LACHS Webinar - A talk with Alison Rose Jefferson: Black Migrations to Los Angeles and the Development of the Popular Music and Dance Scene in the Early Twentieth Century

LACHS Webinar from February 24, 2021

A presentation with Alison Rose Jefferson, M.H.C. | Ph.D. In her talk, Alison Rose Jefferson, illuminated the African American migrations to Los Angeles and how this influenced the development of the popular music and dance scene in the early twentieth century. She highlighted the development of this scene in the Central Avenue community when it was the hub of African American life during the Jim Crow era and talked about how the new Angels Walk LA heritage trail will amply this history for the public. 

About Alison Rose Jefferson

A third generation Californian, Alison Rose Jefferson, M.H.C, Ph.D. is a historian and heritage conservation consultant. She reconstructs the stories of the African American experience which have been left out or marginalized in the telling of American history as a tool in the struggle for social justice. She is currently working on applied history projects dealing with the African American experience during the Jim Crow era. Working with Santa Monica’s Belmar History + Art project and the Central Avenue heritage trail with Angels Walk L.A, Jefferson is drawing on her research to guide and enrich these public programs at these Southern California locales that feature historical significance as well as contemporary consequence. 

Her recent book, Living the California Dream: African American Leisure Sites during the Jim Crow Era(University of Nebraska Press) was honored with the 2020 Miriam Matthews Ethnic History Award by the Los Angeles City Historical Society for its exceptional contributions to the greater understanding and awareness of Los Angeles history. Here work has been noted in KCET-LA programming, Los AngelesMagazine, the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, AltaObsura.com and other media outlets. Learn more about Jefferson’s work at: www.alisonrosejefferson.com.