In a significant milestone for Black heritage in Los Angeles, six historic sites, including the home of Tom and Ethel Bradley in Leimert Park, have been designated as Historic-Cultural Monuments.
This initiative was part of a project led by the Getty in collaboration with the City of Los Angeles’ Office of Historic Resources, aiming to recognize and protect important locations tied to Black history.
The Bradleys, who moved into their three-bedroom home in 1950, broke racial barriers in a neighborhood that had been closed to Black homebuyers. Their oldest daughter, Lorraine Bradley, remembers the profound impact of their decision.
“My parents understood the implications of that. They were willing to sacrifice themselves in many regards,” she stated, emphasizing her parents’ belief in integration as a path to equality.
For the first year after their arrival, Lorraine and her younger sister faced racial prejudice from local white children who would not play with them. However, acceptance gradually came, aided in part by Tom’s position as a police officer.
The family’s commitment to breaking down racial barriers was profound. Tom and Ethel conveyed to their daughters that understanding and living with others were essential to overcoming racial prejudice.
The Bradleys lived in the modest 1,282-square-foot home until 1977, when they moved into the Getty House after Tom was elected as the first Black mayor of Los Angeles. Lorraine expressed pride in the recognition of her parents’ courage, stating, “Somebody had to, so my dad and mom decided it was them.”
The additional sites that have received landmark status alongside the Bradley residence include the Stylesville Barbershop & Beauty Salon in Pacoima, St. Elmo Village and Jewel’s Catch One in Mid-City, the California Eagle newspaper in South L.A., and New Bethel Baptist Church in Venice.
These designations are part of the ongoing efforts by African American Historic Places, Los Angeles, a project initiated by the city and Getty in 2022 to identify and celebrate the city’s Black heritage. Each of the six sites will display its own plaque to commemorate its historical significance.
Celebrations are scheduled for later this month at several of these locations, including the Bradley residence, St. Elmo Village, and Jewel’s Catch One. Stylesville plans a separate celebration at a later date.
The project emerged from a broader reevaluation of how cultural organizations highlight and engage with Black history and heritage, catalyzed by social movements following the murder of George Floyd in 2020. Rita Cofield, associate project specialist at the Getty Conservation Institute and AAHPLA project leader, emphasized the project’s roots in community feedback.
Getty’s initiative focused on identifying sites that may be overlooked due to their commonplace appearances. Cofield explained that understanding the importance of a site often requires deep community connections that outsiders may not possess.
These Historic-Cultural Monuments will serve to educate both Angelenos and visitors about the rich history of these sites. For example, the California Eagle, founded by John J. Neimore in 1879, is recognized as one of the oldest and longest-running Black-owned newspapers in the United States.
St. Elmo Village continues to be an active arts community and hub for social activism, while Stylesville is recognized as the oldest Black-owned barbershop in San Fernando Valley. Jewel’s Catch One holds the distinction of being the oldest Black-owned disco in the U.S. and an early safe space for LGBTQ+ individuals of color.
The establishment of New Bethel Baptist Church marks a key chapter in the early days of Black migration to the Oakwood neighborhood, adding to the cultural tapestry of Los Angeles.
As AAHPLA looks to the future, the initiative aims to seek out more sites deserving of landmark status while investing efforts in neighborhoods such as Pacoima, Oakwood, and the historically significant Central Avenue corridor, known for its vibrant jazz scene.
Cofield noted the project’s broader mission to celebrate intangible aspects of African American heritage, exploring how to achieve this through various community outreach strategies, including murals and educational programs.
“We really want to celebrate intangible heritage too,” she remarked, emphasizing the importance of collaborating with local communities to devise effective methods of preservation and celebration.
In conclusion, the recognition of these Historic-Cultural Monuments marks a vital step in honoring and preserving the Black heritage of Los Angeles, bringing visibility to sites that have long been significant to the community.
image source from：latimes
