Museum in Black
(323) 292-9528
4331 Degnan Blvd
(at Homeland Drive)
Los Angeles,
CA
90008
34.0054
-118.3317
Neighborhoods: South LA, Leimert Park
Hours:
Tue-Sat 11am-6pm or call for an appointment
Parking:
Lot
Last updated 1.30.09
What People Are Saying About Museum in Black
The Editor
Contributor
Citysearch
The Scene
Tucked away in the back room of a small shop in Leimert Park, this fascinating collection of black memorabilia was compiled by store-owner Brian Breye. Since the early '70s, Breye has been amassing more than 5,000 artifacts--clothes, albums, photographs, housewares and more--through numerous trips to the South and visits to former slave plantations. Crammed into every nook and cranny, the finds embody the black experience in the U.S. through the decades.
The Collection
While some objects remind visitors of the derogatory stereotypes common in the early 20th century, such as ads for minstrel shows where white actors sported black faces, many items in the collection demonstrate black accomplishments. Placards display the names of black inventors and their creations, which include the rolling pin, the pencil sharpener and the lunchbox. The most sobering artifacts are iron shackles that bound enslaved adults and babies, as well as stone weights once used to drown slaves.
User Reviews
leon3
January 02, 2008
The museum has moved to approx. the 4100 blk. of Central ave. at the historical Dunbar Hotel in L.A. Brian is currently looking for a permanent building for his collection and younger people to help maintain the collection. What's good, is you can now get more of Brian's time to learn about the city of L.A. AND the history of Black people everywhere. The collection has over 3,000 pieces. African mask, statues,jewelry, drums, fabrics,furnatures and then there are the chains used on captured people who became slaves. African and African-American memorabilia from the 1600's to the 1970's. He has original items that he has collected for 50 years. The stories of how he found the pieces and the people who sold or even gave items to him are really interesting. Brain's personality varies by who he is talking to. He loves students of all ages but he won't have much time for pretentious people. This place will definitely inspire thought and even action in most people who experience it.
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dilbert
May 21, 2002
One of the best place in Los Angeles to gain an understanding of what marginalized means in context with American ideology. A place to learn about sorrowful historic events and then rejoice in advancements. Take your children.
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