Bunche Research Report, Vol. 5, No. 1 (October 2009)
Black Los Angeles: A Preview

The Ralph J. Bunche Center for African American Studies at UCLA has been engaged in a multi-year research initiative, the Black Los Angeles Project, a major undertaking that explores the historical and contemporary contours of L.A.’s black community by bringing together the work of scholars from across Southern California. The culmination of this work is a 16-chapter book titled, Black Los Angeles: American Dreams and Racial Realities. Each chapter in the volume presents a case study or historical vignette that engages with five central themes: communities and neighborhoods; religious life; political participation; cultural production; and social justice. Collectively, the chapters attempt to connect the dots between the past, present, and future of Black Los Angeles. This volume edited by Darnell Hunt and Ana-Christina Ramon will be released by NYU Press in spring 2010. The October 2009 Bunche Research Report, "Black Los Angeles: A Preview," presents anecdotes and art that convey the spirit of the chapters comprising each of the book’s four sections: Space, People, Image, and Action.