When our kids were little we were always planning excursions. We would go with a group of friends to the Long Beach Aquarium or the Getty or the Griffith Park, we called ourselves the “Pushchair Brigade.” It was always a great adventure not only for the children but also for us. As our kids have gotten older we find it sometimes is more difficult to make time to go as a family to do these things so we decided to hop in the car midweek and head downtown to check out the California African-American Museum which we hadn’t visited in many years. The museum is free and the space is beautiful. In addition they host great public events. There is also a fantastic research library as part of the museum.

Gary Simmons: Fade to Black. California African American Museum, July 12, 2017 – July 31, 2018

Currently on display at the museum is How Sweet the Sound, a fantastic interactive exhibition which tells the long history of gospel in LA including the Azusa Street Revival in 1906, the great migration of the 1940s and the key role of gospel during the civil rights era.  In addition they are also exhibiting works by five contemporary artists Adler Guerrier, Pamela Smith Hudson, Eric Mack, Nicole Miller and Shinique Smith. Their art delves into issues facing our communities today including homelessness racial segregation social justice and threats to the natural world.

Grab a friend jump in the car and go visit a museum you haven’t in a while.

The mission of the California African American museum is to research, collect, preserve, and interpret for public enrichment the history, art, and culture of African Americans, with an emphasis on California and the western United States.

CAAM is located in exposition park which is home to a variety of museums and attractions.
Gallery hours are Tuesdays to Saturdays 10 AM to 5 PM and Sundays 11 AM to 5 PM