Our Community's African American History

This Friday, August 7th, the topic of our community’s unique African American history will be presented at the Duarte Historical Museum at 7 pm. “Monrovia is the 4th incorporated city in Los Angeles,” said Professor Susie Ling of Pasadena City College. “John I.W. Fisher came to this area by 1876. Fisher was Lucky Baldwin’s farrier; he was incomparable in his skills to shoe horses. John’s only son, Julian Fisher, became the first African American police officer. The Fishers are now seven generations in Monrovia,” continued Ling.

Going into the 20th century, many communities didn’t welcome African Americans. Outside of Los Angeles, there were Black settlements in Pasadena, Monrovia, and Duarte. “But there were housing covenants and racial restrictions, “ said Ling. “Monrovia had ‘White Trade Only’ signs. In fact, Monrovia had a segregated Huntington Elementary school until 1970—years after the state and federal mandates against racial exclusion in public schools.” African American migration continued from the South even into the 1960s. One of the interviewees of this project said it succinctly, “Anything was better than picking cotton.”

The Duarte Historical Museum has a rich collection of local history and encourages visitors and community participation. It’s located at 777 Encanto Parkway, right on the edge of Encanto Park in Duarte.

Photo caption: Lee’s garage on Elder Street in Duarte circa 1960.