When walking down Vermont Avenue, the pervasive Latino culture of Vermont Harbor is unmistakable. However, only 20 short years ago, African Americans dominated the Vermont Harbor and South Los Angeles community, making up nearly the half the population. Where there are now Salvadoran pupuserias, there once stood legendary sultry Jazz clubs and southern food joints. Here, Africans Americans lived together, struggled together, protested together, and triumphed together. Vermont Harbor was just a small portion of their stomping ground, the inherent blackness palpable in the streets. However, in a short amount of time, the previously deep-rooted African American identity of Vermont Harbor has become almost non-existent as Hispanics quickly and quietly settled in, comprising nearly a third of the population.
Today, the population of Vermont Harbor is 56.5 percent Latino and 39.2 percent African American, according to the L.A. Times. From 1980 to 1990 there was an increase in the Latino population percentage by 62.2 percent while the black population increased a marginal 0.9 percent, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. However, the mass migration of Latinos into Vermont Harbor is not the only reason to blame for the radical changes in the community. According to data from the 2010 Census as well the USC Dornsife's Roots|Raices report, there has been an increasing number of black families moving out of Los Angeles to middle-class areas like Bakersfield and Fontana. The continual influx of Latinos into Vermont Harbor in conjunction with the mass exodus of black families out of South L.A. has made the shrinking Black community feel even smaller.
Todd Engle, Assistant Principal of Manual Arts High School was surprised to discover Manual Arts and Vermont Harbor's rich black history. "I came here in 1994; it was like 24 percent black and 76 Latino. So there's been a slight change, but not substantial. So I'm surprised to hear that there's been a big demographic change in this area," said Engle. According to his recent observations, the Latino population in Vermont Harbor may only be getting bigger.
"In the 90's there were a lot of immigrant students that fizzled out. But in the last two years, there's been another large increase in newly arrived immigrants at the high school age," Engle revealed.
As Vermont Harbor's black identity slowly fades into the distant past, one of the few relics of Vermont Harbor's African American roots, Vermont Swap Meet, remains settled inconspicuously on the corner of Vermont Avenue and 41st Street. Lonnie Williams, a former Vermont Harbor native, hangs out at the thrift store three to four times a week, sitting amongst a random clutter of furniture, chairs and tables of miscellaneous knick knacks.
"The Spanish are taking over. Back in the days, in the '60s and '70s, there was a lot of blacks. But if you go over there today, you're not going to see those black owned businesses anymore," said Williams.
Williams, 59, grew up in Vermont Harbor, grauating from Manual Arts High School in 1975. "You know, it dang flipped. There's a lot of Spanish around here now. There's a handful of blacks, but not like it used to be," Williams reminisced. He blames the mass migration of Latinos of forcing African Americans out of South L.A. "They're being pushed out I'm telling you. Some stay here but most of the time they're being pushed out because the Spanish are coming. They're getting out of L.A."
According to Black Enterprise Magazine, Los Angeles has lost its appeal for African Americans because of the persisting poor socioeconomic conditions and the lack of social mobility. Even Williams has moved out of Vermont Harbor to Moreno Valley to escape the poverty and crime that continues to cripple families living in South L.A.
"It's survival of the fittest. A lot of black people around here, they don't got no job, they turn to drinking," said Williams. "I just feel sorry for the people; for Black people and Hispanic people," Williams admitted.
While some community members attribute the loss of Vermont Harbor's black identity to their Latino neighbors, according to Vanessa Carter, a data analyst for USC Dornsife's Roots|Raices: Latino Engagement, Place Identities, and Shared Futures in South Los Angeles, many community members felt unified with other ethnic groups in the area.
"People really identified with their families and where they came from, but also really identified with South L.A., both Latinos and African Americans. We heard a lot of pride about being from South L.A., acknowledgement that it was hard, that it was hard for everyone and remains difficult, but also a lot of pride that, you know, we've made it," said Carter.
While the racial identity of Vermont Harbor is transforming and adapting to the people living within its borders, the residents of Vermont Square continue to be unified by the shared struggle of surviving in South Central Los Angeles.