 immigration act, fxminism, freeway system, to name a few. gangs only fucked things up when crack cocaine came into LA, before that gangs weren't nearly as violent.
It was crack
It was all a myth that the west and north were so much better.