Between the Sea and the Church: Preserving Santa Monica’s Black Community

As we look consider the future of Santa Monica, we seek to remember and honor what has gone before – not just houses and buildings, but neighbors, families, and friends that make up the communities and cultures that shape us. In this section, we focus on the black communities of Santa Monica. Some of this history is unknown or overlooked, but has left an indelible mark on our city. We will delve into the memories of our elders (as well as the important research of present-day scholars) to explore how these histories continue to influence and shape the people of our community.

This Story Table was researched, written, and produced for the web by Rocio Garcia (Getty Marrow Undergraduate Intern, Summer 2019) and Sylvana Gutierrez (China University, Hong Kong Practicum Intern, Summer 2019). Many thanks to Robbie Jones (Historian), Alison Rose Jefferson (Historian), Kathy Lo (Santa Monica Public Library Research Librarian), and Carolyne and Bill Edwards (Quinn Research Center Founders) for their guidance in this project.

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