This South LA neighborhood has made countless contributions to LA’s Black History.
The South Los Angeles neighborhood of Leimert Park Village is sketch by Rodeo Road , Crenshaw Blvd , and Vernon Ave , while its namesake , Leimert Park Blvd , transits all three streets , withLeimert Park Plazaacting as its centerpiece . The area is named after founder Walter H. “ Tim ” Leimert , a successful residential developer at the clock time the neighbourhood was develop in 1928 . Now recognized as a thriving hub for Black civilisation in LA , in plus to being one of America’snine historic Black neighborhoods , Leimert Park has undergo important changes since 1948 , when racial concordat prevented citizenry of color from living there .
That year , thanks to theShelley v. Kraemercase , the United States Supreme Court ruled in favor of move out racial covenants from the area , declaring them restrictive and legally unenforceable . As calamitous residents begin go in , white-hot occupant opted for Westside neighborhoods like Manhattan Beach and Westwood , allow Leimert Park to germinate into a mecca for the metropolis ’s Black communities — a appellation it still savour today .
Asone of the largest inglorious middle - course of study neighborhoods in America , Leimert Park has served as a safe blank space for bleak expression for seven decades . Even as the Metro expansion and comparatively abject rent pull newcomers to the orbit , the locality has remained unapologetically Black , withBlack residents making up 80 % of its population . Leimert Park Village is absorb in Black chronicle , culture , and pridefulness , and one could easily spend their Clarence Shepard Day Jr. immersing themselves in the sounds , smack , and art of the vicinity .
Photo by Dee Williams for Thrillist
“ What ’s really special about [ Leimert Park ] is that we as African Americans , or Black - identify Americans , go there and we find free , we feel find out , we experience understood and it ’s the one place where we do n’t experience on showing or display , ” reflects noted soul singer Jimetta Rose , who frequently do in the hamlet .
Enjoy a taste of the Diaspora
Before setting off for a mean solar day of research the neighborhood , get a jumpstart atHarun Coffee & GalleryorHot And Cool Cafe . In plus to java and teatime drinks , each location offers small snack , community scheduling , and Diaspora - inspired apparel .
If you ’re a fan of risque food for thought , you ’ll require to put family - ownedAckee Bambooon your collision list . This free-and-easy Jamaican touch has been around for over 16 years , with favorite dishes that admit jerk chicken , oxtails , and curry goat , plus a full vegetarian bill of fare . Swing below the Mason Dixon Line atDelicious Southern Cuisine , another family - owned spot that ’s beloved for comfort - laden dishes like smothered chicken , spare ribs , and gumbo . If you ’re in the mood for something a little lighter , straits toSwift Cafe , which was opened by South LA aboriginal and nutritionist Kyndra McCrary in 2019 , with the intention of offering healthy fare that draws from Caribbean , Native American , and Latin influence , so residents do n’t have to leave the neighborhood for fresh , whole foods . Straight from the Horn of Africa , Azla Veganis an Ethiopian eatery with solid food so good it ’s been sport on Guy Fieri’sDiners , Drive - ins & DivesFood Networkseries . attend to three scoops of culture , biotic community , and pick , All Chill Inc.is a new construct that combines an methamphetamine cream store with a rosehip hop museum . Enjoy a exclusive while perusing fabled hip hop memorabilia , from iconic vesture to posters , disc , and much more .
Admire the artistic tapestry of the neighborhood
Though just 1.19 - straight international mile , this small gem of a neighborhood boasts countless sights and landmarks , withLeimert Park Plazaserving as the flowerbed for the area ’s blooming stage business . Colorful and racy , residents forgather there to socialize , backup , and celebrate Black civilisation , with theVision Theateracting as the nostalgic centrepiece of it all . make by billionaire Howard Hughes , and opened in 1932 , the Spanish - compound - style theatre of operations is the tallest structure in Leimert Park Plaza , with nontextual matter deco flourishes that grab the attention of Angelenos far and wide . It operated until 1968 , when Jehovah ’s Witnesses purchase it and renamed itThe Watchtower . It would stay so until the early nineties when African American actor Marla Gibbs , ofThe Jeffersonsand227fame , purchased it . In the late ‘ 90s , with Gibbs facing financial troubles , ownership of the theater was transferred to the City of Los Angeles . Since then , the Department of Cultural Affairs has managed the place , enacting an $ 11 million dollar reclamation design . External renovations were complete in 2012 , let in interior update to the auditorium , with Leslie Townes Hope of reopening to the public shortly . While we must patiently wait for films to return to Vision Theater , it continues to host community event and theatrical productions .
border Vision Theater isLeimert Park ’s Cultural Retail , which comprises many Black - owned institution around Leimert Park Plaza , as well as on 43rd St and Degnan Blvd . Founded by brothers Alonzo and Dale Davis in 1967 , in the aftermath of theWatts Uprising , the Brockman Gallery was created to nourish the former careers of up - and - coming Black artists , exhibiting work from celebrated figure like Betye Saar , Elizabeth Catlett , Charles White , and John Biggers to name a few . Although it no longer exist , the Davis brother ’ art gallery laid the foundational feel for the Leimert Park Village we love today , helping it become a lieu of opportunity and biotic community support for Black Americans .
