Los Angeles has a joyful new reason to head to Exposition Park. The California African American Museum (CAAM) has just opened Sinners: Sounds That Summon, a bright, music-filled exhibition that celebrates how sound creates worlds of joy, protection, belonging and freedom. It opened on October 20 and runs through March 14, 2027.
The exhibition revisits the beloved Club Juke sequence from Ryan Coogler’s 2025 film Sinners, where music becomes a portal through time, from traditional African ritual to present-day street dance. At its heart is the guitar played by Sammie “Preacher Boy” Moore, surrounded by original costumes, objects and archival material from the film. Together, they show how Black music carries memory, movement, style and spirit across generations, tracing a path from the Mississippi Delta to California.
The best way to dive in comes this week: on Tuesday, October 27, from 2 to 3 p.m., curator Imani Y. Haynes leads a free curatorial walkthrough of the exhibition, sharing the stories behind the pieces. Admission to the walkthrough is free and reservations are requested through the museum. Families can return on Saturday, October 31, from 2 to 3:30 p.m., for CAAM Creates with Design Hive, a hands-on workshop inspired by the exhibition and open to all ages.
Sinners: Sounds That Summon is co-organized by the California African American Museum and the Warner Bros. Archives and curated by Imani Y. Haynes. CAAM is at 600 State Drive in Exposition Park, Los Angeles. Happy City News invites you to come listen, look closely and celebrate the music that brings a community together.
Photo: California African American Museum
