The Founders of Black HistORY Month
We are the Los Angeles, CA branch of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH), the organization that established Black History Month. This annually observed celebration of African American life, history, and culture originated in February 1926 as Negro History Week, founded by Dr. Carter G. Woodson. In Los Angeles, Vassie D. Wright, founder of Our Authors Study Club of Los Angeles, Inc. (OA, spearheaded the first city-wide Negro History Week celebrations in Los Angeles in February 1949.
Presently, the national ASALH develops the Annual Black History Theme, which Our Authors Study Club (OASC) brings to life through a range of impactful Black History Month events, including the Opening Ceremonies to officially commemorate and celebrate the commencement of African American Heritage Month in the City of Los Angeles in partnership with the Mayor. Among its signature events, OASC manages a professional Speaker’s Bureau, cultivates local partnerships, and advances oral, public, and local history initiatives. OASC also offers its exclusive Black Heritage Bus Tour of Los Angeles, a longstanding city-wide tradition that began in 1970.
Los Angeles Mayor Fletcher Bowron, alongside Our Authors Study Club founder Vassie D. Wright (center), proclaims the first official celebration of Negro History Week (the precursor to African American History Month) in Los Angeles, with Evangeline Woodfolk and Reverend Baxter Duke present as onlookers.
Source: "Mayor Fletcher Bowron proclaims Negro History Week in Los Angeles (Calif.)," Feb 1950, Los Angeles Daily News, Los Angeles Daily News Negatives Collection, UCLA Charles E. Young Research Library Department of Special Collections. Licensed under CC BY 4.0. ARK: ark:/13030/hb2v19n8dz.
Our National office
The vision of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) is to be the leading organization for celebrating and advancing Black heritage, supported by a dynamic network of national and international branches and partners. Through its diverse and inclusive membership, ASALH strives to continue Dr. Carter G. Woodson’s legacy by fostering the study, preservation, and global recognition of African American history and culture. Each year, ASALH develops the national Black History Month Theme, providing a framework for communities, organizations, and institutions to honor and explore the richness of African American history and its impact on society.
Our CLUB'S History
On February 14, 1945, Vassie D. Wright, along with a group of her Post Office colleagues and fellow employees from the Terminal Annex Post Office, established Our Authors' Study Club, Inc. (OASC) This historic postal facility was vital for African Americans, providing stable jobs, and equitable treatment, and serving as a hub for community building, intellectual exchange, and social progress. The mission was to study the works of African American authors and deepen understanding of Black history across the diaspora. In June of the same year, Dr. Carter G. Woodson officially chartered the organization as the Los Angeles, CA branch of the national Association for the Study of African American Life and History, Inc., headquartered in Washington, D.C. OASC’s dedication to preserving and promoting Black history contributed to a significant milestone in 1950 when Los Angeles Mayor Fletcher Bowron proclaimed the first official celebration of Negro History Week (the precursor to African American History Month) in Los Angeles.
Our Team OF VOLUNTEERS
Our Team OF VOLUNTEERS
Our dedicated team of part-time volunteers is committed to advancing the legacies of Dr. Carter G. Woodson and Vassie D. Wright. We take pride in preserving, creating, and promoting Black history while supporting education and community engagement. Through year-round signature events, such as our Black Heritage Tour of Los Angeles, we celebrate and share the richness of African American history and culture.
OASC remains true to its original mission and now offers a variety of impactful programs, including a Reading Program for elementary students, an Oratorical Contest for high school students, and college scholarships. Think you’d be a great fit? Get in touch to learn more about our leadership and initiatives!
Why a citywide celebration matters
A city-wide Black History Celebration is more than just a commemoration of the past—it is a living testament to the contributions, resilience, and cultural richness of African Americans within Los Angeles and beyond. As we mark the 75th anniversary of the City-wide Black History Celebration in 2025, we are not only honoring the legacy of Carter G. Woodson’s vision but also reaffirming the importance of ensuring that Black history remains a central part of our collective consciousness.
Honoring the Legacy of Black Contributions in Los Angeles
From the early days of Biddy Mason and the establishment of the First AME Church to the artistic influence of Central Avenue’s jazz scene and the political impact of Black leaders, Los Angeles has long been shaped by African American achievements. A city-wide celebration allows us to highlight these stories that might otherwise be overlooked.