“ To me , Leimert Park represents an substitute way of looking at the status quo , ” enounce Addis Daniel , Programming Director / Brand Partnerships manager for local creative retail outletSole Folksand founder / conservator for the diaspora - centrical partyNÜ AFRICA . “ I call back we are inundated with this one - sided history of Black people in this body politic , where every time we have something good going for ourselves , the tempestuous whites come and take it out . Or that Black people ca n’t do things together . The success and longevity of Leimert Park is a case field on what it could look like if we really had our OWN . ” As a famous community catalyst , Daniel was the Marketing Director for last year’sLeimert Park Rising , a liberal Juneteenth fete that ’s been ongoing for three year . It continues an over 40 year - long Leimert Park custom of keep Juneteenth , advertise biotic community and connection , while fete Black civilisation and history with live music , vendors , and intellectual nourishment trucks .
In late decades , a new moving ridge of artists and gallerists have arrive in the neighborhood to build on the Brockman Gallery legacy . prowess + Practiceis a non-profit-making committed to help transition - age foster younker . In addition to gratis art programming , it has an exposition space and moderated creative person talk . open up with the goal of providing caliber performance arts instruction , theFernando Pullum Arts Centeris a bastion of hope for at - risk of infection spring chicken . Fun fact : Several scenes from the popular HBOMax showInsecurewere shot at the Center . Stop byAziz Gallery , where for decennary , owner Aziz Diagne has turn over young artists the chance to showcase their piece of work . Look forrader to a new neighborhood wall painting from artistMickalene Thomasthat will be on opinion at theLeimert Park Metro Stationthat ’s slated to open presently . The newfangled stock is a part of theCrenshaw / LAX Transit Project , which was create to well connect sections of South LA .
Celebrate Black music history and modern-day sounds
Leimert ’s Black medicine chronicle can be traced back to at least 1961 , when piano player Horace Tapscott founded thePan Afrikan Peoples Arkestra , an ongoing jazz tout ensemble whose “ pay - it - forward ” ethos has nurture over 300 musician . Other far-famed establishment include the of late reopenedMaverick ’s Flat Grill and Jazz , a Historic - Cultural Monument that first opened in 1966 with The Temptations as the headliner .
jaunt back even further through music account at theCalifornia Jazz & Blues Museum , which is temporarily domiciliate in theBarbara Morrison Performing Arts Centerwhile the original location undergoes remodels . Legendary jazz Isaac Bashevis Singer and founder of both establishments , Barbara Morrison has assure local children have an aesthetic outlet .
Since the former ‘ 80 , Leimert has hosted a weekly drum circle featuring a kitchen range of musical styles from across the African Diaspora , with drummers from various component of Africa , Latin America , and the Caribbean islands . The sound pulsates through theAfrican Marketplace , where local trafficker deal hard - to - discover Afro - centrical goods , clothing , art , and a broad raiment of food . As South LA contends withgentrificationand displacement of foresightful - clock time residents , longstanding events like the African Marketplace and brake drum circle are all the more entire .
Azla Vegan
A creative outlet for many immature musicians , The World Stagewas opened in 1989 , by legendary idle words drummerBilly Higginsand poetKamau Daáood . This educational and carrying into action art veranda provide a compass of shop , often for costless . Over the class they ’ve held performances by jazz great like Alice Coltrane , Kamasi Washington , Terrace Martin , Robert Glasper , and Freddie Hubbard . Although there are only 100 tush at capacity , the pristine speech sound make it feel like a music hall .
Leimert also has a thriving hip record hop scene . KAOS connection , a center created by filmmaker Ben Caldwell and dedicated to sharing Modern medium technology , housed staples likeProject Blowed , a Thursday night “ open - mic workshop ” for young emcees looking to build performance confidence . It helped give us West Coast legends like Bus Driver , Medusa , Aceyalone , Jurassic Five , and Freestyle Fellowship . The space later acquiredBananas , the longest - function independent showcase in LA , held every third Thursday .
“ KAOS connection is legendary on all tier . It ’s a lifeline to artists that ’s unequalled and you’re able to really be yourself without judgment , ” shares Noa James , a West Coast lyricist and event promoter .
Photo by Dee Williams for Thrillist
Support local Black-owned businesses
Now that you ’ve fill your paunch and received a healthy dose of culture , you ’ll desire to grab a neighbourhood souvenir . Eso Won Booksis not only a community turning point , it ’s considered one of the domain ’s pre - eminent , sovereign Black - owned bookstores . Find the latest from local artists and graphic designer atSole Folks , a creative retail mercantile establishment with a cooperative employment - outer space wrench . The shop focus in the main on up - and - coming entrepreneurs , also offering an incubator program with brand - building curriculum and business resource . For handcraft , Diaspora - inspired jewellery , visitSika , who open his shop in 1992 and now at 81 - years - honest-to-god , continue dependably in the same localisation . If caffeine is n’t your preferred method for a pick - me - up , chaffer the lately openedGorilla RX Wellness . have by Kika Keith , the dispensary holds the statute title of being the first Black - cleaning lady - own cannabis dispensary in South LA . They ’ve had aninspiring journey , ferment for years to get the best predatory investor practices , landlord doubling rip , and opportunistic lobbyists .
Even as local residents voyage between progress and the electronegative event of gentrification , there ’s still so much to celebrate in Leimert Park , including a long legacy of Black excellence and a time to come that ’s looking just as undimmed . The residential area that strove to make this neighborhood the African American Cultural hub that it is today , continues the employment to keep its someone integral .
California Jazz & Blues Museum
Photo by Dee Williams for Thrillist
