Greg J – Beach City Perspective
For more than thirty years I have worked as an executive at some of the most vibrant black owned broadcast companies. From national radio networks to local radio stations, my communications have always been centered on the Black experience in America. In these roles, I was privileged to be part of central teams that produced and distributed award winning and deeply substantive programs heard on hundreds of radio stations nationwide. Shows like King: From Atlanta to the Mountaintop, heard locally on KJLH-FM – Los Angeles, and across Black American radio stations coast to coast. I have created and produced major community festivals and been an integral participant in the planning of parades in cities like Los Angeles and Inglewood.
A little more than 20 years of my career was spent at the heritage radio station KJLH, owned by music and cultural icon Stevie Wonder.
Now, Stevie was the catalyst for the establishment of the MLK Holiday. As Congressmember John Conyers(D-Michigan) and Coretta Scott King rallied the necessary political avenues of support, Stevie rallied the community and completely funded the campaign, establishing offices in Washington DC, providing staff and community outreach. He even held a march to the steps of the capitol. They rallied and advocated the government to observe the greatness of Dr. King and in 1983, the 3rd Monday of January was proclaimed a federal holiday for Dr. Martin Luther King, JR (Dr. King’s birthday is January 15) with the first celebration coming in 1986. It is this campaign that spawned the culturally essential “Happy Birthday”(1981).
Consequently in my role in Stevie’s organization I was directly responsible for the planning, coordination, execution and production of all activities of the radio station in commemoration of Dr. Martin Luther King, JR.. This meant working with programming to ensure content that informs and inspires. Writing relevant, accurate scripts of facts and historical note for on-air personalities. It involved research, interacting with organizations like the King Center in Atlanta or the Standford University King Papers Project. Working directly with City representatives both elected and departmental to pull permits, liaison with police, fire and other public safety entities to make sure public assemblage was within regulatory standards. I worked with non-profit groups and community-based organizations. I shouldered the responsibility for production logistics, booking, transportation, civic engagement. I led efforts to plan and produce large scale festivals across the region in celebration of Dr. King. Leimert Park, City of Inglewood KingFest. Faith based events. You name it. In fact, I created the first MLK Celebration in Leimert Park alongside then-Councilmember Bernard Parks (8th District and former LAPD Chief). It is now an essential element of LA’s commemoration.
The point here is that the commemoration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr is in my DNA. And it is from this intimate and experienced perspective that I offer these observations.
Civic Nuances in Cultural Celebrations
City government has always been an active participant in celebrations for Dr. King. Additionally, Black History Month and now Juneteenth remain strong cultural dates for municipalties/ . With the goal of community goodwill, resources, navigation through City sytems and support are hallmarks when one looks across the history of these events. They have become hallmarks of how Government and Community can work together to generate positivity and pride.
Over the course of the last 4 decades, these essential partnerships have amplified the vibrancy of arts and cultural relevance in urban communities. Yet, recent years have spurred changes in the nuance and energy given to celebrating Dr. King in this space. It would appear that MLK celebrations have become “out of style”, seemingly interest from community has waned. Interest in City Government has shifted. It would appear that after the government gave us Juneteenth (as a pacifier, no doubt), it would seem that the energy of celebrating blackness has become mundane.
Over time, in many communities, things have changed. We see many personnel change inside of City Halls and departments. These generational changes profoundly reflect the evolving demographics of entire historic neighborhoods. These cultural changes demand learning and listening. We cant assume Civic Administrators will embrace or even value the legacy of Dr. King in the same enthusiastic manner as previous generations.
Fiscal challenges may cause municipalities to adjust budgets to integrate Dr. King Day with Black History Month thereby hitting the proverbial “two birds with one stone”. In other cases, cultural shifts in demographics may deeply affect the excitement and even lose focus of the spirit of Dr. King and the importance of cultural relevance. Its like the exuberance of celebrating black culture is muted.
Long Beach MLK Controversy
In Long Beach, the parade and festival is highly anticipated. Over the years, it absolutely captured the spirit of celebrating the legacy of Dr. King through its emphasis of black community pride and excellence. It is an opportunity to celebrate history, progress and achievement. Yet in recent generations, the celebration has lost its luster and in 2025, some will say, its direction. Activists have raised thier voice to point out the near erasure of Black representation in the parade. Specifically the selection of Grand Marshals is at the center of the discourse. And so they issued an open letter and petition that succinctly outlining thier grievances and presenting specific and actionable solutions.
The letter, titled the Restoring Integrity and Honoring Legacy: A Call for Justice in Long Beach’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade & Celebration says, in part:
We, members of the Black community in Long Beach, write to express our collective outrage at the blatant disregard for Black culture and legacy. The 2025 planning process of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade and Celebration lacked integrity, honesty, and transparency.
