Below are links to stories on people and places that have been overlooked in the “collective memory” of the heritage of the Southern California region and the United States. Some of the stories include coverage of my research and public history programming efforts.
“How Racism Ruined Black Santa Monica”
by Hadley Meares | In Arts & Entertainment, LAIST.com
December 23, 2020
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Reclaiming Black Beaches: On Alison Rose Jefferson’s “Living the California Dream”
by Eisa Nefertari Ulen | Los Angeles Review of Books (LARB)
December 15, 2020
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Historian Patty Limerick’s 10 Recent Publications in Western American History written by the Talented Young
Center for the American West, University of Colorado, Boulder
December 4, 2020
My book, Living the California Dream: African American Leisure Sites during the Jim Crow Era made this list put together by Historian Patty Limerick who has been pivital in changing how Western American history was written and taught to be inclusivie of people of color, women and other marginalized groups.
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LA Currents: Central Avenue Angels Walk
LA Cityview 35
November 20, 2020
Click the image to view the flyer.
The Central Avenue heritage trail was debuted as part of the 25th Central Avenue Jazz Festival, December 14-17, 2020.
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Manhattan Beach confronting racist past symbolized by battle over ‘Bruce’s Beach’
by David Ono and Lisa Barley | Eyewitness News, ABC 7
November 10, 2020
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by Nadra Nittle | Arts & Entertainment, KCET.org
Wednesday, October 21, 2020
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by Rosanna Xia | Los Angeles Times
Sunday, August 2, 2020
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Celebrating Juneteenth in California and the history of Bruce’s Beach
by Jill Cowan and Lily Benson | The New York Times
Friday, June 19, 2020 (article and short video story on Instagram)
Article and short video showcases Bruce’s Beach and Living the California Dream: African American Leisure Sites during the Jim Crow Era.
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LA freeways: The infrastructure of racism
by Steve Chiokakis | KCRW Greater L.A. show
Tuesday, June 30, 2020
Radio show, podcast and article
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Surfing confronts racist’s past after George Floyd’s Death
by Dennis Romero | NBCNews.com
Saturday, June 21, 2020
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Before Juneteenth was widely known, here’s how Black Angelenos celebrated emancipation
by Gustavo Arellano | Los Angeles Times
Thursday, June 18, 2020
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A Look Back at California’s Long-Lost African American Beaches and Vacation Spots
by Hadley Meares | Los Angeles Magazine
Monday, May 4, 2020
Article showcases Living the California Dream: African American Leisure Sites during the Jim Crow Era.
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stories on people and places that have been overlooked in the “collective memory” of the heritage of the SoCal region
CBS2 KCAL9 TV News LA
Friday, February 28, 2020
Segment showcases my book, Living the California Dream: African American Leisure Sites during the Jim Crow Era.
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Recent Books of Interest to African American Scholars
The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education
Thursday, January 9, 2020
Article showcased Living the California Dream: African American Leisure Sites during the Jim Crow Era.
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Book it L.A., For the brainy and the bold
by Drew Tewksbury | Los Angeles Times
Saturday, January 11, 2020
Article showcases Living the California Dream: African American Leisure Sites during the Jim Crow Era book talk event as one to attend.
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Black History Month: Did You Know Val Verde, the Black Palm Springs?
by Gayle Anderson and Danielle Pendleton | KTLA Channel 5 TV
Friday, February 1, 2019
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Storied Los Angeles Club for African American Women Looks to the Future
by Lynell George | Preservation magazine
Winter 2019
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The Legendary Black Surfer Who Challenged Stereotypes
by Anna Kusmer | Atlas Obscura (online magazine)
Thursday, October 4, 2018
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Activism as a Marketing Tool for Engagement with History and in Capitalism
Photography by Zack of Gallery Department boutique (Los Angeles). 
Tuesday, September 4, 2018
Cultural impresario Josué Thomas designed the “Stop Being Racist!” T-shirt as a conscious public message addressing unpleasant racist incidents he and others experienced. Thomas joins others, such as Colin Kaepernick in his protest and the sports apparel corporation Nike’s 30thanniversary “Just Do It” campaign featuring him, in brave and provocative contributions of gestures, narrative writings and building of movements of resistance and calls for social justice that are making inroads towards change and greater good for all U.S. and global citizens. Alison Rose Jefferson and Josué Thomas are pictured (right) at his art exhibit opening in front of one of his “Stop Being Racist!’ series paintings. Check out the ARJ essay on Thomas and his T-shirt here. Learn more about and view pieces from Thomas’ “Instant Gratification” art exhibit at There There Production Company and exhibit space in East Hollywood, California here.
