The Story of Ozie GonzaqueCommunity Activist Who Coined ‘To Protect and Serve’

As we conclude Women’s History Month, we couldn’t miss the opportunity to interview a lady who has been a powerhouse in the community for over 50 years. Her name is Ozie Gonzaque. Mrs. Gonzaque was born in Fordyce, Arkansas, raised in Louisiana, and later moved to Los Angeles at the request of her father. She was heavily influenced by her mother, a powerful figure in their hometown of Monroe, LA. In the South, where one didn’t tolerate any disrespect, Mrs. Gonzaque’s mother taught her and her daughters to treat people with respect and kindness to address problems head-on, and to strive for solutions. 

With these principles guiding her, Mrs. Gonzaque became a powerhouse in the Watts community after witnessing the injustice of the 1965 Watts riots. She took it upon herself to meet with a police chief who was reportedly biased against the black community. With her natural boldness and fearlessness instilled by her mother, she called downtown and arranged a meeting with William Parker, the Chief of Police of the Los Angeles Police Department. Surprisingly, the meeting was scheduled for the next day.

During the meeting, Mrs. Gonzaque recalls Chief Parker looking at her with curiosity, wondering why a black woman was in his office. She explained that the LAPD had been unfair to the black community, making it challenging to foster a working relationship based on hiring practices and attitudes of officers. Subsequently, she was summoned by the Macomb Commission to testify on what was needed to improve relations between the community and the LAPD. She emphasized the importance of the police “protecting and serving” the black community as they do other communities.

Following this, Mrs. Gonzaque was invited to serve on the hiring board for the LAPD, where she spent 22 years helping select police officers for Watts and LA communities. She was the first black woman to serve on this board. Mrs. Gonzaque also played a pivotal role in pushing HUD to reconsider integrating public and private housing, with Norment Terrace in Harbor City being her favored project as the commission president. The redevelopment of Norment Terrace into Harbor Village set a new standard for housing redevelopment across the country, proving Mrs. Gonzaque’s vision of integrating public and private residences.

With over 50 years of community service, we commend and recognize the work of Mrs. Ozie Gonzaque. Her legacy is truly inspirational.

Iron sharpens iron.

Recently, as the president of the Compton Entertainment Chamber of Commerce, I’ve had the pleasure of meeting a woman from the community who continues the rare legacy set by her mother, Ozie Gonzaque. A pioneer in her own right, her daughter Barbara Stanton, the executive director of Entrepreneurial Educational Community Incorporated, continues to serve the community in unprecedented ways.

Barbara’s organization, known as EECI, has created programs benefiting the community, offering classes such as scuba diving and entrepreneurial courses. These classes aim to empower individuals to start businesses or nonprofit organizations. Additionally, the scuba diving classes train participants in the basics of scuba diving with the goal of certifying divers to serve the ports of Los Angeles and beyond.

Barbara’s vision is centered on empowering the community. As a longtime resident of Watts, California, she has relocated to a new building in Gardena, California, located at 555 West Redondo Beach Boulevard. Alongside scuba diving and business classes, Barbara now offers gaming classes, recognizing gaming as a significant source of entertainment and employment globally, surpassing even movies and sports.

Senator Steve Bradford of the 35th Center District in California has strongly supported Barbara’s vision. Recently, he secured a $5 million grant to fund EECI’s initiatives. To show appreciation, EECI will dedicate a wall to Senator Bradford on April 13th, 2024. Senator Bradford has been a steadfast supporter of the community since taking office, and though his term as state senator is ending, the community plans to continue supporting him in his future endeavors.

On April 13th, let us show our love and appreciation to Senator Bradford and all those who have served our community while in office in the great state of California.