One Inglewood
One Inglewood, a community storytelling and public history initiative that preserves and shares the intertwined Black and Latino histories of Inglewood, was founded by story keeper of community memory Deidre Powell in collaboration with artist Erick Cortes. Through oral histories, exhibits, and collective memory, the project centers the voices and lived experiences that continue to shape the city’s past, present, and future.
Meet the Team
Dunbar Farm, c. 1902
This photograph shows the Dunbar Farm in what would later become Inglewood, prior to the city’s incorporation in 1908. Purchased shortly after the turn of the twentieth century by William H. Dunbar and his wife, Anna, the farm reflects the presence of Black landowners in rural Los Angeles County during the area’s early development.
Although the Dunbars do not appear in the 1900 federal census, they are listed in the 1910 census as farm owners living in Ballona, Los Angeles County. At that time, both were recorded as 69 years old, with William H. Dunbar born in Louisiana in 1841. Such census gaps were common for rural residents and newly settled families, particularly Black landowners whose presence was often inconsistently recorded or omitted altogether.
Early Black farming communities like the Dunbars’ were later obscured by exclusionary practices. Beginning in the 1920s, Inglewood functioned as a sundown town, and white supremacist organizations such as the Ku Klux Klan were active locally, reinforcing racial boundaries that restricted Black residency and land ownership. These local efforts were reinforced in the 1930s through federal redlining policies, led by agencies such as the Home Owners’ Loan Corporation, which systematically denied mortgages to Black families and labeled neighborhoods with Black residents as “high risk.” Together, these practices helped keep Inglewood predominantly white for decades.
As a result, Inglewood’s Black history is often framed as beginning only after the 1965 Watts Uprising. The Dunbar Farm challenges that narrative. It stands as evidence of an earlier chapter, one of Black presence, removal, and eventual return, reminding us that Black life in Inglewood did not begin suddenly, but has deep and often interrupted roots.
Curtis R. Tucker, Sr. (1918 - 1988)
Born March 26, 1918, in Union, Louisiana, Curtis R. Tucker Sr. was Inglewood’s first Black elected Councilman.
Before his time in politics, Tucker served during World War II and the Korean War as a member of the United States Army Medical Corps. Between tours, he studied at the University of Florence in Italy. Tucker ended his 23 years of service as an instructor at West Point Academy.
After his military career, Tucker joined the LA Health Department before being elected to Inglewood’s City Council in 1972 and reelected in 1973. Afterwards, he was elected to the California State Assembly, where he served until his death in 1988. As an Assemblyman and Chairman of the Assembly Health Committee, Hon. Tucker served as an advocate for social justice, authoring legislation to promote justice for the poor and underserved and to advance racial and gender equality through his focus on health policy.
Hon. Tucker died in office, leaving behind a legacy of excellence in public service. The Curtis R. Tucker Health Center in Inglewood was named for him in honor of his contributions to his district.
Larry Aubry (1933 - 2020)
“My work is related to helping folks. Helping my people. That's what I do” - Larry Aubry
Larry Aubry was a community activist, journalist, human relations expert, and jazz musician whose life was dedicated to helping his people. Born in New Orleans in 1933, he moved to Los Angeles in 1942 with his mother and brothers, who chose LA as a destination for employment (created by the war effort) and a better life. In an interview, Aubry credits his vivid childhood experiences with his community and the racism and segregation experienced outside of it as the catalyst for his lifelong commitment to social justice.
After serving in the Air Force (1952-1956) and earning a psychology degree from UCLA in 1959, Aubry worked in juvenile justice before finding his calling in human relations when appointed to the LA County Human Relations Commission in 1967. He devoted decades to community activism through numerous organizations, including the Inglewood School Board, the Inglewood Coalition for Drug and Violence Prevention, the NAACP, Black Latino Roundtable, Black Korean Alliance, and the A. Philip Randolph Institute.
For nearly 40 years, starting in the early 1980s, Aubry wrote the "Urban Perspective" column for the Los Angeles Sentinel, keeping thousands informed on community issues. In recognition of his commitment to justice and courage to speak truth to power, he was honored by the Southern California Library in 2005. He passed away in May 2020, leaving behind an indelible mark on all who knew and worked with him.
Daniel K. Tabor, Ed.D.
Raised in Inglewood, Daniel Tabor graduated from Morningside High School. After college, he began his career in education, working as a counselor in Inglewood Schools. Shortly after, Tabor served as the Southern California Liaison for the Office of the Secretary, US Dept. of Commerce, under Ronald H. Brown—from 1993 to 1996—where he played a critical role in negotiating a settlement agreement between LA World Airports (LAWA) and the LAX Coalition for Economic, Environmental and Educational justice which resulted in $500 million in investments to local communities. In 2006, Tabor was elected to Inglewood’s City Council, representing the 1st District, where he served until 2010. A highlight of Tabor’s tenure was his work in easing tensions between the established Black and growing Latinx communities in Inglewood.
