TY - ADVS
T1 - To Right a Wrong: The Story of Ballard Mountain
AU - Dawson, Darius
N1 - When we were traveling north to go to this golf course, and the guy said "They used to call that N-word mountain." I didn't- It didn't bother me in that I didn't know that that was my great-grandfather they were talking about. [laughs] Uh, my name is Ryan Ballard.
PY - 2022
Y1 - 2022
N2 - In 2010, the mountain known as a racial slur was renamed Ballard Mountain in honor of John Ballard. A 13-minute documentary film, released in February 2022, called To Right a Wrong: The Story of Ballard Mountain documents the renaming effort. It also chronicles the inspirational resiliency of the Ballard family who overcame incredible hardships.
"So often people will give attention to something because it's media worthy, but this was something that a group of folks thought was worthwhile," said great, great-grandson Ryan Ballard referring to the renaming effort.
Ryan's father, 96-year-old Reggie Ballard, was also extensively interviewed for the film.
Local historian and Moorpark College history professor Patty Colman and residents Paul and Leah Culberg were instrumental in making the name change happen. They chronicle their recollections in the film along with SMMNRA park superintendent David Szymanski.
"Ballard Mountain is the untold story of an African American family's experiences in the Santa Monica Mountains and the City of Los Angeles," Szymanski said. "It is important because it reminds us of the unrecognized people who passed our cities and parks down to us."
AB - In 2010, the mountain known as a racial slur was renamed Ballard Mountain in honor of John Ballard. A 13-minute documentary film, released in February 2022, called To Right a Wrong: The Story of Ballard Mountain documents the renaming effort. It also chronicles the inspirational resiliency of the Ballard family who overcame incredible hardships.
"So often people will give attention to something because it's media worthy, but this was something that a group of folks thought was worthwhile," said great, great-grandson Ryan Ballard referring to the renaming effort.
Ryan's father, 96-year-old Reggie Ballard, was also extensively interviewed for the film.
Local historian and Moorpark College history professor Patty Colman and residents Paul and Leah Culberg were instrumental in making the name change happen. They chronicle their recollections in the film along with SMMNRA park superintendent David Szymanski.
"Ballard Mountain is the untold story of an African American family's experiences in the Santa Monica Mountains and the City of Los Angeles," Szymanski said. "It is important because it reminds us of the unrecognized people who passed our cities and parks down to us."
KW - Ballard family
KW - history & culture
UR - https://www.nps.gov/samo/learn/historyculture/ballard-family.htm
M3 - Digital or Visual Products
ER -