The South Central Los Angeles timeline is a multimedia project that showcases the history, cultural evolution, and significant events that have shaped the South Central community. A collaboration between Esperanza Community Housing and L.A. Grit Media the project entailed facilitating community engagement meetings, working with local historians to source archival material, and utilizing online historical databases to authentically represent the contributions and perspectives of South Central residents.
This timeline was brought to life through the invaluable input of our community members, whose firsthand experiences and memories helped us document the legacy of South Central Los Angeles.
CREATIVE DIRECTOR + RESEARCHER + WRITER
Sandy Navarro
RESEARCHER + WRITER
Angelica Romero
PROJECT ADVISOR
Yadira Arevalo
WEB DEVELOPER
Daniel Villa
We proudly present the beginning of a shared story – the story of our community. We envision this timeline as a living document, constantly evolving and growing. Therefore, we encourage community members to share any additional information or corrections to help us create a more comprehensive record.
The Tongva peoples inhabited the unceded land known today as the Los Angeles Basin for 7,000 years. Thriving in complex societies with flourishing trade networks, they became one of the most influential native groups in Southern California. Spanish colonization in 1769 brought forced relocation, deplorable living conditions, and foreign diseases, decimating the Tongva population and shattering their way of life. This marked the beginning of over two centuries of oppression by successive governments that continued to erode their land and culture. Despite the devastating blows, the Tongva people have persevered, and today, they continue to fight for recognition of their sovereignty and the return of their stolen ancestral lands.
Los Pobladores were a mixed group of 44 colonists and four soldiers from New Spain (Mexico). They were recruited in 1781 to establish "El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Ángeles," which translates to "The Town of Our Lady the Queen of the Angels." near the San Gabriel Mission, laying the foundation for what is now the sprawling metropolis of Los Angeles. The establishment of Los Angeles is marred by the displacement and enslavement of the Tongva people, who were the original inhabitants of the area.
In 1880, the University of Southern California (USC) officially opened with 53 students and 10 teachers, and has grown into a prominent educational institution with nearly 50, 000 students today. Despite its academic success, it has faced ongoing scrutiny for contributing to gentrification and displacement in the surrounding community, impacting long-standing residents and local businesses. Moreover, the restricted campus access has also sparked criticism, earning it the nickname "The Walls of Troy" among local housing advocates.
Originally established as Agricultural Park in 1872, this 160-acre site functioned primarily as an agricultural and horticultural fairground. After the area fell into disrepute, becoming a destination for gambling and prostitution, a Los Angeles attorney and USC adjunct professor William M. Bowen successfully campaigned in 1899 for the city to annex the park in an attempt to outlaw gambling and transform it into a revered cultural and educational center. This annexation marked the fourth instance of Los Angeles expanding its boundaries since its incorporation in 1850 (Matters, 2011). Rebranded as Exposition Park in 1910, it officially reopened on November 6, 1913, alongside the Los Angeles County Museum of History, Science and Art which is today known as the Natural History Museum.
Thomas Jefferson High School opened on September 11, 1916, with 24 faculty members and two completed buildings. The Long Beach earthquake on March 10, 1933, destroyed its six buildings, leading to a reconstruction overseen by architect Stiles O. Clements, a prominent figure in the Streamline Moderne and Art Deco movements. The rebuilt campus became the fourth oldest high school in the Los Angeles Unified School District, and by 1936, it had produced notable alumni such as Ralph Bunche, Woody Strode, and Carmen de Lavallade.
The Watts Towers, located in South Central Los Angeles, California, were the lifelong passion of Sabato Rodia, an Italian immigrant who arrived in the United States in 1894. Known locally as "Sam," Rodia began constructing this monumental artwork, named "Nuestro Pueblo" or "Our Town," in 1921 and continued for 33 years. Comprising seventeen major sculptures adorned with mosaic tiles, glass, clay, shells, and rocks, the Watts Towers stand as the world's largest single construction built by one individual.
West Adams Heights, founded in 1902, was designed as a high-end, white-only enclave for Los Angeles' elite (Smith and Stegall). Restrictive covenants ensured exclusivity through expensive building requirements and bans on selling to non-whites. Furthermore, federally sanctioned racist mortgage lending practices, also known as redlining, made it nearly impossible for blacks to own a home. By the mid-1930s, some of these restrictions had expired, leading to the emergence of Sugar Hill, a vibrant Black community that attracted prominent figures such as actress Hattie McDaniel and businessman Norman Houston. The white homeowner's association sued their black neighbors for violating the racist agreements. The Black community banded together to fight against a lawsuit, and in 1945, for the first time in history, a judge ruled that racist covenants were a violation of the 14th Amendment. The court victory for Sugar Hill would set the stage for the landmark Supreme Court case in 1948, Shelley v. Kraemer, which ultimately outlawed racial restrictions on property sales across the country (Chang et al., 2021). However, the triumph for Sugar Hill was short-lived. In 1950, the California Highway Commission approved the construction of Highway 10, which bisected Sugar Hill and displaced many Black residents through eminent domain.
