African Americans swam and socialized at the Santa Monica beach at Bay Street and Ocean Front Walk until the 1960s. Like these teenagers photographed there in 1926, they found less anti-Black hostility at the public Bay Street Beach than at other Southern California beaches. Still, Whites called it the “Inkwell,” in reference to the color of Black beachgoers’ skin. Photo: Los Angeles Public Library / Shades of L.A. Collection
Please join us for a webinar presentation with Alison Rose Jefferson, M.H.C. | Ph.D. In her presentation, Jefferson will give an overview of her book, Living the California Dream: African American Leisure Sites during the Jim Crow Era (University of Nebraska Press, 2020), which takes a fresh approach to looking at the practices of relaxation, recreation and public spaces for all people at beaches, mountains, and other scenic locales holding a central place in the long freedom rights struggle.
She will also talk about how some of the case studies and interpretations at California Beach sites in her book that are being used today to engage young people with experiential learning activities in the explorations of the African American and Mexican American experiences, heritage conservation issues, beach wildlife appreciation and stewardship, as well as aspirations to environmental justices policies involving beach assess and civic action. A key engagement activity in one of the projects that gets the immediate attention of the young people is that they get an introductory surfing lesson as part of the direct and visceral experience with the beautiful settings and beach recreation.
The presentation will be followed by a Q&A session. The webinar will also be recorded and published on our website and Facebook page.
LOCATION
Webinar via Zoom
REGISTRATION
This is a free event but registration is required.
If you have questions about the event, please email us at lacityhistoryevents@gmail.com.
About Alison Rose Jefferson
A third generation Californian, Alison Rose Jefferson, M.H.C, Ph.D. is a historian and heritage conservation consultant. She reconstructs the stories of the African American experience which have been left out or marginalized in the telling of American history as a tool in the struggle for social justice. She is currently working on applied history projects dealing with the African American experience during the Jim Crow era. Working with Santa Monica’s Belmar History + Art project and the Central Avenue heritage trail with Angels Walk L.A, Jefferson is drawing on her research to guide and enrich these public programs at these Southern California locales that feature historical significance as well as contemporary consequence.
Her recent book, Living the California Dream: African American Leisure Sites during the Jim Crow Era(University of Nebraska Press) was honored with the 2020 Miriam Matthews Ethnic History Award by the Los Angeles City Historical Society for its exceptional contributions to the greater understanding and awareness of Los Angeles history. Here work has been noted in KCET-LA programming, Los AngelesMagazine, the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, AltaObsura.com and other media outlets. Learn more about Jefferson’s work at: www.alisonrosejefferson.com.
