watts towers – Thomas Reports

Today marks the 58^th commemoration of the Watts Riots. Trivia buffs know this, but most do not:

The Riots did not start in Watts

Los Angeles is a large city. It is split into many neighborhoods and communities. For some, even African Americans think “Watts” is anything south of the I-10 (Santa Monica freeway).

In reality or being technical, Watts is a relatively small enclave of Los Angeles. The South border is Imperial Highway. The North border is Firestone Blvd. The East border is Alameda Street. The West border is Central Avenue

So, if the Riots did not start in Watts where did they start or what caused the spark?

The Riots started from an altercation with the California Highway Patrol and the Marquette Frye family. The location was an apartment complex on the west side of Avalon Blvd. near 115^th Street. Technically that area is considered South Los Angeles or today South-Central Los Angeles.

Approximately two miles northeast, Watts had a primary business district on 103^rd Street which became a hot spot as members of the community set it ablaze. Hence the name, “The Watts Riots”

Aerial view (drone) of the iconic Watts Towers which is the namesake of the community located on 108th & Santa Fe. Video courtesy of collection of Fred Thomas, III

Thanks to our remote cultural correspondent Elena Bell, LSW we are sharing a screening of the Broken Bread series titled “WATTS.”

A common misconception by most is understanding the 1965 Watts Riot DID NOT START IN WATTS. The California Highway Patrol stopped Marquette Frye on 116th & Avalon which is in South Central. His arrest triggered community resistance which became the flash-point of the riots. It eventually spread to Watts as the main street, 103rd Street was home to the local business strip.

Watts, CA is a mysterious to most, while “home” to so many who have moved from the area but have an affection as the place their ancestors settled when coming to Los Angeles. What it is not, is the community immediately south of the Santa Monica freeway (I-10). It is approximately 11 miles southeast of downtown. Specifically it is tucked into what is called South Central and its boundaries are:

North – Firestone Blvd.
South – Imperial Highway
West – Central Avenue
East – Alameda Blvd.

This 30 minute clip gives you a snapshot of what is going on in Watts today.

As African-Americans fled oppression in the South, the early 1940’s saw a migration of basic working-class folk looking for a safe place to raise their families. Watts and spots in South Central became home to thousands. In the late 80’s the ethnic composition took another change as a new migration took place and Latinos moved in, however today a small cadre of African-Americans remain.

https://www.kcet.org/shows/broken-bread/episodes/watts