The Southern California Black Worker Hub’s 2nd Annual Black August Commemoration, held Aug. 13 at The Gathering Spot, brought together a vibrant tapestry of community, culture, and worker-led resistance. The evening was a rich celebration of Black August and the enduring power of Black workers across Southern California.
A diverse line-up of cultural performances—beginning with ancestral drumming by the Earthlodge Center for Transformation and featuring spoken word by Grammy-nominated poet Sekou Andrews—set a powerful tone for the night. The event closed with a performance by hip-hop icon Medusa, “The Gangsta Goddess” .
California State Senator Lola Smallwood‑Cuevas, co-founder of the LA Black Worker Center, addressed the crowd with urgency and conviction, affirming the importance of honoring historical struggles while fighting for modern worker protections. Assemblymember Tina McKinnor also spoke, spotlighting needed legislative efforts aimed at advancing workplace fairness and equity .
A panel discussion titled “Legacy, Labor, Liberation: Building Black Worker Power” featured labor leaders, community advocates, and worker organizers, offering insights into the ongoing movement for economic justice and policy change. The program also shared updates on the SCBWH’s docuseries “Echo Black Voices,” amplifying the perspectives of 20 Black workers across LA, the Inland Empire, and San Diego .
“This event elevated the voices of Black workers and coalesced a movement rooted in remembrance, solidarity, and the future,” said Dawn Modkins, Director of the Southern California Black Worker Hub for Regional Organizing . Attendees gathered not just as observers, but as participants in a collective affirmation of dignity, cultural heritage, and the fight for Black economic justice.
About the Southern California Black Worker Hub
The SoCal Black Worker Hub organizes across Los Angeles, the Inland Empire, and San Diego to challenge systemic economic disenfranchisement and build worker power. Through regional Black Worker Centers, the Hub advances leadership development, advocacy, and community organizing.