someone or something that has moved or been moved from one place to another<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Author\u2019s note: I\u2019ve been a young Black transplant for most of my life. I\u2019ve lived in Houston, Portland, Houston again, then Atlanta all before I started high school. I guess my love for being the new kid led me to the University of Southern California all the way in sunny SoCal (and let\u2019s not forget I studied abroad in london for a whole semester). why I open with all of my moves? This is because being new sucks. there’s so much you have to figure out for yourself. if you don’t, your mental health can go down the drain. fortunately, no matter where i am, I’ve found community. community is not just the area you live in, it’s the people who come from similar backgrounds as you. they just get the gist of you in no time at all. and make you feel like you truly belong. Los Angeles (without a car) is a massive city with cultural hubs few and far between. The city of stars can be bitter sometimes. That\u2019s why I\u2019m here to sweeten your tea and fill your cup with finding community.<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
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Imagine you\u2019ve traveled millions of miles to chase your dreams. You\u2019re enrolled in your dream school, landed your big break, or are about to embark on an adventure of a lifetime. Your heart begins racing as your cheeks soak up the warm sun as you wait for a ride to your new place. Excitement swells along your drive. The palm trees sway above people walking their dogs. You look up to see the Hollywood sign, Griffith Observatory, and celebrities on the billboards above. These are the signifiers that you\u2019re really here. It\u2019s the stuff of the movies and you\u2019re joining them. One of the 9.83 million people looking to make their mark just like you. As you reflect on the faces you\u2019ve seen, your heart begins to sink. \u201cNone of them look like me\u201d, you think. The white features don\u2019t look like yours and it would take hours to get your hair to look like that. Your ride drops you off and just as the worry gets worse, a thought pops into your head. Insecure<\/a><\/em> was set in Los Angeles, that means there must be other Black people here. But where and how do I find them\u2026<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As a transplant, finding YOUR place is all the difference between being alone or having community. That\u2019s why finding a safe space for yourself is important. This isn\u2019t to say that general spaces aren\u2019t home to Black people. There\u2019s just a difference between those and Black designed spaces. Transplants are in a new place but that doesn\u2019t mean they have to be out of place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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“Unofficial safe spaces have existed for all denominations for centuries, and self-organising has long been a key part of anti-racist and feminist movements… In some ways I appreciate it might be difficult to grasp why such spaces feel so necessary. The simplest way to understand… is to acknowledge the racism we suffer in western society. There\u2019s no moving forward unless we accept that racism against people of colour is deeply systemic” -Charlie Brinkhurst-Cuff<\/em> (The Guardian<\/a>)<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/ascjcapstone.com\/spring-2023\/palee\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/IMG_2544-1024x660.jpg\")
Labor Day get down in the Village. image by: @autumn.theestallia<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nA simple Google search of \u201cblack spaces for young adults in Los Angeles\u201d generates thousands of results, the same as if you were to Google any other variation. Tik Tok will find people dining at Black owned restaurants and millennials showing you their LA. It is important that this information is readily available because “racism is a matter of public health in Los Angeles County and that racism against Black people has reached crisis proportions that result in large disparities in family stability, health and mental wellness, education, employment, economic development, public safety, criminal justice, and housing” -Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors (ARDI<\/a>). Black people make up the heart beat of LA, yet they are disproportionately affected by the powers that be. Matters are made worse for those who have an intersectional identity. An intersectional identity means that ones identity is comprised of being both Black and another historically marginalized identity. So, the creation equal opportunities and treatment for people is an issue that the county itself is trying to take on. It’s a daunting task but the board is set on “(fostering) strategic partnerships with community-based organizations, service providers, local governments, and philanthropy to support implementation” -ARDI. The government is working towards making a more inclusive Los Angeles. Their partnership with local organizations will help strengthen the Black community.<\/h4>\n\n\n\nIn the meantime, young Black LA tends to prefer to pop out for events put on by Black creatives for Black people. There are events that are nationwide like Black Girl<\/a> and Boy<\/a> Art Shows or weekly gatherings such as Little Vibe Friday<\/a>. For those who are working on getting their degree, most universities have a sort of Black Student Assembly\/ Union. These organizations are designed specifically to ensure that Black students feel at home on their new campus. Some campuses even have special interest housing. The goal of special interest floors is to serve as a mini community for newer students. They get to be surrounded by people who look like them instead of having to look far and wide to find that community. USC has Somerville a special interest residential community established in 1995 by USC graduates John Somerville and his wife Vada Watson Somerville.<\/h4>\n\n\n\nNot everyone has access to a Somerville or art and poetry might not be their passion. There are community spaces that serve as the breeding ground for all things Black in LA. You get to meet, greet, vibe and eat. It doesn\u2019t matter if you\u2019ve lived here your whole life or just hopped off the plane at LAX. You\u2019ll find people young and old who are just there to be Black. What\u2019s the name of this main event? It\u2019s Black Market Flea<\/a> (BMF). Black Market Flea is a relatively new event, but it has quickly become a staple for Black LA. It was started in June 2021 by Mayah Hatcher. <\/p>\n\n\n\nTo get a feel of the atmosphere, Mayah said, \u201cI wanted it to feel like a family reunion\u2026 I wanted it to feel warm and cool and inviting. And I wanted it to feel very familial\u201d (Los Angeles Times<\/a>).<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The space feels just like that. People are grooving to the beats of the DJ, hugging the friends they just happened to run into, all while talking to vendors who have a story uniquely their own. The flea provides attendees with the opportunity to come in outfits that showcase their personalities. People wear all kinds of knitted hats, heeled boots, with no two people dressing the same.<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/ascjcapstone.com\/spring-2023\/palee\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/IMG_0BC0B6771596-1-830x1024.jpeg\")