The Watts Rebellion, also known as the Watts Riots, erupted on August 11, 1965, when a young Black man, Marquette Frye, was pulled over for speeding by a highway patrol motorcycle officer at the intersection of 116th Street and Avalon Boulevard in Watts. The incident occurred against a backdrop of long-standing grievances over racial discrimination, economic inequality, and police brutality. Over six days, violence spread through the predominantly Black neighborhood, resulting in approximately $40 million in property damage, including the destruction of 600 buildings, along with 34 deaths (mostly Black), 1,032 injuries, and the arrest of 3,952 individuals (Sonken, 2017). The riots underscored deep-seated social tensions and became a pivotal moment in the Civil Rights Movement, prompting nationwide discussions on race relations and urban poverty.
Estrella Park, nestled in a predominantly Latino neighborhood of South Los Angeles, was brought to life over 40 years ago through the inspiring leadership of Mary Britts, a first-time teacher at Norwood Elementary, and Robert Glasser, a 21-year-old student teacher from UCLA’s Urban Planning Program, along with the determined efforts of three visionary 5th and 6th grade students—Juan Cervantes, La Tanya Thompson, and Jorge Urias (Jassim, 2019). Their journey began with challenges, including initial setbacks in securing a land donation. Undeterred, they used personal savings and launched a successful fundraising campaign. Media coverage proved pivotal, generating widespread public support and donations that totaled over $67,000, enough to purchase the land and build the park.
The Tongva peoples inhabited the unceded land known today as the Los Angeles Basin for 7,000 years. Thriving in complex societies with flourishing trade networks, they became one of the most influential native groups in Southern California. Spanish colonization in 1769 brought forced relocation, deplorable living conditions, and foreign diseases, decimating the Tongva population and shattering their way of life. This marked the beginning of over two centuries of oppression by successive governments that continued to erode their land and culture. Despite the devastating blows, the Tongva people have persevered, and today, they continue to fight for recognition of their sovereignty and the return of their stolen ancestral lands.
Los Pobladores were a mixed group of 44 colonists and four soldiers from New Spain (Mexico). They were recruited in 1781 to establish "El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Ángeles," which translates to "The Town of Our Lady the Queen of the Angels." near the San Gabriel Mission, laying the foundation for what is now the sprawling metropolis of Los Angeles. The establishment of Los Angeles is marred by the displacement and enslavement of the Tongva people, who were the original inhabitants of the area.
In 1880, the University of Southern California (USC) officially opened with 53 students and 10 teachers, and has grown into a prominent educational institution with nearly 50, 000 students today. Despite its academic success, it has faced ongoing scrutiny for contributing to gentrification and displacement in the surrounding community, impacting long-standing residents and local businesses. Moreover, the restricted campus access has also sparked criticism, earning it the nickname "The Walls of Troy" among local housing advocates.
Originally established as Agricultural Park in 1872, this 160-acre site functioned primarily as an agricultural and horticultural fairground. After the area fell into disrepute, becoming a destination for gambling and prostitution, a Los Angeles attorney and USC adjunct professor William M. Bowen successfully campaigned in 1899 for the city to annex the park in an attempt to outlaw gambling and transform it into a revered cultural and educational center. This annexation marked the fourth instance of Los Angeles expanding its boundaries since its incorporation in 1850 (Matters, 2011). Rebranded as Exposition Park in 1910, it officially reopened on November 6, 1913, alongside the Los Angeles County Museum of History, Science and Art which is today known as the Natural History Museum.
Thomas Jefferson High School opened on September 11, 1916, with 24 faculty members and two completed buildings. The Long Beach earthquake on March 10, 1933, destroyed its six buildings, leading to a reconstruction overseen by architect Stiles O. Clements, a prominent figure in the Streamline Moderne and Art Deco movements. The rebuilt campus became the fourth oldest high school in the Los Angeles Unified School District, and by 1936, it had produced notable alumni such as Ralph Bunche, Woody Strode, and Carmen de Lavallade.
During the early 20th century, African Americans began migrating to Los Angeles in small but steady waves drawn by economic opportunities. The area along Central Avenue, just south of Downtown Los Angeles, became a haven for many of these migrants. Unlike other regions of the city, this neighborhood offered a rare opportunity for Black homeownership, as racist land-use restrictions written into property deeds and discriminatory lending practices were less prevalent here. By 1920, the term South Central Los Angeles was used to refer to the vibrant Black community bordered by Washington Boulevard to the north, Vernon Avenue to the south, Central Avenue to the east, and the 110 freeway to the west (Sonksen, 2023). These migrants would lay the foundation to welcome a larger surge of Black families to the area in years to come.
