I created Black LA Uncovered to ensure that the voices, stories, and legacies of Black Angelenos are heard, preserved, and celebrated. I was raised in the Crenshaw District; also known as the mecca of Black Los Angeles. My success is a product of the love and support I received from the Crenshaw community at a time when I really needed it most: after my mother died from cancer when I was 11 years old. I had neighbors and teachers at every level embrace me with compassion and support. I'll never forget that. 

 

As a journalist since 2010, I’ve seen firsthand how the contributions and challenges of Black communities in L.A. are often overlooked in mainstream narratives. Yet, Black Angelenos have profoundly shaped the city’s culture, music, politics, and identity.

 

This podcast is my way of bridging generations. By capturing elders’ oral histories, I’m preserving wisdom and experiences that might otherwise fade away. At the same time, by amplifying youth voices, I’m highlighting the new ideas and perspectives that will shape the future of L.A. Together, these stories create a living archive — a cultural resource that schools, historians, artists, and community members can draw upon for years to come.

​

The work feels especially urgent now. In an era of heightened conversations about race, justice, and representation, Black LA Uncovered offers context, depth, and truth. It reminds us that the story of Los Angeles cannot be fully told without the voices of its Black residents. This project is both a tribute and a call to action: to listen, to learn, and to honor the impact of Black Angelenos on the past, present, and future of the city.

​

-LaMonica Peters, Founder & Host