Blog archive
December 2023
CRT - Wokism Explained
12/02/2023
November 2023
Connecting with Priyanka Kumar
11/27/2023
Cultural Explorations Plus a Potluck
11/27/2023
From the President
11/27/2023
Loneliness Kills, Social Connections Heal
11/27/2023
Sages and Seekers: Create Intergenerational Connections
11/27/2023
Welcoming the Holidays with Wisdom
11/27/2023
What To Do When the Lights Go Out
11/27/2023
Current Events and Exciting Presentations ahead
11/20/2023
Current Race Issues
11/11/2023
Discussion of Wokeism and CRT
11/06/2023
Humiliation and Degradation
11/05/2023
October 2023
Vintage Celebration Thanksgiving Poem
10/31/2023
Vintage Celebration: Aging in Place Like a Fine Wine
10/31/2023
New to the Village
10/27/2023
Real Life Event with Racism
10/26/2023
30 Years of Changes in Education
10/25/2023
Connecting with the Creative Hannah Rough-Shock
10/24/2023
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging – Pasadena Village's Journey
10/24/2023
Aging Gracefully in Pasadena
10/23/2023
Don't Be a Scam Victim This Holiday Season
10/23/2023
Interns at The Village
10/23/2023
Pasadena Village Visitors – Another Benefit of Community
10/23/2023
Ping Pong Pals
10/23/2023
Two Local Stories
10/16/2023
Conversations with African-American Art
10/09/2023
Racism 1966 in Pasadena
10/05/2023
September 2023
A reminiscence for baseball fans
09/30/2023
Dealing With Loss
09/30/2023
Schmoozendoodle Is "Serious" Fun!
09/28/2023
Vintage Celebration: Aging in Place Like a Fine Wine
09/28/2023
Covid-19 Season Is Here
09/27/2023
What Is Ergonomics?
09/27/2023
Rumor of Humor # 24
09/22/2023
Various Perspectives on Racism
09/16/2023
Rumor of Humor # 23
09/14/2023
A DIfferent Perspective
09/10/2023
Racism I Have Experienced
09/05/2023
1619 " Rump" Session
09/04/2023
August 2023
1619 Project Discussion Group explores the Arroyo Seco
08/28/2023
Beyond the Village - Judith Harris
08/28/2023
Board of Directors: Strategic Planning Updates
08/28/2023
Men's Time Brunch
08/28/2023
One Village, One Book
08/28/2023
Pasadena Racism, Past and Present
08/28/2023
Profile of a Leader: Ron Stoffers
08/28/2023
Remember John and Thelma Orr
08/28/2023
Volunteer & Leadership Training
08/28/2023
Gardenias
08/21/2023
Current Events Including the RICO Indictment of Mr. Trump
08/19/2023
Shining a Light on Current Racial Inequities
08/07/2023
Shining a Light on Current Racial Inequities
08/07/2023
RofH#22
08/06/2023
July 2023
Arroyo Seco Development, Past and Present
07/24/2023
From the President
07/24/2023
Rumor of Humor #20
07/23/2023
VMC Conference 2023
07/21/2023
Strategic Plan Progress: Program Teams
07/17/2023
From the Executive Director
07/14/2023
Reflections from Villager Monica Hubbard
07/14/2023
SCOTUS: Rulings on Cases with No Standing
07/10/2023
History and Future Development of Arroyo Seco
07/09/2023
What I Like About Being a Villager
07/09/2023
June 2023
Dick and Sharon, Mixed Race Marriage
06/19/2023
Conversations with West African Art
06/09/2023
Bridget Brewster Discovers Village Benefits
06/04/2023
Communications Project with Cal State LA
06/02/2023
Creative Aging
06/01/2023
May 2023
One Villager's Story
05/31/2023
Pasadena Area Liberal Arts Center
05/31/2023
Pasadena Village Responds to Rainbow Flag Burning at Pasadena Buddhist Temple
05/31/2023
Plan Ahead - And Be Prepared
05/31/2023
Tuesday, May 23 Pasadena Celebrated Older Americans
05/31/2023
Reparations, Social Justice Activity
05/24/2023
Rumor of Humor #14
05/19/2023
Rumor of Humor #13
05/12/2023
Issue #12
05/09/2023
Science Monday - Review of Meeting on April 10, 2023
05/09/2023
Conversations Re African American Artists Before 1920
05/08/2023
Beyond the Village – Suzi and Phil Hoge
05/01/2023
Congratulations Wayne April! Honored at UNH
05/01/2023
Table Topics
05/01/2023
Volunteer Appreciation at the Village
05/01/2023
“ACCIDENTAL HOST—The Story of Rat Lungworm Disease”
05/01/2023
April 2023
Jumbo Joy
04/24/2023
Pasadenans Recent Experience With Racism
04/23/2023
Recent Events Reflecting Racism
04/23/2023
Photography for Social Justice
04/11/2023
Issue #8
04/07/2023
BEYOND THE VILLAGE - Catherine Deely
04/06/2023
Creative Writing in Older Adults
04/06/2023
Gifts of Love
04/06/2023
March 2023
February 2023
2023 DEI Progress
02/27/2023
BEYOND THE VILLAGE - Doug Colliflower
02/26/2023
CONVERSATIONS WITH ART
02/26/2023
GREAT DECISIONS
02/26/2023
OLDER ADULTS RESOURCE FAIR
02/26/2023
The Important, Influential Books in our Lives - Revisited
02/26/2023
History, Resolution of the 710 Freeway
02/19/2023
Eminent Domain, 710 Highway
02/13/2023
Bernard Garrett, 710 Freeway
02/06/2023
Men's Times Gatherings
02/03/2023
January 2023
Pasadena's Senior Commission
01/30/2023
BEYOND THE VILLAGE - JIM HENDRICK
01/27/2023
GRATITUDE - IT'S GOOD FOR YOU!