The Watts Towers, located in South Central Los Angeles, California, were the lifelong passion of Sabato Rodia, an Italian immigrant who arrived in the United States in 1894. Known locally as "Sam," Rodia began constructing this monumental artwork, named "Nuestro Pueblo" or "Our Town," in 1921 and continued for 33 years. Comprising seventeen major sculptures adorned with mosaic tiles, glass, clay, shells, and rocks, the Watts Towers stand as the world's largest single construction built by one individual.
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The Lincoln Theatre, which opened in 1927 on South Central Avenue at 23rd Street — was designed by John Paxton Perrine in the Moorish Revival style. It gained fame as the "West Coast Apollo" for showcasing African American entertainment icons such as Count Basie, Billie Holiday, and Nat King Cole. Over time, the Lincoln Theatre evolved into a place of worship, including serving as a mosque, and today, it is the home of Iglesia de Jesucristo Ministerios Juda (Los Angeles Conservancy, n.d.).
The Dunbar Hotel was originally built as Hotel Somerville in 1928 by Dr. John Somerville for the NAACP's first West Coast convention. Over the years, it became a cultural hub on Central Avenue, attracting renowned jazz musicians and intellectuals like Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, and Langston Hughes. Despite a decline in the 1960s, the Dunbar Hotel was revitalized as part of the Dunbar Village affordable housing project.
Originally named the Sunken Garden, the seven-acre Rose Garden, adjacent to the California Science Center, holds a place on the National Register of Historic Places. Today, it stands as one of the few green spaces in South Central Los Angeles and is beloved by families as a photoshoot destination to commemorate special moments like a young girl’s quinceañera.
At the onset of World War II, many Black families, escaping the harsh segregation practices of the South, eagerly seized the opportunity for progress. They were enticed by the burgeoning defense economy in Los Angeles, which offered specialized training and higher-paying jobs in the expanding aerospace and automotive industries. Thousands embarked on the journey to the West Coast with aspirations of homeownership. This migration surged the Black population from 63,700 in the 1940s to 763,000 by 1970.
While these new job opportunities promised financial stability for families, pervasive housing discrimination practices confined many newcomers to settle in South Central Los Angeles, exacerbating the strain on an already densely populated community.
West Adams Heights, founded in 1902, was designed as a high-end, white-only enclave for Los Angeles' elite (Smith and Stegall). Restrictive covenants ensured exclusivity through expensive building requirements and bans on selling to non-whites. Furthermore, federally sanctioned racist mortgage lending practices, also known as redlining, made it nearly impossible for blacks to own a home.
By the mid-1930s, some of these restrictions had expired, leading to the emergence of Sugar Hill, a vibrant Black community that attracted prominent figures such as actress Hattie McDaniel and businessman Norman Houston. The white homeowner's association sued their black neighbors for violating the racist agreements. The Black community banded together to fight against a lawsuit, and in 1945, for the first time in history, a judge ruled that racist covenants were a violation of the 14th Amendment. The court victory for Sugar Hill would set the stage for the landmark Supreme Court case in 1948, Shelley v. Kraemer, which ultimately outlawed racial restrictions on property sales across the country (Chang et al., 2021).
However, the triumph for Sugar Hill was short-lived. In 1950, the California Highway Commission approved the construction of Highway 10, which bisected Sugar Hill and displaced many Black residents through eminent domain.
The Watts Rebellion, also known as the Watts Riots, erupted on August 11, 1965, when a young Black man, Marquette Frye, was pulled over for speeding by a highway patrol motorcycle officer at the intersection of 116th Street and Avalon Boulevard in Watts. The incident occurred against a backdrop of long-standing grievances over racial discrimination, economic inequality, and police brutality. Over six days, violence spread through the predominantly Black neighborhood, resulting in approximately $40 million in property damage, including the destruction of 600 buildings, along with 34 deaths (mostly Black), 1,032 injuries, and the arrest of 3,952 individuals (Sonken, 2017). The riots underscored deep-seated social tensions and became a pivotal moment in the Civil Rights Movement, prompting nationwide discussions on race relations and urban poverty.
Two phenomena converged in the 1980s, setting a demographic shift in motion that would change South Central's identity from 80 percent black to over two-thirds Latino (Gersema, 2023). First, there was an exodus of Black families seeking to leave behind disinvestment, rising crime, and limited opportunities in exchange for large, affordable homes in then-developing cities like Palmdale and Riverside (Medina, 2012). At the same time, waves of Mexican and Central American immigrants, driven by civil wars and economic devastation in their home countries, settled in South Central, gradually changing its tapestry (Hondagneu-Sotelo, 2016).
