2025 African American Heritage Month Celebration in Los Angeles
Rain couldn’t dampen the resolve or the spirit of guests attending events at Los Angeles City Hall on Friday, February 7, 2025.
By Ricky Richardson | Contributing Writer
(Los Angeles, CA) Rain couldn’t dampen the resolve or the spirit of guests attending events at Los Angeles City Hall on Friday, February 7, 2025.
You are probably wondering what the occasion was. I thought that you would never ask. The gathering was for the 2025 African American Heritage Month Celebration. Guests heeded the invite of Mayor Karen Bass, Hon. Marqueece Harris-Dawson, LA City Council President, Dr. Lura-Daniels-Ball- President, Our Authors Study Club, and Yvonne Wheeler- President Los Angeles Federation of Labor-AFL-CIO (Honorary Chair). Hundreds gathered for a trifecta of events.
This year’s celebration was significant on many levels. This year’s celebration marks the Historic 75th City-wide Black History Month Diamond Celebration. Only in Los Angeles: A Landmark Celebration of Resilience!
African Americans and Labor, this year’s national theme focuses on the various and profound ways that work and working of all kinds free and unfree, skilled and unskilled, vocational and voluntary intersect with the collective experiences of Black people, according to the Association for the Study of African American Life and History, (ASALH) founded in 1915 in Washington, D.C., by Dr. Woodson. OASC is the Los Angeles branch of the organization. In keeping with this theme, the OASC honorary chair is Yvonne Wheeler, president of the LA County Federation of Labor.
African American Heritage Month and Black History Month is celebrated across the United States in February. It’s a time to recognize, celebrate and honor the rich and diverse history and important contributions and achievements of African Americans.
Council President Marqueece Harris Dawson, Councilmember Tim McOsker, District 15 and Morehouse College Alumni and Current Students, (Photo by Ricky Richardson)
The Opening Day Celebration at City Hall got underway with a Ribbon Cutting Community Photo Exhibition. Hon. Marqueece Harris-Dawson, LA City Council President and Los Angeles City Councilmembers celebrated “Our Journey Through the Lens of Leroy Hamilton.” This amazing exhibit is on view through the end of February, Bridge Gallery, 3rd Floor.
The momentous celebration continued in the John E. Ferraro Council Chamber. Several community pillars were recognized. “Voice of the City: Honoring Our Collective Achievements. Richard Allen, Actor, Living Legend Award Recipient; Cecily Myart Cruz, UTLA President, Hall of Fame Award; and George Weaver, The Brotherhood Crusade, Living Legend Award.
2025 African American Heritage Month Honorees, (Photo by Ricky Richardson)
Daniel Tarica, General Manager, City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, and Sylvia Woolridge, 2025 African American Heritage Month Cover Artist, unveiled the highly anticipated 2025 African American Heritage Month Calendar and Cultural Guide.
The program featured a special presentation of Alumni and current students of Morehouse College, a historic HBCU in Atlanta, Georgia, and thunderous West African Drumming.
The trifecta of festive events shifted up to the Tom Bradley Towers. Guests enjoyed “Lift Every Voice and Sing” performed by Keara White, poetry by Vaya Campbell, Little Miss African American and the thrilling musical sounds and vocal stylings from Elaine Gibbs and Nu Soul.
A special 75th City-Wide Celebration Award was presented to Mary Louise Reeves-Centenarian.
Hall of Fame Awards:
Dr. Mike Davis, President, New Frontier Democratic Club
Dr. Deborah Prothrow-Stith, Founding Dean of Charles R. Drew University MD Program
Dr. Jessie L. Sherrod, Founder of Association of Black Women Physicians of Los Angeles
Dr. Richard Allen Williams, Ground breaking Pioneering Cardiologist, Healthcare Equity Advocate, and Cultural Innovator
Lynell George, Grammy Award-winning Writer, and Guardian of African American Narratives
Cecily Myart-Cruz, President, United Teachers Los Angeles, (UTLA)
Dr. Darnell Hunt, Dean and Executive Vice Chancellor, UCLA and Author
A capacity crowd was in attendance for another program, Saturday, February 8, at the Los Angeles Public Library. Our Authors Study Club, in partnership with Leimert Park village Book Fair, Los Angeles Public Library (Changing Tones- Cultivating Racial Equity and Inclusion) and SoCal Gas, presented a dynamic conversation.
Emmy and Tony Award-winning actor Courtney B. Vance discussed his new book, “The Invisible Ache: Black Men Identifying Their Pain and Reclaiming Their Power.” The book explores grief, relationships, identity, and race. Vance shares his personal journey, with expert insights from renowned psychologist Dr. Robin L. Smith.
Courtney B. Vance is known for movies like “Hamburger Hill” and “The Hunt for Red October,” as well as roles on television shows such as “Law and Order: Criminal Intent,” and stage plays including “Lucky Guy.”
William Allen Young and Courtney B. Vance, (Photo by Ricky Richardson)
This heartfelt and deep conversation was moderated by veteran actor William Allen Young, known for playing the father in “Moesha” and many other roles in more than 100 television, stage and film projects. Courtney B. Vance and William Allen Young received their Living Legends Award during the program.
The Our Authors Study Club (OASC) represents a powerful legacy in American cultural preservation and advancement. Founded in 1945 by Vassie Davis Wright and Terminal Annex Postal employees, this organization emerged from a crucial need to document and celebrates African American literary and historical contributions. Within months of its founding, Dr. Carter G. Woodson, the “Father of Black History,” granted OASC its charter as the Los Angeles Branch of the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (now ASALH).
Today, OASC operates a comprehensive suite of programs that bring Black history and culture to life. Their signature initiatives include the Conversations For Change speaker series, which explores ASALH’s annual national themes through a Los Angeles lens, and the quarterly “An Afternoon With Authors” events that spotlight emerging and established Black writers. The Sankofa Speakers Bureau extends OASC’s reach by providing expert speakers on Black history in Southern California.
The organization’s commitment to education manifests through substantial scholarship support, having awarded over $325,000 to more than 700 students. Their Carter G. Woodson Youth Oratorical Program, established in partnership with Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, develops public speaking skills and historical knowledge in middle and high school students.
OASC’s influence extends beyond traditional historical preservation through cross-cultural partnerships with organizations like the LA Opera, Black Hollywood Education and Resource Center, and various multi-ethnic coalitions. Their annual City-wide Black History Celebration brings together thought leaders, academics, cultural institutions, and community members for a month of engaging programs, including living legend recognitions, historical bus tours, and scholarly roundtables.
As stewards of Black history in Southern California, OASC continues to evolve, embracing hybrid programming models and digital platforms while maintaining their foundational mission. Their work ensures that Black history is recognized not as a separate narrative, but as an integral, year-round component of American history, essential to understanding our shared past and shaping our collective future.
Through its diverse programs and unwavering commitment to historical authenticity, OASC exemplifies the “Beloved Community” vision of Dr. Martin Luther King and John Lewis, creating opportunities for everyone to experience Black history through culture, scholarship, technology, and research. Their work remains vital in countering institutional bias and ensuring Black achievements maintain their rightful place in American historical discourse.
Please visit https://www.oascla.org, download the 2025 African American Heritage Month Guide. You will find a list of community events, artwork, activities for children and teens, a bibliography and original poetry.
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