L.A.’s Ugly Jim Crow History: When Beaches Were Segregated
by Kathryn Romeyn | The Hollywood Reporter
Friday, August 5, 2016
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Exploring Los Angeles County’s Historic African-American Beaches
by Lauren Walser | National Trust For Historic Preservation Blog
Friday, June 10, 2016
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Prejudice, lies and history in Manhattan Beach
by Richard Foss | Easy Reader News
Thursday, May 5, 2016
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International Mother Earth Day 2016: SoCal Black Surf Culture
by Leah Gillis | TheAfricaChannel.com, Current Articles (Community section) series
Friday, April 22, 2016
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Nick Gabaldón: Surfer made sport more accessible
by Steve Saldivar | Los Angeles Times, Special Section “L.A.’s Black History: Struggle and triumphs”
Thursday, February 25, 2016
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Fighting for Leisure: African Americans, Beaches, Civil Rights in Early 20th Century L.A.
by Ryan Reft | KCET’s online Departures Columns Intersections
Friday, May 16, 2014
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Surfing for Freedom: Black Surfers and Reclaiming Cultural History in Los Angeles
by Ryan Reft | KCET’s online Departures Columns Intersections
Thursday, April 24, 2014
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Nick Gabaldón, A SoCal Surfing Pioneer
by Alison Rose Jefferson | Santa Monica Pier Paddleboard Race and Ocean Festival 2013 Event Guide
Saturday, June 8, 2013
See article in the “Legend” section, page 5.
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Commemorating a Surfing Pioneer
Blog, Mark Ridley-Thomas, Los Angeles County Supervisor, Second District
Wednesday, June 5, 2013
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Barrier-Breaking Surfer’s Legacy A Reminder Of Work To Do
by Karen Grisby Bates | Code Switch – Frontiers of Race, Culture and Ethnicity Series on National Public Radio (NPR)
Monday, June 3, 2013
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Riding a wave of history and commemoration in Santa Monica
by Kurt Streeter | Los Angeles Times
Sunday, June 2, 2013
Inner-city kids learn the joy of wave-riding on a day dedicated to Nick Gabaldón, Los Angeles’ first documented black surfer, whose life was cut short 62 years ago.
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Santa Monica’s ‘Inkwell celebrated as a seminal spot for black surfers
AirTalk | KPCC 89.3FM
Friday, May 31, 2013
Larry Mantle talks with historian Alison Rose Jefferson about the significance of surfer of color Nick Gabaldón in Los Angeles County history.
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Ocean lovers gather to honor black surfing history
by Avishay Artsy on Which Way, LA? | KCRW 89.9FM
Friday, May 31, 2013
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Santa Monica: Heal the Bay joins tribute to honor local African-American surfer
by Gary Walker | The Argonaut News
Thursday, May 30, 2013
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Gabaldón inspires modern black surfers [pdf download]
by Aaron Orlowski | Orange County Register
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
Nick Gabaldón surfs in the 1940s in California. Saturday is Nick Gabaldón Day and many activities are planned in Santa Monica, where Gabaldón lived and surfed.
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Surfing Legend to be Honored at Beach Celebration
Blog, Mark Ridley-Thomas, Los Angeles County Supervisor, Second District
Friday, May 17, 2013
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Surf pioneer gets his day in the sun
by Shawn Huebler | Zev’s Blog (Zev Yaroslavsky, Los Angeles County Supervisor, Third District)
Thursday, May 16, 2013
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African American Heritage and Stewardship of the Ocean
DSP Connections | An email newsletter of the National Trust for Historic Preservation
October 2, 2012
See second article in the “Saving Places” section.
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Unearthing history at a Santa Monica beach
by Martha Groves | Los Angeles Times
Saturday, September 15, 2012
Cleanup offers a chance to raise awareness about onetime hangout for black residents.
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The Madeleine Brand Show • KPCC 90.3 FM
Friday, July 6, 2012
Interview with historian Alison Rose Jefferson.
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Sojourner Truth with Margaret Prescod • Pacifica Radio KPFK 90.7 FM
Wednesday, July 5, 2012, 7:00–8:00 a.m.
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Santa Monica Beach Offers History Lesson on African American Beachgoers
by Brian Watt | KPCC 93.7 FM
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Interview with historian Alison Rose Jefferson.
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A Deep Tide of Goodwill at Bruce’s Beach
by Deborah Schoch | Los Angeles Times
Sunday, April 1, 2007
Hundreds gather at a small Manhattan Beach park to commemorate a black couple forced to give up their profitable resort in the 1920s.
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The History of Bruce’s Beach, California
Weekend America | American Public Media on KPCC 93.7 FM
Saturday, March 31, 2007
Weekend America‘s Krissy Clark talks with historian Alison Rose Jefferson about the history of Bruce’s Beach.
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Erasing a Line Drawn in the Sand
by Deborah Schoch | Los Angeles Times
Monday, March 19, 2007
Manhattan Beach renames a park to honor a black couple forced to give up their resort in the 1920s.