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| The Pioneering Black Historian Who Was Almost Erased From History | The Pioneering Black Historian Who Was Almost Erased From History |
| (5 months later) | |
| Good morning. | Good morning. |
| (Don’t get California today delivered to your inbox? Here’s the sign-up.) | (Don’t get California today delivered to your inbox? Here’s the sign-up.) |
| It’s Black History Month, which is a good time to reflect on whose stories are repeated or forgotten, whose work is celebrated and why. | It’s Black History Month, which is a good time to reflect on whose stories are repeated or forgotten, whose work is celebrated and why. |
| So today we’re highlighting the work of Delilah L. Beasley, an important — but largely unsung — black historian, a woman who spent years traveling the state to document black life in California. | So today we’re highlighting the work of Delilah L. Beasley, an important — but largely unsung — black historian, a woman who spent years traveling the state to document black life in California. |
| In the Bay Area, Ms. Beasley might be best known for her work as an Oakland Tribune columnist — the first black woman to hold such a role at a major metropolitan newspaper. | In the Bay Area, Ms. Beasley might be best known for her work as an Oakland Tribune columnist — the first black woman to hold such a role at a major metropolitan newspaper. |
| But Dana Johnson, a writer and University of Southern California associate professor, said she was fascinated by another of Ms. Beasley’s achievements: her book, “Negro Trail Blazers of California,” published in 1919. | But Dana Johnson, a writer and University of Southern California associate professor, said she was fascinated by another of Ms. Beasley’s achievements: her book, “Negro Trail Blazers of California,” published in 1919. |
| “She was the person who did all this work by herself with no formal training as a historian,” Ms. Johnson said. | “She was the person who did all this work by herself with no formal training as a historian,” Ms. Johnson said. |
| [See how California’s and Texas’s history textbooks differ and what we can learn from that.] | [See how California’s and Texas’s history textbooks differ and what we can learn from that.] |
| Ms. Johnson wrote a fictionalized short story about Ms. Beasley for a new book, “Trailblazer: Delilah Beasley’s California,” published by the L.A. arts organization Clockshop and the Huntington Library as part of an exhibition exploring and challenging the idea of Utopia. | Ms. Johnson wrote a fictionalized short story about Ms. Beasley for a new book, “Trailblazer: Delilah Beasley’s California,” published by the L.A. arts organization Clockshop and the Huntington Library as part of an exhibition exploring and challenging the idea of Utopia. |
| The story is told from Ms. Beasley’s perspective, as a kind of imagined, impressionistic memoir. Ms. Johnson said one reason she took that approach was that so little is known about Ms. Beasley’s life. | The story is told from Ms. Beasley’s perspective, as a kind of imagined, impressionistic memoir. Ms. Johnson said one reason she took that approach was that so little is known about Ms. Beasley’s life. |
| “The irony was that someone who concerned herself with making sure African-Americans in this country were not erased from history was herself erased from the historical narrative,” she said. | “The irony was that someone who concerned herself with making sure African-Americans in this country were not erased from history was herself erased from the historical narrative,” she said. |
| The new book also includes a more straightforward biography, by Ana Cecilia Alvarez, pieced together from scant source material: Ms. Beasley was born in Ohio in 1867. She started writing for newspapers at age 12, but her name did not appear in print until the Sept. 10, 1887, issue of the African-American weekly The Cleveland Gazette. | The new book also includes a more straightforward biography, by Ana Cecilia Alvarez, pieced together from scant source material: Ms. Beasley was born in Ohio in 1867. She started writing for newspapers at age 12, but her name did not appear in print until the Sept. 10, 1887, issue of the African-American weekly The Cleveland Gazette. |
| She was orphaned as a teenager and worked as a maid, a nurse and a massage therapist. In 1910, she made California her home, becoming “one among a significant western migration of black Americans in search of an honest fulfillment of citizenship’s promise at the turn of the century,” according to the book. | She was orphaned as a teenager and worked as a maid, a nurse and a massage therapist. In 1910, she made California her home, becoming “one among a significant western migration of black Americans in search of an honest fulfillment of citizenship’s promise at the turn of the century,” according to the book. |
| [Read about Biddy Mason, a black woman who helped build Los Angeles.] | [Read about Biddy Mason, a black woman who helped build Los Angeles.] |
