Video story by Venus Demilo Thomas
Ramadan Nights in Leimert Park: Queen Aminah’s Iftar and a Village Built on Black Joy
From Los Angeles–based AmNews correspondent Venus Demilo Thomas, this video report takes us back to Leimert Park. This historic African-American cultural village now anchors California’s first officially recognized Black Cultural District. Invited by community leader Queen Aminah, Thomas joins the Annual Ramadan Iftar Dinner, capturing an evening where faith, food, and Black creativity share the same table.
Shot on location in Leimert Park, the piece follows Thomas as she speaks with Queen Aminah’s daughter Jaleela Muhammad and then walks the village, spotlighting some of the neighborhood’s Black-owned mainstays. The route includes a stop at Ora Cafe, a coffeehouse that hosts local vendors like Black Beverly Hills Lemonade, which is gearing up for an appearance on Shark Tank; Ride On Bike Shop, where a community e‑bike program lets neighbors ride for free; and Sole Folks, a hub that houses more than 60 Black designers, a vegan pizza space, and a podcast studio under one roof.
The video also features Bootsy BBQ, Nappily Naturals & Apothecary, Neighbors Skate Shop, and the Barbara Morrison Performing Arts Center, underscoring why Leimert Park remains a cornerstone of Black arts and small businesses in South L.A. Along the way, Thomas speaks with community voices, including Billion Godsun, who is running for Assembly District 55, and Khalifah Bey of Core California and the Watts Summer Games, as well as legacy business owners and Sunday regulars who keep the village’s marketplace energy alive week after week.
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