01/27/2023
JEFF GUTSTADT - FORENSIC PATHOLOGIST
01/27/2023
Bernard Garrett, Incredible Black Entrepreneur
01/17/2023
What is the "Spirit Talk" Group About?
01/16/2023
Same Ol’ New Year, Brand New Me
01/12/2023
Review of 2022, Consideration of 2023
01/06/2023
BEYOND THE VILLAGE - PATTI LA MARR
01/03/2023
FROM THE CHAIR
01/03/2023
WALK WITH EASE
01/03/2023
Pasadena Racism, Past and Present
By Richard MyersPosted: 08/28/2023
Racism is all around us but is somehow frequently not noticed by many people who are not being not discriminated against. To do something about it we must first become aware of it. It is easy, for example, to live in Pasadena and believe that racism is not a serious issue here. The truth is somewhat different. A look at recent Pasadena history can change one’s understanding of where we are today and how we got there. The 1619 Project Discussion Group has assembled a record of some of the past discrimination in this area which is illuminated further by descriptions of actual experiences of the residents.
· Brian Biery, adjunct Professor of Human Development Social Justice Advocacy at Pacific Oaks College, presents a history of early racism in Pasadena. His guests, Alma Stoakes and Danny Parker, participated to relate their personal experiences with the history described. This presentation is part of a continuing effort to create a just society that we all hope for. The link below will take you directly to the video on our Youtube channel. (History of African Americans in Pasadena 11/04/2020 )
· In this engaging presentation guest speakers who grew up in Pasadena and are current residents, participated to share their personal recollections of the history described. The presentation covered aspects of Black life in Pasadena in the 1800’,s when the city was founded up to the present day. Historical Black businesses were part of the discussion, the location of Black communities in the area and the use of freeway area used to “manage” the distribution of the Black population. And a discussion of the Rose Bowl Parade float when the honoree was dropped from the float because of discrimination. ( Review of Pasadena History, Brian Biery 07/21/2022)
· Continuation for the discussion of history of Pasadena focused on racial discrimination at the city’s municipal pool, an orange packing business discriminating against Chinese residents, and a discussion of De Jure versus De Facto discrimination. The city of Glendale was also mentioned as an example of a Sundown Town in California. Personal stories were used to illustrate the impact that these practices have on individual lives of the people living in the community. ( Brian Biery, More Pasadena History 09/23/2022 )
· In the 1960’s , plans were made to create a freeway connecting the 710 freeway to the 110, the 134 and the 210. Property was condemned to prepare for the construction resulting in the destruction of multiple middle class working neighborhoods, the displacement of 4,000 people and the demolition of 1,500 properties. Due to community opposition of this plan, the project was canceled and the 40 acres that were condemned have recently been returned to the city of Pasadena. Discussions have begun to determine how reparations should be made and what use should be made of the property. ( History, Resolution of the 710 Freeway 2/10/2023 )
Other presentations to the group discussion have focused on area issues not strictly part of Pasadena history.
· As a Black resident of Glendale, CA, Carol McGrath was disturbed to learn that Glendale was a Sundown Town and the regulations that made it one were still on the books of the city. She began a campaign to correct this terrible situation and ultimately got the Sundown Town regulations nullified by the city and had the city issue an official apology for its past discrimination. Sundown Towns were not a phenomenon that occurred in the South, but appeared all over the country.
( Glendale was a Sundown Town Before Carol 02/22/2021 )
· It is interesting to note that there was a Black presence in Pasadena before Pasadena was Pasadena. Adrian Panton, a volunteer at the Pasadena Museum of History, has prepared a presentation about the early history of the Black Community. His presentation describes individuals and businesses that began in the early days of Pasadena, some of which still survive today. ( Glimpses of Early Black History in Pasadena 1850 - 1958 11/21/2021)
· Friendship Pasadena Church was founded in 1893 in the very early days of the Community of Pasadena. Pastor Lucious Smith grew up as a child in the church and has been a Pastor in the church for 39 years. He is currently the Senior Pastor and gave us a tour of the historical materials held by the church. Because of his long involvement with the church, he was able to enrich his tour with personal recollections of many of the events that the materials illustrated are referred to.
( Friendship Pasadena Church Visit 06/23/2022)
The 1619 Project Discussion group will continue to explore issues of racism in our in the hope that raising awareness can bring about change moving us to a more just society and the diverse community that we live in. Villagers are encouraged to contribute stories of their personal experiences with racism via email.