| Ms. Beasley found thriving black civic, social and religious institutions in Oakland, even as African-Americans faced much of the same profound discrimination there as elsewhere in the country. | Ms. Beasley found thriving black civic, social and religious institutions in Oakland, even as African-Americans faced much of the same profound discrimination there as elsewhere in the country. |
| “She saw California as this magical utopian place,” Ms. Johnson said, “but she was also very sharp-eyed about those contradictions.” | “She saw California as this magical utopian place,” Ms. Johnson said, “but she was also very sharp-eyed about those contradictions.” |
| Ms. Beasley became obsessive about documenting the history of African-Americans in the West. She wrote about slavery in California, which was supposed to be a free state. She wrote about the first African-American detective she had ever heard of, and told of black firefighters. | Ms. Beasley became obsessive about documenting the history of African-Americans in the West. She wrote about slavery in California, which was supposed to be a free state. She wrote about the first African-American detective she had ever heard of, and told of black firefighters. |
| At the time, Ms. Johnson said, Ms. Beasley’s insistence on laying out everything she could find about the accomplishments of the pioneers she profiled in her book proved “to some critics’ minds, too much detail.” | At the time, Ms. Johnson said, Ms. Beasley’s insistence on laying out everything she could find about the accomplishments of the pioneers she profiled in her book proved “to some critics’ minds, too much detail.” |
| Ms. Johnson said she was struck by that urgency — how it took a toll on Ms. Beasley’s health, how she must have toiled to have an outlet for a relentlessly curious mind. | Ms. Johnson said she was struck by that urgency — how it took a toll on Ms. Beasley’s health, how she must have toiled to have an outlet for a relentlessly curious mind. |
| “I was born in 1967 — exactly 100 years apart — and her concerns are my concerns,” Ms. Johnson said. “That’s why I write.” | “I was born in 1967 — exactly 100 years apart — and her concerns are my concerns,” Ms. Johnson said. “That’s why I write.” |
| You can see the exhibition, “Beside the Edge of the World,” at the Huntington Library, Art Museum and Botanical Gardens until Feb. 24. | You can see the exhibition, “Beside the Edge of the World,” at the Huntington Library, Art Museum and Botanical Gardens until Feb. 24. |
| And you can learn more about Ms. Beasley at the Oakland Public Library. | And you can learn more about Ms. Beasley at the Oakland Public Library. |
| We often link to sites that limit access for nonsubscribers. We appreciate your reading Times coverage, but we also encourage you to support local news if you can. | We often link to sites that limit access for nonsubscribers. We appreciate your reading Times coverage, but we also encourage you to support local news if you can. |
| “Riverside is our Des Moines.” Former Mayor Michael Bloomberg of New York and Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont are competing fiercely in places where presidential candidates rarely go. It’s part of a battle for California’s 20 million voters — and with our early primary, it’s ramping up. [The New York Times] | “Riverside is our Des Moines.” Former Mayor Michael Bloomberg of New York and Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont are competing fiercely in places where presidential candidates rarely go. It’s part of a battle for California’s 20 million voters — and with our early primary, it’s ramping up. [The New York Times] |
| Gov. Gavin Newsom is threatening to take over Pacific Gas & Electric if its restructuring plan doesn’t meet his demands. But does he actually want the state to take on a struggling utility as a ward? [The New York Times] | Gov. Gavin Newsom is threatening to take over Pacific Gas & Electric if its restructuring plan doesn’t meet his demands. But does he actually want the state to take on a struggling utility as a ward? [The New York Times] |
| When the Environmental Protection Agency’s top official in California got a call demanding he resign and he refused, he was fired. He said nobody would tell him why. [The San Francisco Chronicle] | When the Environmental Protection Agency’s top official in California got a call demanding he resign and he refused, he was fired. He said nobody would tell him why. [The San Francisco Chronicle] |
| There are thousands of old oil wells across the state that are toxic and were supposed to have been cleaned up. [The Center for Public Integrity | The Los Angeles Times] | There are thousands of old oil wells across the state that are toxic and were supposed to have been cleaned up. [The Center for Public Integrity | The Los Angeles Times] |
| Before the crash that killed Kobe Bryant, an inspector who oversaw the helicopter company said he disagreed with management over safety. [The New York Times] | Before the crash that killed Kobe Bryant, an inspector who oversaw the helicopter company said he disagreed with management over safety. [The New York Times] |
| Also: A public memorial for Mr. Bryant has been set for Feb. 24 at Staples Center. [The New York Times] | Also: A public memorial for Mr. Bryant has been set for Feb. 24 at Staples Center. [The New York Times] |
