Opinion: The Black Los Angeles I grew up with is slipping away

[2 one 3]

Black LA still around despite the challenges

True it’s just not the same sadly

 

[2 one 3]

And not going nowhere. Black LA has long shifted into the suburbs from the city, but we still there (311k in The City; 759k in LA/Orange counties; 1.085 million when adding in IE blacks).

Someone asked me this past week if I could live anywhere, money no issue, could just get up and go and be secure and free. And as it has always been, my answer remains Los Angeles. If I could just do what the fukk I wanted, I'd be in LA yesterday. Greatest city in America, and Black LA has a legendary impact on Black American culture as a whole.

What part of the city you in fam?

 

[murksiderock]

What part of the city you in fam?

I'm in Raleigh, haven't been back to LA since May 2024. And in general since I had my oldest child (8 years old), I don't get back as much as I did since before I had kids.

I'm originally from Sacramento and would be back in Sac 1-3 times a year before I had kids; I would make it to LA at least once a year, maybe skip a year here or there (like I didn't get to LA in '14 or '15 but I was there every other year).

I was on my way to move back to Sacramento permanently the summer of 2016, and then in June my ex told me she was pregnant with my oldest daughter. Which has kept me out here on the East Coast; no complaints because I owe this obligation to my children. But 2016 Summer, I was about to back in California for good.

Far as LA, I did most of my elementary school years there. I grew up at Rolland Curtis and Normandie, I lived on Rolland Curtis. Sometimes its easier for me to tell people Expo & Normandie; and I went to Weemes Elementary. My cousin, who was like my sister, graduated from Manual Arts.

My family in the city still lives around USC or Chesterfield Square. I have a relative in Inglewood, and some relatives in the Van Nuys/Panorama City/Pacoima area. Had some homies in various parts of the city in years past too.

I love LA bruh, some of the best times of my life were there, some of the best people. Ultimately when my kids get older, I am heading back west, but my oldest is only 8, so its probably at least another 5 to 8 years out here. Sacramento is likely where I'll live my life out, let everything come full circle. But if I can afford it comfortably, I ain't ruling out LA. I got roots there and I think its easily the best city in the country. It's changed and those of you who grew up there would know that better than me, but its still a phenomenal place, when you know and see what the rest of this country has to offer.

Ain't no city perfect, every place has its positives and negatives. But if I could afford it and had no kids, or possibly when they get older. If every place was equal, I'm taking LA over every single place, every time.