Introducing The Breakdown™

Hey, y'all! So, you might notice that our newsletter has a new name. Basically, we have an individuality complex and wanted to be different, so we're The Breakdown now.

Now that we've launched, we're bringing you more than just updates. We wanted our newsletter's name to reflect that. The Breakdown is your weekly digest of local stories with an unapologetic voice.

We're also experimenting with some formatting changes in the newsletter for better readability. New look, new vibe, but no changes in our actual content. Check out what we've been up to this week now that we've gotten into the swing of pushing out content from our amazing contributors. Without further ado, let's get to it.

FEATURED STORY

From Louisiana to La La Land: Migration’s impact on today’s L.A.

by Gabrielle Chenault

This is the first piece in an ongoing body of work related to Black Angelenos’ indelible impact on Los Angeles as the city and culture we know today, including the roles of slavery, migration and gentrification.

Why did people come from Louisiana to Los Angeles?

Jim Crow segregation spurred 4.3 million Black Americans from the South to migrate to the Midwest, North and West Coast in Second Great Migration. As World War II began and defense production skyrocketed in Los Angeles, the city's Black population skyrocketed from 63,700 to more than 763,000 in just three decades.

Where can we see Louisiana's roots here in California? 

Communities like Little New Orleans, organizations such as LA LA (more formally known as the Louisiana to Los Angeles Organizing Committee)and local events like crawfish boils and Mardi Gras parades help to connect Louisiana transplants with others in the area who share a similar heritage.

How does food connect people nearly 2,000 miles apart?

Southern fare is a staple that bridges distance and ties communities together from afar. Food plays a significant role in connecting descendants with their ancestors. For descendants of the formerly enslaved, recipes are sacred because they’re one of the few things that could be passed down to future generations. For those who are generations removed from migration, holding on to southern traditions helps connect them to a culture that isn’t visible to them.

So, what's the LA to L.A. connection?

Louisiana is home to a rich, diverse culture that deserves to be celebrated for more than just Mardi Gras. And it’s inextricably linked to the diversity and cultural richness of Los Angeles.

Cliff Brown is an L.A.-based jazz guitarist, composer and producer. His latest, collaboration is the soundtrack for the short film Nena's House of Blues.

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MORE STORIES

One night at the Soraya with Fela, King of Afrobeat

by Olive BIeni

With the rise of artists like Burna Boy and Tems, Afrobeats is gaining popularity in the mainstream. Fela Ransome-Kuti, the pioneering musician and creator behind Afrobeats first popularized the genre in the late 1960s. Fela's music catalog was the source of inspiration for Fela! The Concert, which came to The Soraya last month. In a Q&A, actor Duain Richmond, who plays the titular Fela shares his journey playing the role and drops some life lessons we can all learn from.

Opioid addiction recovery providers favor individual-centered treatment options for Black women

by Eliza Partika

This is the first story in a solutions-reported series that explores the efficacy of new approaches to addiction recovery programs, especially for Black women, from the perspective of local healthcare providers and former clients.

This article explores how the opioid epidemic has disproportionately affected Black women and how organizations like L.A.'s Sidewalk Project and addiction treatment centers like Friendly House support their clients with harm reduction and treatment. For more information on addiction assistance in Black communities, visit SAFE Project.

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IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

Local chef offers ‘second chances’ to formerly incarcerated people

Keith Corbin grew up in Watts learning to cook from his grandmother before getting caught up selling drugs in his adolescence. Today, he's a chef with a thriving restaurant in West Adams. And, he's creating opportunities for people trying to a build a new life, like he once was, after prison.

by Ural Garrett