CRENSHAW : Korean, Black Clubs Share Cultures

They are an unlikely pair: the petite, outspoken black woman bubbling over with ideas, and the quiet, blue-suited Korean businessman. But Consuella Mackey and Edward Chae, both Kiwanis club presidents, share a commitment to improving relations between blacks and Koreans--now at an all-time low in the wake of the April-May riots--by exposing each community to the other’s culture.

“It seemed that everyone was talking about rebuilding this, rebuilding that,” said Mackey, president of the Kiwanis Angeles Mesa chapter. “I thought, ‘What about people coming together?’ I couldn’t just sit. I felt blacks and Koreans had to do something.”

Mackey, elected the first female African-American president of her Kiwanis chapter in 1990, said it seemed natural to somehow involve the international community service organization. So she phoned Chae, president of the Kiwanis Club Korean L.A., to voice her concern. Though the two had never met--Kiwanis clubs traditionally operate independently--Chae also felt the time was right.

“I wanted our cultures to help each other,” said Chae, who runs a Koreatown financing and investment company. “This is not (Korea), so we must learn.”

Mackey, a beauty salon operator in her native Crenshaw District, brainstormed the idea of playing host to a cultural exchange. With the Korean Kiwanis’ help, “Bringing Our Community Together With Love” took place earlier this month at Baldwin Hills’ Jim Gilliam Park. The daylong event featured Korean and African-American food and goods, gospel music, tae kwon do demonstrations, Korean drumming and a host of speakers from the Korean and African-American communities.

“We had to start somewhere, but I’d like to see more participants next year,” Mackey said of the modest but spirited turnout of about 350. “We’re going to work on fund raising, getting corporate funding for next time.”

Another joint effort Mackey envisions is a “Truce Strip,” which would put gang members to work beautifying their communities.

“All we need is donations from hardware stores, paint stores, some from the corporate world,” Mackey said. “Hey, you give me a door and a foundation, and I’m ready.”