Residents are offered a chance to peer into the history of blacks in Santa Monica this month at the historical society.
The Santa Monica Historical Society Museum presents Black History Month Celebration: “Treasures From The Chest,” a visual/sound collection presentation by native Santa Monica citizen Marty Payne.
Topics of the presentation include the pioneer African Americans in the Pico neighborhood and the Santa Monica Freeway impact, original land grants, families, cultural assimilation, job market, and the role of the church.
Payne was born on the July 4, 1947 at Saint John’s Hospital. His parents, LeVert Payne and Daisy Quinn, settled in Santa Monica in 1932. Payne, known as “Citizen” in music circles, and his three older sisters are native Santa Monicans. The training, family, friends, schools, and work experiences provide background for Payne to lead a journey into Santa Monica’s black history. The program will be held on Sunday, Feb. 8 at 2 p.m. at the museum. Admission to the celebration is free. The museum is located at 1539 Euclid St. For more information, call (310) 395-2290.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on January 23, 2004. Read the original PDF.