PORT HUENEME : Photos Trace Black History in 3 Counties

A new photo exhibition in Port Hueneme depicts the history of the African American community in Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties from the early 1800s to the 1970s.

The show is part of a series depicting the life of various ethnic groups in the three-county area. Latinos were highlighted in 1993, and Asian Americans and Native Americans will be featured in 1995 and ’96.

On Wednesday, at a reception introducing the exhibit to the public, some of those whose family photographs are on display talked about their experiences as African Americans.

Bedford Pinkard, the first African American elected to the Oxnard City Council, spoke to the audience of about 50 people about his family’s migration from Texas to Ventura County.

In May, 1942, Pinkard said, his mother waited in line eight hours to buy six Greyhound bus tickets for the family. “She had to step aside every time a white person wanted to buy a ticket,” he said.

Before the speeches and a medley of spiritual and Christmas songs by local singer Jessie Washington, participants had a chance to look around.

Leroy Gibson Jr., 55, stared at a picture of his father, Leroy Gibson Sr., an Oxnard professional boxer known as the Wichita Wildcat. “My kids will come here so they can learn about the recent history of our family and race,” said Gibson Jr.

The approximately 100 photographs in the exhibit were collected by 12 members of the Black Gold Cooperative Library System, a three-county joint-powers system. The show offers a glimpse of family, church, work and social life in the three counties.

Excited by seeing pictures of old friends, some of whom have died, Ira Mae Verrett, an Oxnard resident since 1946, said the exhibition is as much educational as nostalgic.

“A lot of our children don’t know that their race of people have participated in the making of Ventura County,” she said.

The show will run through Jan. 31 at Ray D. Prueter Library, 510 Park Ave. in Port Hueneme. Hours are 3 to 7 p.m. Monday and Tuesday and 1 to 5 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday.

After that, the exhibition is scheduled to travel to San Luis Obispo County.