Uniting a Diverse Community
Los Angeles is a city of diverse cultures, and recognizing Black history in a broad, civic way ensures that people from all backgrounds can engage with and appreciate the historical and contemporary impact of Black excellence. A city-wide celebration fosters cross-cultural dialogue, understanding, and solidarity.
Educating and Inspiring Future Generations
When young people see their history acknowledged and uplifted on a grand scale, they gain a deeper sense of identity, pride, and possibility. Public celebrations, educational events, and cultural showcases encourage them to see themselves as part of a powerful, ongoing legacy.
Countering Historical Erasure and Misinformation
Too often, Black history is marginalized or misrepresented. By making the celebration city-wide, we ensure that accurate, meaningful, and empowering narratives take center stage. This is not just about the past—it is about setting the historical record straight for the present and future.
Reinforcing the Role of Black Institutions and Leadership
Organizations like Our Authors Study Club have spent years ensuring that Black history is not just an academic subject but an essential part of civic life. A city-wide celebration underscores the work of these institutions, giving them visibility and strengthening their impact.
Strengthening Political and Social Advocacy
A public, civic endorsement of Black History Month sends a strong message about the city's commitment to equity, justice, and inclusion. It also creates opportunities for policy discussions, community investment, and advocacy efforts that push for meaningful change.
Lura Daniels-Ball with Yvonne Wheeler and Mayor Karen Bass at the 2025 city-wide celebration.
PIONEERING INCLUSION: A LASTING LEGACY
The Precursor to Ethnic and Cultural Heritage Celebrations
The Our Authors Study Club City-wide Black History Celebration, first officially proclaimed in 1950 by Los Angeles Mayor Fletcher Bowron, set the precedent for all ethnic and cultural heritage month celebrations that followed.
Prior to the official Negro History Week proclamation in Los Angeles, there were no official city-wide acknowledgments of the contributions of marginalized communities or structured, government-supported heritage celebrations for any ethnic or racial group. This was the first of its kind, laying the foundation for future affinity group celebrations and solidifying the importance of recognizing diverse histories as part of the broader American narrative. The significance of this early recognition cannot be overstated—it was a bold and necessary step toward embedding Black history into civic life and educational institutions.
The recognition of Negro History Week in Los Angeles, which evolved into Black History Month and became the model for institutionalized ethnic and cultural celebrations at the city, state, and national levels. Despite encountering resistance, including suggestions that advocating for inclusion was a form of nationalism or exclusivity, this pioneering effort persevered and other communities were able to push for their own history and heritage to be formally acknowledged. Over the decades, the concept of city-wide and national recognition expanded to include:
- Hispanic Heritage Month (est. 1968, expanded to a month in 1988)
- Asian Pacific American Heritage Month (est. 1978, expanded in 1990s)
- Native American Heritage Month (est. 1990)
- Jewish American Heritage Month (est. 2006)
- Arab American Heritage Month (est. 2021)
Why a City-wide Celebration Matters
The 75th anniversary of the City-wide Black History Celebration in 2025 is more than just an important milestone for African American history—it is a celebration of a movement that changed the way America recognizes its diverse populations. It underscores the fact that Black advocacy and scholarship paved the way for all affinity groups to assert their inclusion in historical narratives. Without the pioneering efforts of organizations like Our Authors Study Club and the visionary work of Dr. Carter G. Woodson, these broader cultural recognitions may not have happened in the way they did.
A Call to Honor This Legacy
This milestone anniversary is an opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to telling the full story of Los Angeles—one where Black voices, achievements, and contributions are recognized, honored, and celebrated on a grand scale.
As we commemorate 75 years of city-wide Black History celebrations, we must also reflect on its broader impact. This is not just a Black history milestone; it is an American history milestone—one that should be honored with the same level of civic commitment, public engagement, and historical reflection as any other major anniversary.
By uplifting this history, we ensure that the legacy of Negro History Week remains recognized as the catalyst for the broader movement toward recognizing and celebrating America’s full, diverse story.
DCA General Manager, Daniel Tarica, with 2025 Cultural Guide cover artist, Sylvia Woolridge
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