(GaMoLA) Community and Indigenous History Archival Project

Going down W 48 St in Vermont Square there is a museum called Garifuna Museum of Los Angeles, we archived heroes and gathered data from it.

Belen Islas, Anayram Corona, Frank Cordova, Jason Flores, Ramses Juarez,

In the highlighted location area shows what was explored and the community surrounding the marked location which is where the museum is located.

Introduction

Here we can see both the amazing women that run the Garifuna Museum. They spend their days trying to make the Garifuna Museum better and trying to get people to go there. The two women in the picture are Ms. Cynthia (on the left) and Ms. Marissa(on the right). They are super kind.

In this archival project we gathered information based on history of the Garifuna also known as (Garinagu). They have a very diverse background, from African traditions, Native American cultivation, and French and Arawak influenced language. Today they still show major effects of resistance against issues in discrimination, violence, land theft, abuse of power, extinction of cultures as well as other major topics are included about the Garifuna.

As you can see here me and my team walked around a block of the Garifuna Museum and we saw a lot of amazing things such as this amazing piece of art. We also saw how it represented the community and how they all are.

Museum Findings: The Heroes Wall

This is also the war room and here we see more people that have also been considered heroes for standing up against people who have tried to invade their land. Not just worriers are on this wall there also are people such as doctors and amazing people who have done incredible things to be considered heroes.

In this picture, we can see how many Garifuna women would mostly do their day-to-day things. For example, in the picture in the middle we can see a Garifuna woman dancing while making food for her hungry children. In the picture next to it there are multiple Garifuna women who are helping each other take care of their kids while they make food for everyone. 

Thomas Vincent Ramos was the founder of “Garifuna Settlement Day” in 1941. Garifuna settlement day celebrates the cultural vitality, history, and heritage of the Garifuna culture. Garifuna settlement day was originally known as “Carib Disembarkment Day”. Thomas Vincent Ramos was a social activist. He fought discrimination against the Garifuna community and all of Afro-Belizeans. Thomas Vincent Ramos died on November 13, 1955, and ever since his death, a torchlight parade has been held in honor of him and all the good things he had done for the Garifuna community.

Research: Garifuna leaders and activists who showed resistance

Miriam Miranda an activist woman who has been to numerous protests and has spoken out about the Garifuna Land and rights. She too has been abducted, beaten, and nearly faced death. Yet she has been doing it for 30 years and it is her bravery that makes her a Garifuna hero. She fought to defend her land from drug dealers, the government, and tourists as well as fighting for their environmental rights. So far she is still well and alive continuing to fight for her land and rights

Albert Schneider Catena was kidnapped and tortured along with 4 other people for speaking out on the Garifuna's land rights. So far he has not been pronounced dead but has nor been seen ever since. The most shocking part of this was that they were abducted by men in police uniforms.

Gregoria Florez a woman who fought for economic, political, social, and land rights. Although there were a total of 2 attempts to silence her she refused and kept on speaking up for the Garifuna and fled when she had the chance to to keep it up. She was shot once and abducted once but that wasn't enough for her to stop. She is now looked up to as one of the greatest Garifuna leaders.

Notes/Observations

We made a final observation. Walking down W 48th St there can be seen the wonderful community surrounding the (GaMoLA). People would think that there is no harm in such a community, theoretically, there is a threat in the community. Gentrification. As Ms. Cynthia (Garifuna expert and tour guide) describes the issue that prices of homes are rising, as white ethnic groups are moving and the population is becoming more commonly known around their community. The history of such landmarks being erased with wealthier people attracting businesses and improving housing that can endanger lands. In this community disadvantaged people are moving somewhere they can afford while whites are moving in “replacing” the original population.

Conclusion

Reflecting on this project we learned many interesting historical facts about the Garifuna and their culture as well. The main topics that affect society today is violence and discrimination. After recent movement such as BLM it is important to recognize how the loss of such communities or cultures can have a big impact on society, losing it's diversity and multiple perspectives and sources to history. Bringing awareness to this museum is very important. Our experience was educational and fun, we got to experience seeing and feeling cultural objects of the Garinagu, reading about the different heroes representing the Garifuna community, and even got to explore stories and files of how violence was expressed towards some resistance (warrior heroes) leaders.

Now that your're informed,

GO CHECK OUT THE MUSEUM!

Sources Cited

(GaMoLA)

Museum (2021)

Websites

Introduction

As you can see here me and my team walked around a block of the Garifuna Museum and we saw a lot of amazing things such as this amazing piece of art. We also saw how it represented the community and how they all are.

This is also the war room and here we see more people that have also been considered heroes for standing up against people who have tried to invade their land. Not just worriers are on this wall there also are people such as doctors and amazing people who have done incredible things to be considered heroes.

In this picture, we can see how many Garifuna women would mostly do their day-to-day things. For example, in the picture in the middle we can see a Garifuna woman dancing while making food for her hungry children. In the picture next to it there are multiple Garifuna women who are helping each other take care of their kids while they make food for everyone. 

Thomas Vincent Ramos was the founder of “Garifuna Settlement Day” in 1941. Garifuna settlement day celebrates the cultural vitality, history, and heritage of the Garifuna culture. Garifuna settlement day was originally known as “Carib Disembarkment Day”. Thomas Vincent Ramos was a social activist. He fought discrimination against the Garifuna community and all of Afro-Belizeans. Thomas Vincent Ramos died on November 13, 1955, and ever since his death, a torchlight parade has been held in honor of him and all the good things he had done for the Garifuna community.

We made a final observation. Walking down W 48th St there can be seen the wonderful community surrounding the (GaMoLA). People would think that there is no harm in such a community, theoretically, there is a threat in the community. Gentrification. As Ms. Cynthia (Garifuna expert and tour guide) describes the issue that prices of homes are rising, as white ethnic groups are moving and the population is becoming more commonly known around their community. The history of such landmarks being erased with wealthier people attracting businesses and improving housing that can endanger lands. In this community disadvantaged people are moving somewhere they can afford while whites are moving in “replacing” the original population.