| Summary: | The survival of one of Los Angeles's last remaining black cultural centers is being threatened by city politics and a struggling economy. Beyond the Echo of the Drum follows three passionate community members as they strive to secure a positive future for Leimert Park Village, a unique cultural oasis in the midst of Laos most notorious communities, such as 'The Jungle.' At the heart of the Leimert Park Village business district, a passageway of colorful banners features pioneers of the Civil Rights Movement. Along the sidewalk below, the 'Sankofa Passage' serves as a reminder of the West African proverb to embrace the good of the past in moving toward the future. Nearby, Damien, a young political activist, guides us through the daily life and struggles of residents and merchants in the area. He fights to bring new life to this village by securing a Metro stop on the incoming Crenshaw Rail Line. In the midst of the bustle of the busy Crenshaw corridor, Patrick, a muralist, paints a 40-foot mural on the empty wall of a liquor store. As he struggles to make ends meet, he toils night and day to finish his mural in hopes of inspiring a community, burdened by the daily grind. Just a few blocks north at the gateway of Leimert Park, Tamica, world-class choreographer and daughter of renown Lula Washington, carries on the legacy of her parents at Lula Washington Dance Theater, where she inspires a new generation to embrace their cultural heritage through dance. More than a vivid and colorful portrait of a community, Beyond the Echo of the Drum is a testament to how the efforts of a few individuals can reverberate for the greater good of an entire community.
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