Buried beneath a weather report and an investigation into a regional planning commissioner, a brief news item appeared in The Times about the death on Jan. 23, 1980, of architect Paul Revere Williams at the age of 85.
Three days later, the paper ran an obituary. That report was a bit more complete. It featured a photograph of Williams and ran through a handful of his achievements: He was the first Black architect to be admitted into the ranks of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and a wildly prolific designer who’d had a hand in designing well-known commercial and civic buildings (such as the Los Angeles County Courthouse), as well as graceful homes for celebrities such as Frank Sinatra, Barbara Stanwyck and Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz. Yet his death was not treated as big news. The modest obituary ran on page 22.
With our beloved city all but shut down, we found ourselves with a lot of extra time on our hands to read this year. Luckily, there were lots of good books about L.A. to delve into. Here’s a roundup of some of our favorites.
The recently completed SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, new home of the Los Angeles Rams and Chargers, was built on the site of Hollywood Park Racetrack. Horses had raced near Prairie Avenue since 1938 and photographer Michele Asselin captured the last days of the track in her book
Clubhouse Turn: The Twilight of Hollywood Park Race Track. The big art book traces the history of the park from Seabiscuit to Hollywood stars, then visits with gamblers and jockeys, and pays a visit to the stilled betting windows and grandstands before they made way for the new football stadium.
Kwanzaa traditions will look different this year, but it’s still possible to celebrate African American culture in Los Angeles.
The year-end event was created a year after 1965’s Watts riots as a way to honor African heritage and bring Black families and communities together.
Running Dec. 26 to Jan. 1, Kwanzaa is focused on seven principles rooted in the sacred teachings of Asante and Zulu harvest celebrations: Unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity and faith.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, it was easier to celebrate these principles with dance performances, parades and other in-person community events. How can you celebrate Kwanzaa while trying to stay safe at home? By lighting a candle for each principle during the weeklong holiday and embracing the principles of Kwanzaa in the new year. You can also support Black culture, businesses and restaurants. Here are nine ways to celebrate Kwanzaa in Los Angeles in