Through the Fire

A Love Note to Black Los Angeles

Jan 14, 2025

Fire, like all elements of nature, is an equalizer. When an element is beyond human control, its force impacts people across color, class, and community. The wildfires currently raging in Southern California are a reminder of that, and we send our prayers to all affected.

We are especially devastated to see historically Black communities turn into an ember. Black Americans have been in L.A. since its inception, but it became a city of refuge as Black Americans escaped the proverbial fire of the Jim Crow South.

It later developed into one of the hubs to distribute our art to the world. Chaka Khan recorded “Through the Fire” in Los Angeles, and while the title feels quite literal at the moment, it’s real–“right down to the wire/even through the fire.”

After Kanye West nearly lost his life in a car accident in Los Angeles, he later recorded “Through the Wire” in the same city, reinterpreting Chaka’s tune as a testament to his survival.

It is that kind of endurance and reinvention that will allow Black Americana in Los Angeles as we know it to be restored. Throughout this post, we will spotlight fun L.A. tidbits where they apply.

“Through the fire/Through whatever, come what may…”

Historic Moments

January 14, 1975: George L. Brown is inaugurated as the first Black lieutenant governor of Colorado

Prior to politics, Brown was a Tuskegee Airman and newspaper editor. After leaving public office, he became one of the most prominent Black Americans in finance and lobbying.

January 18, 1975: The Jeffersons premieres

The Jeffersons followed a family who finally moved on up to Manhattan, but the series was filmed in Los Angeles and became one of the longest running and highest rated sitcoms in history.

January 20, 1955: The Read’s Drug Store Sit-Ins

Read’s Drug Store was a pharmaceutical chain in Baltimore, Maryland that allowed all patrons to purchase goods but barred Black customers from sitting at the lunch counters. Members of CORE (Congress of Racial Equality) and several Morgan State University students held sit-ins at the lunch counters. Within two days, Read’s ended its segregation policy. The sit-in became a model during the Civil Rights Movement.

Music Momentos

January 16, 1980: “The Second Time Around” by Shalamar reaches #1 on the Billboard Hot Soul singles chart

Shalamar was formed in Los Angeles and after the departure of the group’s original lead singer, remaining members Jody Watley and Jeffrey Daniel brought in Howard Hewett, who they first met at a club in the Crenshaw district. With this new lineup, “The Second Time Around” became the group’s first Top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100.

January 18, 2020: “The Box” by Roddy Ricch reaches #1 on the Billboard Hot 100

Despite the craziness of 2020, it was a breakout year for Compton native Roddy Ricch.

January 18, 1975: “You’re the First, the Last, My Everything” by Barry White reaches #1 on the Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart

Barry came to L.A. as a child by way of Texas during the Great Migration, as many Angelenos did. After a tumultuous youth, he reformed in the city and went on to craft an unparalleled musical legacy.

January 19, 1980: “Rock with You” by Michael Jackson reaches #1 on the Billboard Hot 100

When Joseph Jackson felt the grit of the Midwest was becoming too much, he dreamed of moving his family from Gary, Indiana to Los Angeles. Once his boys signed to Motown Records, Berry Gordy included them in his dream to shift his label from Detroit to L.A., with the Jackson 5 becoming the first Motown act to launch from its new Los Angeles regime. Michael Jackson would make decades of history in the city, including recording “Rock with You,” his third solo #1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Happy Birthday Debbie Allen!

Born on January 16, 1950, Debbie Allen is one of the most influential figures in modern entertainment. Her resume is simply too long for this post, but undoubtedly her influence flows from Los Angeles and beyond. And she is married to the legendary Laker Norm Nixon!

What We’re Watching This Week

Back in Action premieres on Netflix on January 17, 2025

The film shows Jamie Foxx returning to the action comedy genre, but it is also the project where he suffered a near-fatal medical emergency.

In Memoriam

Charles Person: September 27, 1942-January 8, 2025

The Atlanta native was the youngest of the original Freedom Riders, where he was one of 13 people to depart on a bus from Washington, D.C. on May 4, 1961 and travel throughout the South to fight for desegregation. Learn more about him here.

Sam Moore: October 12, 1935-January 10, 2025

One half of the duo Sam & Dave, he brought Southern grit to the prim and proper soul of the 1960s with enduring hits like “Hold On, I’m Coming” and “Soul Man.” Learn more about him here.

Closing Thoughts

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