After winning a special election in 2010, Daniel K. Tabor was elected as Inglewood’s mayor. The third African-American to hold the office. He served as mayor until 2011.
In 2016, he joined Los Angeles Trade-Technical College and Los Angeles Southwest College as an adjunct faculty member, where, drawing on his extensive public service experience, he taught courses in Business Law, Entrepreneurship, Human Relations, and Oral Communications.
In 2025, Tabor, nominated by LA’s current Mayor Karen Bass, was confirmed by the Los Angeles City Council with a 12-vote majority as the newest member of the Board of Police Commissioners.
Edward Vincent Jr. (1934 - 2012)
Born in Steubenville, Ohio, Edward Vincent Jr. became a scholar-athlete at the University of Iowa before being drafted by the Los Angeles Rams in 1956. After military service and earning a degree in Corrections and Social Welfare, he devoted 35 years to the Los Angeles County Probation Department.
Vincent moved to Inglewood in 1968 and rose to become the city’s first Black mayor, serving from 1983 to 1996. He later represented Inglewood in the California State Assembly.
As mayor, Vincent helped revitalize the city by attracting new businesses, expanding parks, and supporting youth programs. Edward Vincent Jr. Park (formerly Centinela Park) stands as a lasting tribute to his leadership.
He passed away on August 31, 2012, leaving behind a legacy rooted in service, dignity, and civic pride, reminding residents to “stick their chest out and say Inglewood.”
James T. Butts (B. 1953)
Born in 1953 in Los Angeles, James T. Butts Jr. was sworn in as mayor of Inglewood on February 1, 2011. His career spans more than five decades in public safety and municipal leadership.
Butts began his law enforcement career with the Inglewood Police Department in 1972, eventually rising to the rank of Deputy Chief. He later served as Chief of Police for Santa Monica and as Assistant General Manager for Public Safety at Los Angeles World Airports, overseeing security operations across multiple regional airports.
He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from California State University, Los Angeles, and a Master of Business Administration from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona.
Elected mayor in 2011 and subsequently re-elected in 2014, 2018, and 2022, Butts has overseen a period of significant redevelopment in Inglewood, including major sports and entertainment infrastructure projects, such as SoFi Stadium and Intuit Dome, and expanded municipal investment. His administration has focused on public safety, fiscal management, infrastructure, and airport noise mitigation, while the city continues to navigate the impacts of rapid growth and change.
Mayor Butts remains in office as Inglewood balances its historic identity with its role as a global destination.
Lisa Leslie (B. 1972)
One of the most decorated basketball players to ever play the game, Lisa Leslie is a pioneer. Born in 1972, Leslie grew up in Compton, CA. By the 7th grade, she was over 6-ft tall but had never played basketball. Despite her height, she had no interest in the sport but, once she began, her rise was meteoric. Before she began high school, she already had over 100 college recruiting letters.
At Morningside High School, Leslie dominated, winning two state championships, earning the Naismith Award as the nation's top player, and setting a national record with 101 points in a single half. She continued her excellence at USC, leading her team to four consecutive NCAA tournament appearances and being named National Player of the Year in 1994.
Leslie's professional career was equally impressive. She won four Olympic gold medals across five Olympic appearances, became the first WNBA player to win regular season MVP, All-Star MVP, and playoff MVP in the same season (2001), and led the Los Angeles Sparks to back-to-back championships. After her 12-season career as an 8-time All-Star, she was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (2015) and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Hall of Fame (2019).
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Today, Leslie coaches the Triplets in the men's BIG3 league, winning a championship and Coach of the Year honors in 2019.
Paul R. Williams (1894 - 1980)
Born in Los Angeles in 1894 and orphaned at the age of 4, Paul R. Williams never had it easy. Despite his rough beginnings and the racial barriers of his time, Williams would go on to achieve accomplishments and enjoy a career spanning 6 decades and over 3,000 structures—feats any architect can only dream of.
From a young age, it was clear that he was gifted. In 1912, after high school, Williams would go on to land internships and jobs at prominent architecture firms. To further himself in his career, Williams took classes at the Los Angeles Beaux-Arts School, which ultimately led to his admission into USC’s School of Engineering. Afterwards in 1920, he was appointed to the first Los Angeles City Planning Commission and shortly after, began his career as a certified architect. In 1923, he opened his own practice. Williams navigated racial prejudice and de facto segregation masterfully. In fact, he even learned to draw upside down in order to sketch for his white clients from across the table, easing their trepidations about sitting next to or hiring an African American.
