Crystal Jackson

INTRODUCTION

Crystal Jackson is an author, filmmaker, and historian, whose unique stories about American history have exploded on the Los Angeles scene. In 2019, she released a critically acclaimed history book entitled The Entrance: Pacoima’s Story. This 600-page book traced the 1500 year history of the area and LA town, which is among the city’s oldest. As a filmmaker, Crystal has written several motion picture screenplays and directed the award-winning film PacoimaStories: Land of Dreams, which won "Best Feature Documentary" at the Pan-African Film Festival in Los Angeles.

A hometown native of Pacoima, California, Crystal Jackson is also president of the Pacoima Historical Society, where she has become a driving community force with an extensive social media following. She has worked with some of the states highest officials including US Senator Alex Padilla and Congressman Tony Cardenas, as well as, numerous celebrities. Crystal has been featured on various news media outlets including ABC, CBS, PBS, Los Angeles Daily News, LA Times, NPR, and others. Some of the stories include CBS’s “Juneteenth Has New Meaning For LA Woman After Extensive Research into Family History,” “Pacoima: America’s First Black Suburb,” and the ABC story “Pacoima baseball team was the first all-Black team to make it to the Little League World Series.”

Her second book entitled “Not Colored,” is a historical novel based on the life of the first female to work in the detective unit of LAPD, who happened to be African American. Her new book “The Marilyn Monroe Connection” tells the true story of a Pacoima man that signed Monroe ’s death certificate and faced dark forces after he disagreed with the suicide ruling.

Crystal currently serves on the Advisory Council for Getty Conservation Institute & City of Los Angeles Office of Historic Preservation. She is also a special consultant for the UCLA- History & Geography Project, which is working to add local history to LAUSD curriculum. Crystal also serves on the Board of Directors at both, Center For Advanced Learning Charter School, and Museum of the San Fernando Valley.

ABC News - Pacoima baseball Crystal Jackson

ABC7 News -A Pacoima baseball team was the first all-Black team to make it to the Little League World Series

ABC News reporter Amanda Palacios speaks with Pacoima Historical Society president, Crystal Jackson during her special report about the towns historic little league team from 1965.

CBS2 News -Juneteenth Has New Meaning For Pacoima Woman After Research Into Family History

Crystal Jackson's research into her family's history will be a book, "Not Colored," to be released in February. Amy Johnson reports.

Pacoima Historian Tells the Tale of America Through the Lens of Her Hometown

Los Angeles Daily News writes about Crystal Jackson's new 600-page history book, "The Entrance: Pacoima's Story," and interviews the popular author, who sheds new light on Pacoima. Story by Elizabeth Chou

Author Crystal Jackson and CBS News host Amy Johnson

CBS News Host Amy Johnson interviews Crystal Jackson about 'Pacoima: America's First Black Suburb.'

As Black veterans returned home after World War II, some came to Pacoima after learning about the cheap land. Those who moved across the country to California dubbed the suburb the "Joe Louis Homes."