West Adams is quickly becoming my favorite neighborhood in Los Angeles. Chelsea, my dear friend and Unbothered VP, was born and raised in L.A. and her dad grew up in West Adams, one of the oldest and most historic neighborhoods in the city. She made fun of me for just now waking up to the wonder of the area that has such a rich history. Dubbed “West Adams Heights” in the 1920s, TK. By the ‘30s, Sugar Hill, a district of mansions that sat atop a hill in West Adams, was the home to Black Hollywood’s elite. Movie stars including Hattie McDaniel and Louise Beavers (known for Imitation of Life, She Done Him Wrong, and Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House) used to throw celeb-packed parties in West Adams. In the ‘60s, the area was mostly destroyed (McDaniel’s house still stands) by gentrification and replaced with the Santa Monica freeway. The rest of West Adams is still thriving. Reparations Club is my favorite bookstore and I couldn’t wait to go back after going for the first time last year. Reparations Club is a Black woman-owned concept bookstore and creative space that throws amazing events throughout the year and carries the best Back authors. It’s also just a dope space where you can stock up on books and buy products like puzzles, organic honey, and cards created by Black-owned businesses.
