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By Willie Brown
As we close out Black History Month, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Black people from Inglewood who have made history.
Supermodel, actress and TV producer Tyra Banks is an Inglewood native who went from gracing the covers of Vogue, Elle, Cosmopolitan, Bazaar, Essence and Ebony to producing her own long-running hit reality show, “America’s Next Top Model.”
Emmy and SAG Award-nominated actress, writer and producer Issa Ray was born in L.A., but has a thriving business in Inglewood. In 2019, the creator of HBO’s “Insecure” opened Hilltop Coffee, a popular community hub that hosts creative coloring parties, financial literacy workshops, and other events in addition to serving a full menu of coffee and tea drinks and breakfast and lunch items. Issa has two other locations in View Park and Eagle Rock.
The city of Inglewood made history long before Sofi Stadium became a landmark for NFL football and world-class entertainment.
Some notable achievements include Inglewood being home of the first Foster’s Freeze. The fast-food chain was first opened by owner George Foster in 1946 and is still operating today on La Brea Avenue.
In 2012, the Space Shuttle Endeavor retired after 25 missions into space. Inglewood made history as the city through which the rocket was transported from LAX to its final destination at the California Science Center in Exposition Park.
Several movies have been shot in the city, including “Beverly Hills Cop II,” “L.A. Confidential,” “There Will Be Blood.” and “Swordfish.” “The Wood” is a coming-of-age film about teenage boys growing up in Inglewood.
Since 1983, Inglewood has had 4 Black mayors, including Edward Vincent, whom the park is named for, Roosevelt Dorn, Daniel Tabor and current Mayor James Butts.
Every city has a history, and if you are blessed to live here, these things are worth noting. So the next time you engage in a conversation about Inglewood, be sure to share these tidbits of information about the city that you live in and love.
Inglewood’s history is part of black history, and deserving of its own place within Black History Month.
