“The interests of childhood and youth are the interests of mankind.” – Edmund Storer Janes
Voice of West Adams: A History of a Neighborhood
Rommel Jimenez speaking to the school community at the ribbon cutting ceremony for West Adams Prep, August '07.
My name is Rommel Jimenez and I am a former student of Manual Arts High School. Though I had amazing teachers and great experiences at Manual, I am looking forward to starting the new school year as a West Adams Panther. At first I was not sure about coming to a new school with new teachers, new friends and a new environment, but when I heard about the programs and opportunities that were being offered at West Adams, I decided to stay.
Many of you may be wondering why the school is named “West Adams Preparatory High School,” and not something else, like “Vermont High.” The name was chosen by not one person but by a group of people that came together and voted from a list of names such as: “Rosa Parks,” who was a great civil rights leader; “Cesar Chavez,” the best labor leader for farm workers; and “Harry Truman,” the thirty-third United States President. Instead they ended up voting for something unique. West Adams is unique!
West Adams is home to one of the largest collections of historic homes. West Adams has a great deal of history. It is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Los Angeles. It began in 1898 as a wealthy and mostly white suburb. Then later, in the late 1930s, West Adams was named the “Sugar Hill” of the west. It attracted many wealthy African Americans entertainers as well as business leaders. West Adams was once one of the wealthiest districts in the city until the 1940s, when West Adams was marked with racial tension. In 1948 the Supreme Court outlawed racial covenants barring blacks from owning property, and now West Adams is one of the most culturally diverse neighborhoods in all of Los Angeles. Personally I have been living down the street for nine years and so far I can’t complain. I am a person with big dreams and I plan to start accomplishing them here at West Adams Prep!
