currents first things chainsaw P R O F I L E coolture Musicians in a group that may have been called Every Day People (circa 1970) TIME AND AGAIN Enlightenment, entertainment on tap for Black History Month By Pat Sherman With the arrival of Black History Month, local historian Karen Huff-Willis is quick to remind people that African Americans have been part of <strong>San</strong> <strong>Diego</strong>’s tapestry since 1542, when Juan Cabrillo landed at <strong>San</strong> <strong>Diego</strong> Bay. “There were people of African descent aboard one of the ships, the slaves,” says Huff-Willis, former chair of the <strong>San</strong> <strong>Diego</strong> Black Historical Society and director of the <strong>San</strong> <strong>Diego</strong> Black Film Festival. However, it wasn’t until the 1920s and ’30s when a large number of African Americans began arriving in <strong>San</strong> <strong>Diego</strong>. From that influx, a portion of downtown <strong>San</strong> <strong>Diego</strong> blossomed, showcasing the food, music, art and culture of African Americans. It became known as the “Harlem of the West.” Places such as Creole Palace at Market Street and Third Avenue featured performances by Billie Holiday, Bessie Smith, Duke Ellington, Count Basie and Nat King Cole. “It was a very respectable community, very reminiscent of Harlem in New York,” Huff-Willis says. “There were a lot of whites who had heard about this and would venture over to Creole Palace. I think culture always tends to bridge a gap.” In honor of Black History Month, WorldBeat Cultural Center in Balboa Park will host its 30th annual Tribute to the Reggae Legends concert at Valley View Casino Center (formerly the Sports Arena) February 21. The event will pay homage to Gregory Isaacs and Sugar Minott, both of whom died last year. Scheduled to perform (among many others) are Freddie McGregor and Bunny Wailer, the latter of which played alongside Bob Marley and Peter Tosh in The Wailers. (Continued on Page 30) History Mysteries The <strong>San</strong> <strong>Diego</strong> History Center is asking the public to help identify 500 photographs documenting <strong>San</strong> <strong>Diego</strong>’s black community from the 1940s to the 1980s (including those pictured here). The photos were donated by the family of commercial photographer Norman Bayard, who died in 1986. View the photos at sandiegohistory.org. Party at El Morocco Club (date unknown) Brief Timeline of <strong>San</strong> <strong>Diego</strong>’s African American history 1848: Nate Harrison, the county’s first permanent black resident, arrives and builds a cabin on a 160-acre farm on the western slope of Palomar Mountain. 1890: City of <strong>San</strong> <strong>Diego</strong>’s black population reaches 290. 1897-1909: African American entrepreneur Edward Anderson operates the IXL Laundry, a trash collection service, hog farm and mortuary. 1920-1940: <strong>San</strong> <strong>Diego</strong>’s “Harlem of the West” community flourishes. 1948: Negro League baseball star and <strong>San</strong> <strong>Diego</strong> High alum John Ritchey breaks the <strong>Pacific</strong> Coast League’s color line, playing with the <strong>San</strong> <strong>Diego</strong> Padres. 1969: Leon Williams becomes <strong>San</strong> <strong>Diego</strong>’s first African American city council member. 1970: Reverend George Walker Smith founds the Catfish Club as a place for people of different races and political stripes to meet. 1985: John Delotch becomes <strong>San</strong> <strong>Diego</strong>’s first African American fire chief. Source: <strong>San</strong> <strong>Diego</strong> History Center 28 pacificsandiego.com { February 2011}
Orpheum Theatre at B Street and Fifth Avenue (circa 1957) “It wasn’t until the 1920s and ’30s when a large number of African Americans began arriving in <strong>San</strong> <strong>Diego</strong>.” Dinnertime, August 27, 1946 pacificsandiego.com 29
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