This year is the fourth annual celebration of Juneteenth of the Ebony Beach Club. The founder of the club, Brick, shows himself with the club's flag on his head.
(Cerys Davies / Los Angeles Times)
The priority of Ebony Beach Club is to create a space for black communities next to the beach in Los Angeles. Then, every year, in June, they transform a local beach into a complete festival, which consists of DJ non -stop, a vivacious dance floor and neighboring vendors. This year, the Beach Club associated with Black Lives Matter and took over the Santa Monica dock. Here is everything that happened.
12:39 pm I arrive early. The founder of Ebony Beach Club, Brick, works from one seller to another, ensuring that everyone is ready for the next day. He boasts that “there is no cloud in sight”, and that everything is aligning with today's “historical moment”.
In the corners of the festival, there were several shaded tables where the party attendees took refuge from the scorching sun. The couple in the photo swing to the distant sounds of the R&B of the old school.
(Cerys Davies / Los Angeles Times)
1:58 pm I never thought I could say that I had found a sense of inner peace in the middle of the Santa Monica dock. The typically chaotic environment is transformed through rhythmic breathing exercises and sound bath frequencies. For a moment, it seems that I am cooking under the burning sum of the summer, but still, I could not be at ease.
The first attendees, including myself, are presented in yoga mats, absorbed spiritual frequencies and established our intentions for the day.
(Cerys Davies / Los Angeles Times)
3:09 p.metro. Until now, the music team transcends generations. Anything, from Aaliyah to YG and Frankie Beverly, fills the beach air. But after listening to more than one ne-Yo classic, I can't help asking me what you are doing. Why the lack of 2025 Ne-Yo Bangers?
3:40 pm The crowd is growing slowly. Most party attendees have a mixture of bright colored swimsuits with denim shorts or matching mini skirts. Others wear graphic t -shirts that commemorate vacations and show the pride of the. The most prominent looks so far have included tangas with AZA, Snapbacks and sports shoes coordinated with colors and pleated and baggy jorts.
In the middle of the crowd, Maya Hatcher, founder of Black Market Flea, posed for a fast portrait.
(Cerys Davies / Los Angeles Times)
3:58 pm In the flash of a moment, a family face slides through the dock full of people. His grill catches the light and a couple of Labubus hangs from a designer bag. It is none other than the royalty of R&B Kehlani. A growing swarm of fans begins to catch up. I have the opportunity to say something while it happens. I bought his last single and let him continue with his mission to the bar. Great, informal and, of course, the fact that I was listening to the Kehlani Spotify radio is not mentioned throughout the trip.
4:45 pm Brick stops music and offers a rapid history lesson from the DJ covers. He talks about the first Ebony Beach club, started by a man named Silas White in 1957. That year, 2,000 black people, including Brick's own grandfather, enrolled to be members. But the city of Santa Monica had banned her to open.
The celebration of Ebony Beach Club of today creates approximately space so that about 2,000 people are exactly on the same beach and enjoy the party.
“This is the majority of black people that the Santa Monica dock has seen in a long time,” said Brick, who found an echo applause. “Today, we are black people who occupy this space for the first time in a long time.”
When the sun began to hang below in the sky, the dance floor became more animated per minute.
(Cerys Davies / Los Angeles Times)
5:30 pm The master of ceremonies says: “If you are out of the barricade, sorry. If you can't get a ticket, I'm sorry.” It goes to the constant crowd of spectators who have remained by the barricades. Some seem to be tourists, but most spectators seem to be too late to get a ticket. However, they can enjoy views and sounds, even if it's just a few minutes.
6:17 pm What is a Los Angeles party without “La Chona” by the Tucanes de Tijuana? The northern anthem mixes with “what you know” of you. Unexpected, but somehow snorted.
Depending on each track, the microphone was passed to different members of Brick's friends. In a moment, the influential and interlude of rapper Aliyah took the center of the stage.
7:25 pm I am starting to seriously question the weight limit in the truck. Although its height is that of a monster truck, it has the feeling of a clown car. The bed of the truck, full of DJ equipment, is full of people who sing and jump to the rhythm. People perch on the car, as well as those that hang from their side, on an impressive and partially aerial twerk. I can't even imagine the type of central force that is needed.
7:51 pm As the party concludes, the distinctive voices of Sexyy Red exceed the crowd. He feels like a final hurra. If there has been a constant feeling that has marked the entire party, it has been an infectious sense of joy.
8:05 pm On the way back to the car, people shout “Happy June”.
(Cerys Davies / Los Angeles Times)
