Amid increasing political tension in Los Angeles, widespread immigration raids and the deployment of the California National Guard, Black and Brown communities in Los Angeles are emphasizing the importance of togetherness.
Finding space in the University of Southern California’s Town and Gown Ballroom on October 16, the third annual “The State of Black Los Angeles” forum welcomed different companies and community advocates.
The all-day symposium was organized by the Los Angeles Urban League, an organization that aims to help African Americans, among others, achieve “their highest true social parity, economic self-reliance, power and civil rights,” according to the event program.
This year’s theme centered on “Solidarity in Action: Black and Brown L.A.” and intended to unite two communities for “a better Los Angeles.”
First-time attendee Shenell Glover says the theme means being “powerful in any circumstance” and how events like “The State of Black LA” show how L.A. has a “strong togetherness.”
The event brought back returning attendees, like Sharon Evans, a USC alum and board member of the California African American Chamber, who has taken part in this event for three years.
“I don’t believe empathy is a feeling. It’s an action. It’s reaching out to say, now we recognize your challenges, and we can act to help you, to stand with you and move forward,” Evans said.
“Allyship is important — It’s critical,” she said. “Just as our Latino brothers and sisters are facing challenges, as we’re dealing with this immigration attack, we face those challenges.”
After a welcome from emcee and NBC4 Meteorologist Melissa Magee, the program had a saxophonic performance by Mike Phillips of “Lift Every Voice And Sing.”
David Huerta, President of Service Employees International Union of California and United Service Workers West, spoke at the third panel that was slated for the afternoon, “Immigration: Building Cross-community Solidarity.”
Huerta spoke about his experience being detained. “People are not meant to be incarcerated. … The challenge leaving the detention center was knowing that I left some really good people behind me.”
“If our government does not care about our collective human condition, what does that say for us in our future?” Huerta asked. “My experience in there, like I said, I met some honorable men up there — I met some good people, and for whatever reason they’re there …. there was more honor there than there was in the White House.”
The immigration panel captivated audiences. Martha Arévalo, Executive Director of the Central American Resource Center of Los Angeles, spoke about the disparity of immigrant resources.
“Let’s be clear, there’s never enough resources for anyone, but I think as an immigrant rights movement, we have to make sure that we’re out there advocating for resources and that we’re fighting for all immigrants, whether we’re Brown or Black.”
“This [Presidential] administration, no surprise to anyone, has lied to us that immigrants are bad for this country, and that is not true,” Arévalo said. “I think it’s important to note that for a city like Los Angeles, and many other cities throughout the country, the immigrant community, whether Black or Brown, are critical to the economies and to the stability of those cities in the states.”
The other panels, “Health: Increasing Access and Life Expectancy” and “Economic Empowerment and Entrepreneurship: Building Pathways to Prosperity,” provided information on the intersections Black and Brown communities have within different professional spheres.
Individual speeches filled the space between panels with words from the President and CEO National Urban League, Cynthia Mitchell-Heard, Calif. Health and Human Service Agency Honorable Secretary Kim Johnson and USC Interim President Beong-Soo Kim.
First-time attendee Jazz Keyes noted the college and high school students at this year’s event.
“I think that sometimes Black and Brown communities don’t get to see enough of themselves in leaders,” Keyes said. “Our education system is really slim when it comes to Black and Brown educators, and so I think to see people in leadership that look like them and look like us is aspirational.”
“I think as a young student, seeing leaders that give you an idea of where you could go and to see people welcome you with warmth … I think that’s the impact,” Keyes said.