Struggling to envision Los Angeles as a hub for black culture before the 1960s? Central-Alameda tells a vibrant story. This 2.18 square mile area in South Los Angeles holds a rich history. It was certified as a neighborhood council on September 30, 2003. The Central Alameda Neighborhood Council defines its boundaries clearly. 41st Street marks the north. Slauson Avenue defines the southern edge. Central Avenue forms the western border. Alameda Street completes the eastern boundary. Nevin is a notable neighborhood within Central-Alameda.
Once upon a time, Central Avenue rose to become the heart of African American life in Los Angeles. This happened after the turn of the 20th century. From 1920 to 1955, Central Avenue was indeed the heart of the Black community. It pulsed with rhythm and blues plus vibrant jazz music. Central Avenue runs from the eastern end of the Los Angeles Civic Center south. It extends to the east side of California State University, Dominguez Hills. The street ends at East Del Amo Boulevard in Carson.
Back then, the Eastside meant poorer and ethnically diverse. Central Avenue fit right in, adding its unique shade of diversity to the mix. The black community coexisted with Mexicans, Japanese, Jews, Italians, Anglos and small numbers of Chinese and Koreans. Black-owned businesses acted as magnets. They enticed black home seekers to settle nearby. Sidney P. Dones opened his company in 1914. It offered real estate, insurance and legal services. The California Eagle newspaper enthusiastically touted his business.
By 1919, about 185 black-owned businesses existed in Los Angeles. A quarter of them were located on Central Avenue. Many others were just blocks away. Central Avenue had become the nexus of black business life. Key black institutions included the California Eagle, the New Age newspaper and the Colored YMCA. Dunbar Hospital also stood nearby. Black churches clustered west of Central Avenue on Paloma Street.
In 1928, the community’s center shifted further south down Central Avenue. The Somerville Hotel’s opening catalyzed this shift. Central Avenue and 41st Street became the new heart of black L.A. The Hudson-Liddell Building and the Golden State Mutual Life Insurance Building also stood there. These enterprises drew black settlement southward.
Blacks experienced racial segregation. Residential settlement stopped at Slauson Avenue in the 1920s. Race restrictive covenants tightened boundaries around Central Avenue. Still, Central Avenue thrived. In 1948, Negro Digest ranked L.A. as one of “America’s Ten Best Cities for Negroes.” Central Avenue anchored this recognition because of its decent homes and good schools.
Jefferson High School nurtured many jazz students. Nightclubs became the physical manifestation of jazz music along Central Avenue. They stretched from Little Tokyo to Watts. The school produced prominent musicians like Etta James and Big Jay McNeely. Many people referred to the area in and around Central Avenue as “Little Harlem”. This was because of its striking similarities to Harlem.
Lionel Hampton composed “Central Avenue Breakdown.” From 1945 to 1958, Leon Hefflin Sr. produced the “Cavalcade of Jazz.” It took place at Wrigley Field on 42nd. These concerts showcased over 125 artists. They became a stepping stone to success for stars such as Toni Harper and Dinah Washington. Wynton Marsalis once remarked, “Central Avenue was the 52nd Street of Los Angeles.”
Though Central Avenue is no longer the thriving jazz center it once was, its legacy remains. The Central Avenue Jazz Festival keeps its memory alive. Central-Alameda remains a testament to the vibrant history of Los Angeles. Its story is one of community, culture and resilience.