Estrella Park, nestled in a predominantly Latino neighborhood of South Los Angeles, was brought to life over 40 years ago through the inspiring leadership of Mary Britts, a first-time teacher at Norwood Elementary, and Robert Glasser, a 21-year-old student teacher from UCLA’s Urban Planning Program, along with the determined efforts of three visionary 5th and 6th grade students—Juan Cervantes, La Tanya Thompson, and Jorge Urias (Jassim, 2019). Their journey began with challenges, including initial setbacks in securing a land donation. Undeterred, they used personal savings and launched a successful fundraising campaign. Media coverage proved pivotal, generating widespread public support and donations that totaled over $67,000, enough to purchase the land and build the park.
In 1981, the Los Angeles Community Redevelopment Agency commissioned Barbara Carrasco to paint "L.A. History: A Mexican Perspective," a mural celebrating the city's bicentennial. Featuring over 51 vibrant scenes in acrylic, the mural includes significant figures like Biddy Mason. However, Carrasco faced censorship when she was asked to exclude scenes depicting critical events such as the Zoot Suit Riots, the internment of Japanese American communities, and the death of reporter Ruben Salazar during the 1970 National Chicano Moratorium March (Recinos, 2021). Despite the project's cancellation after refusing to whitewash her art, the mural has been integrated into the South Central timeline, honoring its rightful place in history. After 40 years, it has found a permanent home in South Central at the Natural History Museum.
The 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, held in South Los Angeles, marked the city's second hosting since 1932 and were seen as a significant urban development opportunity. However, the games drew heavy criticism for their social impact, mainly due to the militarized security measures that disproportionately targeted marginalized communities and the aggressive policing tactics employed in South Los Angeles. Many of South Los Angeles' Black and Latino youth were wrongfully targeted and jailed before and during the Games (NoOlympicsLA, 2022). Additionally, to bolster a pristine image, the city enacted ordinances criminalizing homelessness, leading to sweeps that displaced residents and exacerbated social inequalities. Meanwhile, significant funds went to beautification projects, such as planting non-native palm trees, underscoring a priority on superficial improvements over deeper social issues.
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The Slauson Super Mall, founded by Michael Yoon, a Korean entrepreneur and his wife, has been a cornerstone of South Central since 1985. Predominantly run by Korean immigrants, the mall caters to Black and Brown residents, offering a variety of goods and services, from Pro Club T-shirts to manicures. Despite merchants overcoming a boycott in 1990 over allegations that they were rude to Black customers, navigating the 1992 riots, and adapting to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, the mall is declining as vendors near retirement and cultural shifts unfold (Ahn, 2024).
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Once a sweatshop in South Central that exploited Latino communities for cheap labor, Esperanza Community Housing transformed the space as part of an economic development initiative. In an act of poetic justice and innovative placemaking, Mercado La Paloma opened in 2001. It now serves as a vibrant gathering place that houses businesses by several first-time Latino entrepreneurs on the first floor and nonprofit organizations on the second floor. Additionally, Mercado La Paloma hosts various cultural events and festivals free to the community.
Augustus Hawkins High School, a key project within the largest school construction program in Los Angeles Unified School District history, was established in 2012, with its inaugural graduating class in 2014. This innovative school, situated in South Los Angeles, includes three distinct career pathways—Community Health Advocates School (CHAS), Critical Design and Gaming School (C:DAGS), and Responsible Indigenous Social Entrepreneurship (RISE)—which were developed in collaboration with parents and community stakeholders. Notably, Augustus Hawkins High School is a pioneer in South Los Angeles for leading the way in implementing Restorative Justice practices as the fundamental basis of its disciplinary framework.
The South Central Arts is a grassroots network of artists, organizers, and allies dedicated to addressing social justice issues in South Central and similar communities. Since 2017, their mission has centered on elevating the work of local entrepreneurs, artists, and cultural producers to empower the community through artistic expression and advocacy.
Established in 2018, the South Central Run Club is a community organization dedicated to promoting wellness in the South Central community through running and wellness events. Led by South Central-native women of color, the club focuses on the people and spaces that make up South Central, fostering health, unity, and empowerment within the community.
Launched by Esperanza Community Housing and L.A. Grit Media in 2022, the South Central Film Festival is a cultural preservation project that aims to bring visibility to the beauty, strength, and wisdom in communities of color by amplifying emerging voices of Indigenous, Black, Brown, LGBTQIA2S+, immigrant, and people of all abilities in media.