Blog archive
March 2024
Addressing The Needs of Older Adults Through Pasadena Village
03/25/2024
Coming Soon: More Resources for Older Americans, Online and in Person
03/25/2024
Community Building Locally and Nationally
03/25/2024
Preparing for the Future with Ready or Not
03/25/2024
Volunteering is at The Heart of the Village
03/25/2024
Women's Liberation: Then and Now
03/25/2024
Writing Memoirs Together
03/25/2024
Current Views on Current Events
03/20/2024
Unchained
03/18/2024
Rumr of Humor issue # 2409
03/10/2024
Blacks Portrayed by European Artists
03/03/2024
Rumor of Humor #2408
03/03/2024
February 2024
Caring for Ourselves and Each Other
02/27/2024
Doug Colliflower Honored
02/27/2024
Great Decisions Connects Us to the Worldwide Community
02/27/2024
Letter from the President
02/27/2024
Pasadena Village's Impact
02/27/2024
The Power of Touch
02/27/2024
Villages as a New Approach to Aging
02/27/2024
Addressing Gang Violence in Pasadena-Altadena
02/21/2024
Rumor of Humor Issue 2407
02/19/2024
Thank You For Caring.
02/12/2024
Rumor of Humor 2405
02/11/2024
Curve Balls
02/10/2024
Sylvan Lane
02/10/2024
Rumor of Humor 2404
02/09/2024
Larry Duplechan, Blacks in Film
02/03/2024
January 2024
Pasadena Village Joins Community Partners in Vaccination Campaign
01/29/2024
Rumor of Humor #2403
01/28/2024
Pasadena Village Joins Two Healthy Aging Resource Projects
01/25/2024
Decluttering: Do It Now
01/24/2024
Village Volunteers Contribute to the Huntington Magic
01/24/2024
Villagers Creating Community
01/24/2024
Villagers Reflect on Black History Month
01/24/2024
Walk With Ease, 2024
01/24/2024
Wide Ranging Discussion on Current Issues
01/22/2024
Wide Ranging Discussion on Current Issues
01/22/2024
Rumor of Humor # 2402
01/21/2024
Rumor of Humor # 2401
01/15/2024
Re- Entry Programs, a Personal Experience
01/08/2024
Review of Pasadena History, Brian Biery
By Blog MasterPosted: 07/21/2022
The meeting was focused on a guest speaker Brian Biery of Pacific Oaks College. The focus of the presentation was racism in Pasadena historically and present day. Mr. Biery was joined by three members of the present day African American community: Alma Stokes, a former teacher and activist in the community and Chip Williams and Danny Parker both Pacific Oaks graduates and community members.
Using a series of slides the group discussed various periods in Pasadena's history.
1. 1880-1920. The citrus industry, Great Migration and Jim Crow
McAdoo Grocery. First African American owned business 1899
1935 City Map which demonstrated the housing patterns with Africans Americans living in the Northwest and Southwest of the city
2. 1920-1940. Vibrant Community
Francisca Building. 22-26 Dayton
First AME Church Vernon at Kensington demolished to build 710 freeway now at 1700 Raymond
Friendship Baptist Church. Only African American Church still in original location
James Woods Mortuary 87 S Vernon now on North Fair Oaks
Hotel Carver 1075 Fair Oaks
St. Barnabus Episcopal Church
The recording will have personal recollections about these locations provided by Alma Stokes, Chip Williams and Danny Parker
3. Pervasive Discrimination and Exclusion
Brookside Plunge
Federal Housing Authority: 1934 Risk Rating System
Separation of races as policy
Increased costs of ownership for the African American Community
4. Redevelopment
Destruction of communities for the construction of the 210 and 710 freeways
Kings Village project
Freeways used to separate races
5. Social Status of the Negro in Pasadena: A Study by James Crimi, USC, 1941
6. School Desegregation
La Canada formed it's own district
Over a 4 year period 40% of the students left the district, primarily white
7. Joan Williams
Selected by city em0loyees as Miss Crown City. Was to ride on the city float in the 1958 Rose Parade. When discovered she was African American float was withdrawn. Finally rode on a float in 2015 with acknowledgement of what had occurred.
8. Where can we go from here
Support education
Ask questions about the community and history
Use community examples to demonstrate impacts
Advocate.
The participants thank the presenters for a robust and thought provoking presentation.
A recording of this presentation is available for your viewing as a Racial History of Pasadena.
Our next event will be Friday, August 5th at 10:00AM PST. There are many major events occupying the newsfeed at the moment, particulary the January 6th Committee Investigation, the next electon in November 2022, developments in many state elections around the country and climate change. In our next meeting we might try to discuss what we see coming in these major news stories and, specifically, how do we think the expected changes will play out in the racial environment that is the focus of our discussions. Come and share your thoughts and hear what your friends and neighbors are thinking and feeling about where we are today.
Following that in August, on the 3rd Friday, August 19th, we will hear from Roberta H. Martinez, discussing her book,Latinos in Pasadena. Roberta is a local activist who has collected and assembled a great deal of local history into a book that explores the experiences of Latinos in the city of Pasadena.