Dr. Sherwin “Keith” Rice is the historian and archivist for the Tom & Ethel Bradley Center at California State University, Northridge The Bradley Center houses photographic and oral histories that document the attested historically underrepresented communities of Los Angeles. Keith holds a B.A and a Masters in History with secondary studies in Latin American History and Archival Management from CSUN. He has a PhD in History from Claremont Graduate University in American Studies with a concentration in 20th century African American resistance movements and oral histories. In addition to being an archival repository the Tom & Ethel Bradley Center also creates archival collections. In 2020, Keith created the Southern California Black Lives Matter Protests of 2020 collection. He photographed and recorded videos of the many protests that took place in Southern California following the murders of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and George Floyd.
Depicted in the videos and photographs are protestors occupying intersections; marching in the streets; delivering valiant and inspiring speeches; and displaying thought-provoking signs that collectively demanded equality for the lives of Black people. The protests also highlight the divisions and the differences in attitudes towards some of the nation’s citizens, with supporters of President Trump's actions receiving little resistance from police during their counter protests, culminating in the storming of the Capitol on January 6, 2020. Tragic and painful, these events provide a snapshot of America and the racial pandemic amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing pursuit of equality in a country that professes all its citizens are created equal. (Photo of Keith Rice and his grandson Dominik Walker at a Gaza cease fire protest by Marie Barronet.)
See more images by Keith Rice in the Southern California Black Lives Matter Protest of 2020 Collection.