| At a make-or-break time for Juul, the e-cigarette maker based in San Francisco, employees are questioning the company’s leadership and thinking about quitting. [Buzzfeed News] | At a make-or-break time for Juul, the e-cigarette maker based in San Francisco, employees are questioning the company’s leadership and thinking about quitting. [Buzzfeed News] |
| Facial recognition technology could replace fingerprints. Read a deep dive into the idea’s origins and the more recent backlash. [California Sunday] | Facial recognition technology could replace fingerprints. Read a deep dive into the idea’s origins and the more recent backlash. [California Sunday] |
| In its latest earnings report, Uber posted faster growth but still lost more than $1 billion. [The New York Times] | In its latest earnings report, Uber posted faster growth but still lost more than $1 billion. [The New York Times] |
| NPR and California public radio stations are collaborating on a new statewide newsroom aimed at reporting on areas that have seen local news coverage diminish. [NPR] | NPR and California public radio stations are collaborating on a new statewide newsroom aimed at reporting on areas that have seen local news coverage diminish. [NPR] |
| The first dog park in the United States was Ohlone Dog Park, founded in 1979 in — where else? — Berkeley. Since then, we’ve come to mostly accept that dog parks are great for both canines and their humans. But what if they’re actually bad for dogs? [The New York Times] | The first dog park in the United States was Ohlone Dog Park, founded in 1979 in — where else? — Berkeley. Since then, we’ve come to mostly accept that dog parks are great for both canines and their humans. But what if they’re actually bad for dogs? [The New York Times] |
| On Thursday, Netflix said it would give viewers a choice: To autoplay or not to autoplay. [The New York Times] | On Thursday, Netflix said it would give viewers a choice: To autoplay or not to autoplay. [The New York Times] |
| Of all the products and concepts she has sold to the world, this is the one Kim Kardashian West is most confident in peddling: Restraint will bring you comfort. And so, she hopes her shapewear line will be her billion-dollar business. [The New York Times] | Of all the products and concepts she has sold to the world, this is the one Kim Kardashian West is most confident in peddling: Restraint will bring you comfort. And so, she hopes her shapewear line will be her billion-dollar business. [The New York Times] |
| For East Asian immigrant communities, heavy, American-style birthday cakes are almost always eschewed in favor of a delightful combination of sponge cake, whipped topping and fresh fruit. The appeal may be simple, but the dessert’s story is not. [Eater] | For East Asian immigrant communities, heavy, American-style birthday cakes are almost always eschewed in favor of a delightful combination of sponge cake, whipped topping and fresh fruit. The appeal may be simple, but the dessert’s story is not. [Eater] |
| We’re almost through with awards season, here. On Sunday, it’s the Oscars. And even if you, like my colleague Wesley Morris, have a lot of troubled feelings about the nominees and the institution, the awards show is always an interesting cultural barometer. | We’re almost through with awards season, here. On Sunday, it’s the Oscars. And even if you, like my colleague Wesley Morris, have a lot of troubled feelings about the nominees and the institution, the awards show is always an interesting cultural barometer. |
| If you’re planning to watch, here’s a handy online ballot, with links to the corresponding reviews. Here are our Carpetbagger’s predictions about who will win, if you want to use that to inform your picks. | If you’re planning to watch, here’s a handy online ballot, with links to the corresponding reviews. Here are our Carpetbagger’s predictions about who will win, if you want to use that to inform your picks. |
| And here’s how to stream the nominees. | And here’s how to stream the nominees. |
| California Today goes live at 6:30 a.m. Pacific time weekdays. Tell us what you want to see: CAtoday@nytimes.com. Were you forwarded this email? Sign up for California Today here. | California Today goes live at 6:30 a.m. Pacific time weekdays. Tell us what you want to see: CAtoday@nytimes.com. Were you forwarded this email? Sign up for California Today here. |
| Jill Cowan grew up in Orange County, graduated from U.C. Berkeley and has reported all over the state, including the Bay Area, Bakersfield and Los Angeles — but she always wants to see more. Follow along here or on Twitter, @jillcowan. | Jill Cowan grew up in Orange County, graduated from U.C. Berkeley and has reported all over the state, including the Bay Area, Bakersfield and Los Angeles — but she always wants to see more. Follow along here or on Twitter, @jillcowan. |
| California Today is edited by Julie Bloom, who grew up in Los Angeles and graduated from U.C. Berkeley. | California Today is edited by Julie Bloom, who grew up in Los Angeles and graduated from U.C. Berkeley. |