Black people immigrated to Long Beach before its incorporation in 1897 and have been integral to its growth and development. We have worked tirelessly to address and remedy historical racial inequities from which other races and ethnic groups have greatly benefitted. Black individuals who are committed to Long Beach and the advancement of the Black community should be honored and celebrated as they embody the movement started by Dr. King.
The decision to select the majority of non-Black Grand Marshals is a direct affront to the Black residents of this city. Historically, there has been a focus on event sponsorship predicated on the support of an elected official. It is a glaring reminder of the persistent anti-blackness that undermines spaces intended to celebrate and honor our contributions.
The Long Bech MLK Parade and Festival is an essentially important acknowledgement of Black excellence and community pride. Now, as political power evolves, cultural perspectives collide. Dr. Suely Saro is the first Cambodian-American to serve on the City Council – taking over a district, that hertofore was historically represented by an African American. It is an achievement of excellence that is its own immigration success story. No doubt. She gets props for that. However, with this political shift comes cultural division. It would appear that the voice, the jubilee, the exuberance of the Black Experience is being extinguished right before our very eyes.
Now, while I do not have a recording or documented proof, I will say that I was present at a public meeting that took place at the Mark Twain Library in MacArthur Park, I heard the Councilmember say she was going to “change the way Dr. King was celebrated in Long Beach.”I have always wondered “What does that mean exactly?”
Telling our own story
Witnessing this statement amplified for me the essentiality of telling our own story. Keeping this realization in mind, I have always intimated to key influencers in the Black Community that Long Beach needs to be about the business of telling its own story. Black Community must take control of the narrative where it comes down to the commemoration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. I have always felt the community depended too mch on City officials to have the culture at heart. Black folk had exposed thier flank – powers that be could minimize and even silence the celebration of blackness in this City. Why are we so confident that those in political power will have the same reverence for the legacy of our Struggle. In this City, there are groups who surely use the example of our Struggle to articulate its model towards social justice and freedom for all. There are groups who profess diversity and inclusion but yet do not honor the legacy, in fact they just “go through the motions” when it comes to the tasks necessary to commit to honoring a black person or holiday. Folk are hesitant to celebrate our blackness. I mean lets face it, they want our rhythm, but they dont want our blues.
I believe the Black Community should take the lead in planning and producing the MLK Parade and Celebration. I believe an organization could be formed to accomplish this task. If we look at models across the region we can glean strong case studies as to what this looks like. In Inglewood, the Celebration (it too has shifted but that’s a whole other story) – with a commission-like committee providing policy and direction for the celebration. The funding, logistics and execution of the parade and festival is sourced through the Department of Parks and Recreation. But the committee is i charge of fundraising and grand marshal selection, as well as a robust essay contest in the schools that thoroughly engages students.
The Kingdom Day Parade in Los Angeles is managed and executed by the Congress of Racial Equality (C.O.R.E.) and a collaborative partner with a Korean American community orgranization. The City Council is more involved in the festival as they want to dedicate the festival with great music no doubt but be a conduit of information for services offered by the City towards community well-being. For the most part, there are no sales from the vendorsa in Leimert Park, or if there are sales allowed, the event is plotted in a very specific way. The bottom line is that the celebration is The parade is managed by LB City Council district 6. and culture driven Now, from a cultural analysis view, I believe that we are i need of a cultural revolution in the Black Community. This means fighting to preserve our cultural traditions and keep them from being absorbed into general society and ultimately erased from consciousness.
The national holiday commemroating the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., is an opportunity to celebrate the best and brightest in black community. The holiday, since its inception in 1984, is full of parades, family festivals, and general community goodwill and community. It is a time of Black American panel discussions and community self reflection in the face of
As black communities all over the nation prepare to commemorate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr and his impact on the freedom and justice for Black americans,
About Greg J
Greg J is a veteran media executive/entrepreneur, culture keeper and arts advocate living in the Long Beach/Los Angeles/Inglewood region. Through the digital platforms of Beach City Perspective, Beach City Radio and the podcast Coffee Conversations with Greg J, he publishes culturally relevant content centered on the global Diaspora. Over the majority of his long career, he has been centrally involved and hands-on in the conception, planning and execution of projects commemorating Dr. Martin Luther King Jr as well as other major events and projects centered on Black culture. Projects include nationally syndicated radio special King: From Atlanta to the Mountaintop – heard on hundreds of radio stations across the nation; Programmed and produced major community festivals and parades. Including Kingdom Day Parade in Los Angeles., He created the first MLK Celebration in Leimert Park alongside then-councilmember of the 8th District and former LAPD Chief Bernard C. Parks. He produced KingFest – the City of Inglewood’s MLK Community Celebration. He has deep perspective on Cultural like