Mereba serenading the crowd at Black Market Flea. image by: @trouillotphoto<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nBlack Market Flea has found success in its simple formula: transform every inch of The Beehive<\/a> into the market, hold it the last Saturday of each month, sell $12 tickets, and have a famous singer\/ rapper perform in the evening. This formula works flawlessly every time. In the LA Times article, Mayah recounts the growth by stating, \u201cby the third flea market in August, more than 1,050 people came through and the number of vendors grew from 27 to 60\u201d. The numbers going up even though the price stays the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Elande Abate<\/a> and Miles Mogush<\/a> are the BSA Special Events Chair. They took it upon themselves to host their own Black flea at USC. The event happened during Black history month and was a space for student businesses and artists to showcase their work.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cA lot of these students aren’t just students, right? They have their own businesses. They\u2019re hustling outside of what they do just in the classroom. So, this event specifically showcases what they\u2019re doing creatively, what matters to them, what they want to expand on before they graduate from the community. They have this opportunity to network and meet other creatives. So, I think it’s a beautiful event\u201d -Miles Mogush.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Hear from some young Black transplants on why centralized community spaces such as these are important to them.<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n Not everyone has access to a Somerville or art and poetry might not be their passion. There are community spaces that serve as the breeding ground for all things Black in LA. You get to meet, greet, vibe and eat. It doesn\u2019t matter if you\u2019ve lived here your whole life or just hopped off the plane at LAX. You\u2019ll find people young and old who are just there to be Black. What\u2019s the name of this main event? It\u2019s Black Market Flea<\/a> (BMF). Black Market Flea is a relatively new event, but it has quickly become a staple for Black LA. It was started in June 2021 by Mayah Hatcher. <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Black Market Flea has found success in its simple formula: transform every inch of The Beehive<\/a> into the market, hold it the last Saturday of each month, sell $12 tickets, and have a famous singer\/ rapper perform in the evening. This formula works flawlessly every time. In the LA Times article, Mayah recounts the growth by stating, \u201cby the third flea market in August, more than 1,050 people came through and the number of vendors grew from 27 to 60\u201d. The numbers going up even though the price stays the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA lot of these students aren’t just students, right? They have their own businesses. They\u2019re hustling outside of what they do just in the classroom. So, this event specifically showcases what they\u2019re doing creatively, what matters to them, what they want to expand on before they graduate from the community. They have this opportunity to network and meet other creatives. So, I think it’s a beautiful event\u201d -Miles Mogush.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\nA simple Google search of \u201cblack spaces for young adults in Los Angeles\u201d generates thousands of results, the same as if you were to Google any other variation. Tik Tok will find people dining at Black owned restaurants and millennials showing you their LA. It is important that this information is readily available because “racism is a matter of public health in Los Angeles County and that racism against Black people has reached crisis proportions that result in large disparities in family stability, health and mental wellness, education, employment, economic development, public safety, criminal justice, and housing” -Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors (ARDI<\/a>). Black people make up the heart beat of LA, yet they are disproportionately affected by the powers that be. Matters are made worse for those who have an intersectional identity. An intersectional identity means that ones identity is comprised of being both Black and another historically marginalized identity. So, the creation equal opportunities and treatment for people is an issue that the county itself is trying to take on. It’s a daunting task but the board is set on “(fostering) strategic partnerships with community-based organizations, service providers, local governments, and philanthropy to support implementation” -ARDI. The government is working towards making a more inclusive Los Angeles. Their partnership with local organizations will help strengthen the Black community.<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
In the meantime, young Black LA tends to prefer to pop out for events put on by Black creatives for Black people. There are events that are nationwide like Black Girl<\/a> and Boy<\/a> Art Shows or weekly gatherings such as Little Vibe Friday<\/a>. For those who are working on getting their degree, most universities have a sort of Black Student Assembly\/ Union. These organizations are designed specifically to ensure that Black students feel at home on their new campus. Some campuses even have special interest housing. The goal of special interest floors is to serve as a mini community for newer students. They get to be surrounded by people who look like them instead of having to look far and wide to find that community. USC has Somerville a special interest residential community established in 1995 by USC graduates John Somerville and his wife Vada Watson Somerville.<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
To get a feel of the atmosphere, Mayah said, \u201cI wanted it to feel like a family reunion\u2026 I wanted it to feel warm and cool and inviting. And I wanted it to feel very familial\u201d (Los Angeles Times<\/a>).<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The space feels just like that. People are grooving to the beats of the DJ, hugging the friends they just happened to run into, all while talking to vendors who have a story uniquely their own. The flea provides attendees with the opportunity to come in outfits that showcase their personalities. People wear all kinds of knitted hats, heeled boots, with no two people dressing the same.<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Elande Abate<\/a> and Miles Mogush<\/a> are the BSA Special Events Chair. They took it upon themselves to host their own Black flea at USC. The event happened during Black history month and was a space for student businesses and artists to showcase their work.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Hear from some young Black transplants on why centralized community spaces such as these are important to them.<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n