L.A. Riots

Gregg Reese  |   OW Staff Writer
May 2 2013

Visions and Voice Initiative at USC

Civil unrest has not been a major factor in Los Angeles recently, although it is possibly not far beneath the consciousness of the average Angeleno. That may be particularly true at this time of year—the anniversary of the 1992 Riots.

The recently inaugurated Visions and Voices Initiative at USC, which was meant to add an interdisciplinary approach to the arts and humanities educational system, re-examined the upheaval Monday.

Brittney M. Walker  |   OW Staff Writer
May 19 2011

Entrepreneur’s clothing line copied in D.C.

LANCASTER, Calif.—Local entrepreneur and clothing designer Greg Barnes has been creating unique casual clothing designs in Southern California since 1993. Called Eracism clothing, the revolutionary line is described as “fashion with a purpose.”

Gregg Reese  |   OW Staff Writer
Apr 22 2010

Contrarian, innovator, iconic figure

“… Blacks might be more likely to die from choke holds because their arteries do not open as fast as they do on ‘normal people.’” 
—Former Chief Daryl Gates in a 1982 quote to the “L.A. Times” about high fatality rates suffered during police restraints, which prompted the Urban League to call for his suspension.
 

Across Black America

Here’s a look at African American people and issues making headlines throughout the country.

California
San Diego college students and volunteers will carry out their sixth home restoration project on Wednesday, July 10 through Sunday, July 14. as part of the “Healing our Heroes’ Homes” (H3) program created by the nonprofit Embrace. The five-day effort will take place at the home of medically retired Marine Corps Capt. Sarah Bettencourt. Bettencourt served with many different units across the country during the Global War on Terrorism and developed a rare neurological disorder in 2008. With a focus to restore the homes of disabled veteran homeowners, H3 falls in line with Embrace’s mission to mobilize college-student volunteers and community members to serve less fortunate members of civilian and veteran communities. The project for the Bettencourts’ home includes kitchen and bathroom remodeling, building ADA-compliant disability ramps, widening their driveway to ADA standards, widening doorways and landscaping.
 
District of Columbia
The 2013 Smithsonian Folklife Festival will showcase its five-year community research project on African American identity with the program “The Will to Adorn: African American Diversity, Style, and Identity.” This multicity collaboration examines the history and culture of the aesthetics of African Americans. The festival will be held June 26-30 and July 3-7, outdoors on the National Mall between Seventh and 14th streets. “Whether we realize it or not, we are all dress artists. The way we compose our look is a creative expression of our ideas about who we are and who we aspire to be,” said Diana N’Diaye, program curator. “This program explores the diversity of African American traditions of style, but also teaches young people the importance of documenting their own culture and saving that information for themselves and future generations.”