Title supplied by cataloger. Rolland Joseph 'Speedy' Curtis was born in Louisiana in 1922. After serving three years in the Marines during World War II, he and his wife, Gloria, relocated from New Orleans to Los Angeles in 1946. Curtis served four years with the Los Angeles Police Department, but resigned from the force in order to pursue both a Bachelor's and Master's degree from USC. He later became involved in city politics, as an associate of Sam Yorty, and later a field deputy to City Council members Billy Mills and Tom Bradley. He was briefly director of the Model Cities program in 1973. Rolland J. Curtis died in his home in 1979, the victim of a homicide. An affordable housing complex on Exposition Blvd. near Vermont Ave. was named in his honor in 1981, along with a nearby street and park.; Black History Month was conceived by historian Carter G. Woodson in Chicago on September 9, 1915. Dr. Woodson, along with founding members William B. Hartgrove, George Cleveland Hall, Alexander L. Jackson, and James E. Stamps, decided to form an organization to promote the scientific study of black life and history. This organization was the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH), now known as the Association for the Study of African American Life and History. Described as the "father of Black history" Dr. Woodson was one of the first scholars to study African-American history. The purpose of ASNLH was to promote historical research and study related to African-American life, to publish books, and to support racial harmony. Dr. Woodson established The Journal of Negro History in 1916, with findings that he and other black intellectuals published in hopes of popularizing their achievements. He pressed schools to use Negro History Week to demonstrate what students had learned all year, and expand learning to reach adults all year long. ASNLH going forward felt it their responsibility to popularize knowledge about the black past, and in February of 1926, a press release was sent out announcing Negro History Week. This week was chosen due to Abraham Lincoln and Fredrick Douglass having birthdays the same week in February and only two days apart, with both men being celebrated by Black communities since the late 19th century. Dr. Woodson received an overwhelming positive response, and Negro History Week was celebrated in schools across the country. With encouragement, he established the Negro History Bulletin, and as populations grew, so did Negro History Week proclamations. The 1960s had a measurable effect on the study and celebration of black history, and before the decade was over, Negro History Week would become Black History Month. Although the shift to a month-long celebration began before his death, Dr. Woodson would not live to see the first official celebration. In 1969, the first Black History Month celebration proposed by black educators and students, took place at Kent State from January 2 to February 28, 1970. Six years later it would be celebrated all across the country. In 1976, ASNLH was able to establish the permanent shift from a week to a month, from Negro History to Black History. Since the 1970s every American president, Democratic and Republican, has issued a decree endorsing the Association's annual theme. Reverend Thomas Kilgore is pictured in the courtyard of Los Angeles City Hall as he speaks from a podium during a ceremony officially recognizing Negro History Week. A quote above the entrance reads, '"RIGHTEOUSNESS EXALTETH A PEOPLE" Solomon'. The seal for the City of Los Angeles is visible in the front of the podium as well as a banner hanging from the microphone that reads, "KGFJ 1230 on your DIAL." Sitting along the left is a group of unidentified choir members made up of young men and women. Sitting on the right (l-r) is Chairperson Attorney Audrey Jones (white dress), Jessie L. Robinson, and Vassie D. Wright; Councilman Gilbert Lindsay is seen in the second row, reading a newspaper. The men and women seated among them, as well as the band members in the foreground, are all unidentified. Visible on either side of the podium are the American, State of California, and City of Los Angeles flags as well as two unidentified flags. The event was held on February 10, 1964. See images 00053422; 00144884, and 00144886 through 00144890 for additional photos in this series.
Type
image
Format
1 negative : safety ; 10 x 13 cm. Photographic safety negatives
Kilgore, Thomas,--1913-1998 Wright, Vassie D Lindsay, Gilbert Los Angeles City Hall (Los Angeles, Calif.) African American men Men African American women Women African American young men Young men African American young women Young women City council members Civic leaders Lawyers Clergy Choirs (Music) Bands (Music) City halls Speeches, addresses, etc Microphones Podiums Radio stations--Call signs Seals (Insignia) Flags Buildings Los Angeles (Calif.)
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