16 Sep The tragic loss of African American culture in Venice

I wrote an op-ed piece for the Los Angeles Times about the closure of the historic First Baptist Church in trendy Venice Beach, where I have lived for more than 20 years. 

The First Baptist Church has closed, a symbol of Venice’s shrinking Black population

I initially pitched this story to former colleagues at The Times, but when they didn’t do it, I felt a responsibility to write something. An opinion piece was the best option. The church will soon be torn down to make way for a massive home for the billionaire Penske family.