Some of Williams’ notable contributions to the Los Angeles skyline include: planning and designing of the LAX Theater Building, the L.A. County Courthouse, the Golden State Mutual Life Insurance Building, Hillside Memorial Park, Westwood Medical Center, and the First AME Church. For his work he received numerous accolades including the NAACP Spingarn Medal; USC’s Distinguished Alumni Award; the AIA Award of Merit; and he became the first African American to win an AIA Fellow in 1957 and an AIA Gold Medal in 2017, the highest honor for an architect in the United States. Having left his mark on Los Angeles, and after fifty years of practicing, Williams retired in 1973 and passed away at the age of 85 in 1980.
Planning Community: Inglewood PTA Leaders, 1972
Inglewood PTA President Mrs. Conrad Lewis (right) hosts a meeting at her home to plan a tea for faculty and parents. Assisting on September 6, 1972, from left to right, are Mrs. Robert Hill, Mrs. Steven Urushima, and Mrs. Knox Harmon. Together, these women exemplify the behind-the-scenes leadership and care that helped strengthen school-community relationships across Inglewood.
PTA Leadership: Building Schools Through Care, Advocacy, and Community
During the mid-20th century, PTA leaders, most often mothers and caregivers, served as the backbone of school communities. Through organizations like the National PTA, parent leaders organized fundraisers, supported teachers, advocated for classroom resources, coordinated student programs, and created spaces of belonging for children and families.
For Black communities in cities such as newly integrated Inglewood, PTA leadership extended beyond bake sales and meetings.
These women:
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Advocated for equitable access to supplies, textbooks, and enrichment programs
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Organized community events that strengthened relationships between schools and families
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Provided mutual aid, mentorship, and emotional support for students
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Acted as informal liaisons between parents, educators, and administrators
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Modeled civic engagement and collective responsibility
Although the individual names of many Black PTA leaders were not preserved in official records, their impact is undeniable. Their work helped stabilize schools, uplift students, and nurture generations of learners, often while navigating racial barriers and limited institutional support.
These women represent countless community leaders whose influence lives on through the children they championed and the schools they sustained.
Roosevelt F. Dorn (B. 1935)
Born October 29, 1935, in Checotah, Oklahoma, Roosevelt F. Dorn built a career rooted in public service and law. He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1954 to 1958 before joining the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, later working as a Superior Court bailiff from 1961 to 1969.
After graduating from Whittier Law School in 1969, Dorm served as Assistant City Attorney for the City of Los Angeles from 1969 to 1979. He was appointed to the Municipal Court in 1979 by Jerry Brown and elevated to the Los Angeles County Superior Court in 1980.
Dorn became mayor of Inglewood in 1997, completing the term of Mayor Edward Vincent Jr., and was subsequently elected to full terms in 1998, 2003, and 2007. He served until January 2010.
As mayor, Dorn focused on quality-of-life issues, including efforts to reduce noise impacts from LAX and to strengthen municipal accountability. His tenure reflects a period of transition for Inglewood, shaped by legal leadership, regional pressures, and evolving civic priorities.
Following his retirement from office, Dorn resolved a legal matter related to a former city housing loan program and repaid it in full. A 2007 California Supreme Court ruling changed the legal interpretation of such loans. Dorn accepted a misdemeanor charge, paid a fine, and remained retired from public service.
The Wilder Family Legacy: Wilder’s Preparatory Academy Charter School
Founded in 2003 by educators Raymond D. Wilder and Carolyn R. Wilder, Wilder’s Preparatory Academy Charter School (WPACS) became the first public charter school approved in Inglewood. The school grew from decades of community-based educational work that began with early childhood programs and expanded to serve students in grades K-8.
Raymond Wilder (1941-2013), born in Warren, Arkansas, brought a lifelong commitment to service, entrepreneurship, and community development. Before co-founding WPACS, he helped establish Tender Care Child Development Center and later Wilder’s Preparatory Academy, laying the foundation for a college-preparatory model rooted in care, high expectations, and access. His work also included affordable housing development and small business leadership in Inglewood.
Dr. Carolyn R Wilder began her career in education in 1965 as a Head Start teacher and went on to serve as a college professor, department chair, curriculum developer, and educational consultant. A graduate of California State University, Los Angeles, she spent more than four decades advancing early childhood and K-12 education while helping to build institutions that meet the needs of local families.
Following Raymond Wilder’s passing in 2013, the school’s leadership continued through their daughter, Ramona Wilder, who now serves as Chief Executive Officer. Today, WPACS remains a community anchor, reflecting a multigenerational commitment to education, opportunity, and neighborhood-centered leadership in Inglewood.