Historically Black Cultural District (HBCD)
The HBCD celebrates and preserves the heritage, traditions, and contributions of African Americans. Within the HBCD are historically significant sites such as churches, schools, parks, libraries and community centers, as well as businesses, and galleries that showcase Black art, music, literature, and cuisine.
HBCD Community Cleanup
was a great success
Click to view a brief
Long Beach Black
History presentation
The Central Area of Long Beach has been the heart of the Black community since the1890s. Despite a long history of racial redlining, service disparities, and neglect, the early Black settlers built a vibrant community. From the 1900s to the early 1960s, this area, known historically as Negro Town and the Colored Area, was the primary place where Blacks could live and own property. These pioneers established a solid business district, built churches, and provided supportive services, creating a resilient and thriving community.
During the Great Migration of African Americans from the South to the West, tens of thousands of Blacks moved to Long Beach in search of better jobs, education and opportunities. The vast majority of those who migrated found work in the Port of Long Beach and the Naval Station. As we tell the story of the Black migration this provides an opportunity to meaningfully educate the community about the Port, and its positive impact.
Today, the Central Area is home to 15 Black churches, which own over 200,000 square feet of property. The area also features two schools and four public parks honoring African Americans, the Arican American Heritage Society, Pan African Art Studio, and VIP Records just to name a few. From 1970 to 2020, the Council District seat representing this area was held by an African American.
In April 2024, these community-led efforts culminated in designating the defined Central Area as the Historically Black Cultural District (HBCD). The boundaries for the HBCD extend from 10th Street north to Burnett Avenue, Atlantic Avenue east to Orange Avenue. This official recognition honors the legacy and contributions of Black ancestors and marks a significant milestone in preserving the area's rich history.
Over the past few years, Elite Skills Development has been collecting information and providing tours of the historic Central Long Beach neighborhoods. These tours have successfully educated Long Beach elected leadership, city management and organization leaders on the history and accomplishments of the Black and African American pioneers in the Central Area. The tour participants have garnered a greater understanding of the neighborhood’s legacy. We have seen renewed interest in uplifting and improving the area, and the attendees have garnered a greater overall respect for the significant contributions of the Black and African American community.
The HBCD has plans to create History Alive! A Central Long Beach written history project that will include collecting, researching and preserving the memories, a tour map, as well as historic signage, and street pole banners.
The Lamppost Empowerment Project started as a response to the racial injustice exhibited through George Floyd’s death, and the subsequent protests, in May of 2020. As demonstrated in countless circumstances, images have the power to impart subliminal messaging, which has the capability to affect the behavior of individuals. Therefore, this project was created to counteract the media’s overwhelmingly negative imagery of minorities by showcasing positive role models of color. Specifically, the lamppost signs feature Black inventors and trailblazers who have made significant contributions to society. The signs are intended to shift the narrative surrounding people of color into a more positive light, while motivating people to work towards achieving their goals, despite the possible setbacks they may face. Due to the community project partnership with Elite Skills Development, Long Beach Christian Fellowship, and private citizens, the Lamppost Empowerment Project was able to come to fruition. The lamppost signs will be displayed on Atlantic Avenue in Long Beach, California, from October 2022 through February 2023, beginning at the intersection of Jackrabbit Lane through 6th Street.