Young Black transplants and the importance of community
transplant noun [C] (PERSON/THING)
someone or something that has moved or been moved from one place to another
Author’s note: I’ve been a young Black transplant for most of my life. I’ve 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’s 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’s why I’m here to sweeten your tea and fill your cup with finding community.
Imagine you’ve traveled millions of miles to chase your dreams. You’re 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’re really here. It’s the stuff of the movies and you’re joining them. One of the 9.83 million people looking to make their mark just like you. As you reflect on the faces you’ve seen, your heart begins to sink. “None of them look like me”, you think. The white features don’t 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 was set in Los Angeles, that means there must be other Black people here. But where and how do I find them…
As a transplant, finding YOUR place is all the difference between being alone or having community. That’s why finding a safe space for yourself is important. This isn’t to say that general spaces aren’t home to Black people. There’s just a difference between those and Black designed spaces. Transplants are in a new place but that doesn’t mean they have to be out of place.
“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’s no moving forward unless we accept that racism against people of colour is deeply systemic” -Charlie Brinkhurst-Cuff (The Guardian)
A simple Google search of “black spaces for young adults in Los Angeles” 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). 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.
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 and Boy Art Shows or weekly gatherings such as Little Vibe Friday. 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.
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’t matter if you’ve lived here your whole life or just hopped off the plane at LAX. You’ll find people young and old who are just there to be Black. What’s the name of this main event? It’s Black Market Flea (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.
To get a feel of the atmosphere, Mayah said, “I wanted it to feel like a family reunion… I wanted it to feel warm and cool and inviting. And I wanted it to feel very familial” (Los Angeles Times).
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.
Black Market Flea has found success in its simple formula: transform every inch of The Beehive 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, “by the third flea market in August, more than 1,050 people came through and the number of vendors grew from 27 to 60”. The numbers going up even though the price stays the same.
Elande Abate and Miles Mogush 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.
“A lot of these students aren’t just students, right? They have their own businesses. They’re hustling outside of what they do just in the classroom. So, this event specifically showcases what they’re 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” -Miles Mogush.
Hear from some young Black transplants on why centralized community spaces such as these are important to them.
LanguageFor those looking from the outside in, they might wonder, “what makes this flea market different from any of the other ones?” The answer to that is simple: community. Black Market Flea was created to be a community center. A place where Black people and allies of all backgrounds can come together and find acceptance.
While there, they aren’t only sparking up conversations with attendees, they are sparking up conversations with the owners of Black owned businesses. There are clothing, food, jewelry, and cosmetics that were all created by Black individuals. Events that serve as center of commerce are a great way for young Black transplants to find community. It’s a way to find a new restaurant or become friends with a shop owner. You’re directly investing in the community that is welcoming you. Putting money in the pockets of Black people instead of a major corporation. Befriending the locals get you closer to becoming one. What’s great about that the foundation is that it was all built on self-expression. These events emphasize coming as you are. Wear that favorite shirt with the X-Men on it. Who knows, someone else might be ready to spark up a conversation about them. You are expected to come as your authentic self. The clothes worn could be the key to friendships formed.
It is the city with “the third largest Black population (936,285) in the United States” (lacounty.gov). Black people are in the city but there are only a few Black neighborhoods. Leimert Park has a wholesome old school vibe, Ladera Heights is the Black Beverly Hills, and you can visit filming locations from Insecure.
Los Angeles reflects the world around itself. A melting pot full of dreams and people determined to make them come true. In trying to do such, many can travel down a lonely road. That road is even more daunting for young Black transplant in Los Angeles. They are looking to join the excellent 8.6% of Black or African American identifying individuals according to the U.S. Census. This number, however, is down from 9% in 2021.
