Black Community Celebrates “Black, Bold, Taste of Soul”
Taste of Soul welcomes all of Los Angeles to the Black, Bold, Taste of Soul Family Festival. Photo by Gloria Zuurveen
Danny Bakewell, Sr. founder of Taste of Soul and who coined the phrase “Black, Bold, Taste of Soul” Photo by Gloria Zuurveen
The Southern Truth
By Gloria Zuurveen, Editor-in-Chief
“Black, Bold, Taste of Soul.”
Danny Bakewell, Sr.
All I can say is WOW!
It was just that awesome. The 18th Annual Taste of South and Family Festival was like no story I’ve ever told. It was magnificent it was a blessing. It was a blessing to be in the presence of so many Black people at one time and there were no shooting, there were no crimes and everyone was happy spending their dimes with small businesses right in the heart of the Black community. This was a fabulous event in the City of Los Angeles, it reminded me of a Black family reunion. I saw so many people I had not seen in such a long time but the drum calls were in the air and it was a grand affair. California Black Media was in the house representing and keeping the community informed about the how important the Black press is when it comes to stopping the hate in the Black community.
“My, My, My” singer Johnny Gill rocked the main stage on Sat. Oct. 21, 2023 at the 18th Annual Taste of Soul in Los Angeles.
Photo by Gloria Zuurveen
The Taste of Soul was a message of love in action in reality out in the open on Crenshaw Boulevard from Obama Blvd. all the way up to Leimert Parks were people walking, talking and eating good food from local vendors and business owners. This was an economic explosion with all the foot traffic if anyone didn’t make it money wasn’t because there were no people because there were thousands and they just kept coming as the day progressed and even when I left I could hardly find my way through the crowd because the music was still blasting soulful and loud. The vision of Mr. Bakewell has withstood the test of time and a pandemic too but as we can all attest that Mr. Danny Bakewell vision has set him high and above the rest.
“Stop the Hate Spread the LOVE” was on hand to educate and inform thousands with the support whole or in part by funding provided by the State of California, administered by the California State Library in partnership with the California Department of Social Services and the California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs as part of the Stop the Hate program. To report a hate incident or hate crime and get support, go to https://www.cavshate.org/. Photo by Gloria Zuurveen
“The Black, Bold, Taste of Soul” is a powerful message and one that is needed today in the Black community to instill pride and confidence in the midst of all the chaos and confusion. The Black, Bold, Taste of Soul is a message of “you can make if you try” entrepreneurial acumen and T-shirt salesmen took advantage of the souls at the 18th annual Taste of Soul to make lots of dollars with their wares up and down Crenshaw street. Thanks to Mr. Bakewell he has done very well and as usual Mr. Bakewell always excelled and we have him as our “Godfather of the Hood” making us all look good. What I saw on last Saturday is a testament to the power we possess when black men, women boys and girls strolled through the street to the soulful beats from hip-hop to Johnny Gill’s “My, My, My” kept thousands in the huge crowd swaying and dancing on their feet.
It was that kind of day where everybody simply had a good time with all the politicians and celebrities galore, from Tiffany Haddish, Mayor Karen Bass, and U.S. Senate candidate Congresswoman Barbara Lee.
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