Being Black in Santa Barbara, it is not uncommon to find oneself as the “only” in the room. When we Black Santa Barbarans do see each other around town, we throw a wave or a smile, compliment each other’s hair, and maybe even swap numbers and promise to connect, but community — a real sense of Black community — is difficult to find here.
Yet, surprisingly, Santa Barbara’s Black population has a lengthy history.
From the 1920s through the 1980s, a small but thriving Black community existed in Santa Barbara. In 1970 the population peaked, making up 3.7 percent of the city’s population with more than 2,000 Black residents recorded in the U.S census. Today, less than one percent of Santa Barbara’s population is made up of people who identify as Black or African American.
Where has the Black community in Santa Barbara gone?
To read the full cover story, click on the link in our bio, visit independent.com/cover-stories, or check out your nearest newsstand.
Out of town and can't get to a newsstand in Santa Barbara County? We put our weekly issue online each week, so you can have the print experience from anywhere.
📸: Maya Johnson / Santa Barbara Independent ; Courtesy
🎨: Xavier Pereyra
This Sunday (11/17 @ 2pm) I am so excited to have @chaucersbooks host me for an in-store book talk and signing of my debut book “Searching for a Black Writer” with a special introduction from a personal mentor of mine @oconnellwhittet !
It means so much to me to be able to see my book on the shelves of such an amazing book store and to share this with all of you! Thank you to everyone who has supported me thus far, I hope to see many of you there ❤️
A little photo vlog of my experience at the @rosewoodmiramarbeach Bounty Dinner. How strange and yet beautiful to capture the world through the lens of food, wine, and wealth. Interesting the many ways wealth can appear in one’s life. Much to think about, certainly a thought-provoking night I was lucky to experience 🍷🌷
What better time than #nationallibraryweek to take a look back at the opening party for 'Covering 40 Years,' an exhibition featuring 150 'Independent' covers currently on display at the Santa Barbara Public Library’s (@sbplibrary ) Faulkner Gallery.
The room was a buzz of 'S.B. Independent' writers, photographers, art directors, and editors, both past and present, as well as friends of the Indy and members of the public who enjoyed a walk down memory lane, both of the paper and of Santa Barbara history.
The Faulkner Gallery will be displaying the exhibition until May 31 and is open to the public daily. Gallery hours are Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.
For more, click on the link in our bio or visit Independent.com.
🎥: Richelle Boyd ; Maya Johnson (@rubylee.maya ) / Santa Barbara Independent
Amid the dancing, thrifted goods, and free snacks, two Christian organizations held a strong presence at Saturday’s Soltopia festival in Isla Vista.
One out-of-state Christian group camped on the edge of Acorn park and routinely paraded through the festival with a six-foot cross and several large flags, drawing attention and some disapproval from festival goers.
Jesus Burgers (@jesusburgers ), a student organization known for giving out free food, were also present at the festival. Students from Isla Vista church offered ‘Free Blessin’s’ as well as free face paint and temporary tattoos.
For more Soltopia coverage, click on the link in our bio or visit Independent.com.
🎥: Richelle Boyd ; Maya Johnson (@rubylee.maya ) / Santa Barbara Independent
The sun and about 11,000 people turned out for the first ever Soltopia Festival in Isla Vista on Saturday. Throngs of people meandered through the festival grounds, which spanned the Embarcadero Loop area. They gathered around stages to cheer on live bands, danced to deejay sets, shopped for thrifted clothes, got face paint and temporary tattoos, and waited in stretching lines for food.
The Isla Vista Community Services District (@islavistacsd ) organized the event on the heels of the 72-hour noise ban that effectively canceled Deltopia, the massive unsanctioned block party on Del Playa Drive. In years past, Deltopia resulted in hundreds of citations and medical calls, as well as dozens of arrests, according to data from Santa Barbara County.
Students and other community members had largely positive things to say about Soltopia.
The festival’s free food was a clear draw but resulted in long waits with lines snaking around corners. Many people ended up buying food from local restaurants, which served a steady stream of customers through the day. The beer garden was also popular; it served pints from M Special for $4.20 each. Proceeds went to STESA, an organization that helps survivors of sexual assault. The Isla Vista Community Services District said all-told, the garden made more than $3,600.
For the full story, click on the link in our bio or visit Independent.com.
🎥: Richelle Boyd ; Maya Johnson (rubylee.maya) / Santa Barbara Independent
The 'Independent' experienced Santa Barbara County's hottest-ever St. Patrick’s Day this year at our annual St. Patrick's Day Stroll.
Yesterday in Santa Barbara, the mercury hit 94 degrees, far surpassing the previous record high of 86 degrees set back in 1947.
Santa Maria also broke its 1978 St. Paddy’s Day record high of 85 degrees, with afternoon temps today reaching 91 degrees.
These hot temperatures are projected to continue through the week, with the heat wave expected to break on Friday night.
For more information, click on the link in our bio or visit Independent.com.
📹️: Elaine Sanders (@elaine_sanders ) ; Maya Johnson (@rubylee.maya ) / Santa Barbara Independent
