As we observe Black History Month, it’s important to reflect not only on national history, but on the history of our own union. Many people are unaware that musicians’ unions in the United States were once segregated by race, with separate locals operating side by side under unequal conditions. This was not incidental, it was structural and deeply unjust. 

What makes AFM Local 47 stand out is that we were a pioneer in dismantling that system. In the late 1940s and 1950s, well before segregation was made illegal, our local played a leading role in unifying musicians of all races into a single local. This required courage and conviction at a time when doing the right thing came with real resistance. That decision reshaped the labor landscape for musicians in Los Angeles and set a powerful precedent for what solidarity should look like in practice, not just in principle. 

That legacy matters. It reminds us that our union is not a static institution. We evolve when our leaders and members choose progress over comfort. As we honor Black History Month, we honor the musicians who pushed for unity when it was neither easy nor popular, and we recommit ourselves to the idea that equity, access, and opportunity must remain central to our mission. 

On a personal note, returning to union leadership after about five years away has made me feel a bit like Rip Van Winkle, waking up to an organization that is familiar in spirit, but facing new realities. Our industry has changed rapidly. Revenue models have shifted, costs have increased, and like many organizations, we are confronting the hard truth that our building has been operating in the red. Our overhead has drifted significantly out of balance with current income, and that is not sustainable long-term. 

I look forward to working closely with my fellow officers to bring down those costs by reducing unnecessary overhead and, just as importantly, by identifying new, responsible ways to generate revenue that benefit the membership. 

With that in mind, I’m excited to share some concrete, forward-looking news. Our rehearsal rooms will now be available for use by members who teach privately. This is a practical step that supports working musicians while also making smarter, more active use of our building. Members interested in booking rehearsal rooms for private teaching can email phineas.crisp@afm47.org for availability and details. 

In unity, 

John Acosta 
Vice President