Community of South Los Angeles
Nowadays Los Angeles as a most developed city of California State is attractive subject for scholars. This paper is focused on detecting historical events that distinguished current state of Los Angeles. Interrelation among native-born people and African American nations, and external / internal factors influenced Los Angeles shaping. Altogether, it is important to mention in southern California, particularly in Los Angeles, Mexican and Indian labor was frequenter occurrence. It is worthy of note that community of South Los Angeles was made up of white people and Mexican with African origins. For this reason, under the term “African American” Mexican people with African origins are understood. (Sienkiewicz, 173)
This paper sets three objectives with the aim of disclosing essence of community of South Los Angeles. Firstly, it is necessary to indicate period of African American (Mexican) movement to Los Angeles. Secondly, reasons of their movement are also of interest while consequences of such movement are in direct ratio to reasons. Third objective of the paper is distinguished as defining of influence of Latin – Americanization on South Los Angeles. Analysis on these three issues will provide information not only on community of South Los Angeles, but on general situation in California State as well.
Almost every country in the world underwent changes due to mass immigration. South Los Angeles was not an exception and transformed its social, economic, and political construction. Division based on nationality was significant in Los Angeles basin while working fields of white people and Mexican did not intercross. Moreover, African Americans’ living areas were apart from central parts of Los Angeles. This apparent division continued until the 1930s, so unity of white population was not minimized. (Kazin, 178)
Issues related to migrants were kept in the background. Population growth in Los Angeles proceeded from the discovery of gold in the beginning of 1800s, thereby; Los Angeles became magnetic for migrants. Consequently, mass flow of foreigners, especially Mexican with African origins took place. The question such as “What kind of profits can African American find in Los Angeles?” may appear. As it was mentioned before Mexicans in Los Angeles the same as Chinese in other cities of California State characterized as a cheapest labor. Readiness to handle any jobs for less payments and living conditions made Mexican immigrants more appealing. Nevertheless, such state of things entailed troubles in economic field of city. On the one side, for African American immigrants community of Los Angeles was attractive due to its prosperity based on above-mentioned discovery of gold. At the same time, Los Angeles in 1850s was defined as a center of amusements where immorality was going strong. Disorders on the record led to stiffening of security system in Los Angeles. However, restrictions conducted by politicians led to occurrence of another social problem such as corruption. So that not only immorality flourished, but bribery acts increased as well. It is worthwhile noting that during this period (1870s) native-born Protestants had overarching position in policy-making field. (Woods, 213)
The Americanization movement that took place in 1915 significantly changed immigrants’ status. According to movement activists, American citizenship should ensure society from uncontrolled capitalism. As women maintained Americanization movement, corn ideas of such movement touched questions related to women’s position in society, moreover, representatives of movement spoke out in favor of integration of African American into community of Los Angeles. However, Americanization movement began in the 1890s but only after twenty years, it reached its highest point. (Gullet, 218) In addition, Americanization process supposed changes in perception of American citizenship. Citizenship was a right not only native-born people, but foreigners as well. American citizenship represented universal idea of home defense, and was directed towards combination of home rules and policy at the country level.
Idea of “home defense” contributed to development of settlement such as the College Settlement in Los Angeles that acted on behalf of immigrants. Guided by women settlement pointed out challenges that community of Los Angeles needed to overcome. By so doing, women consolidated their influence on political issues since they were actively participating in issues on national unity and reducing differences between native-born Los Angeles citizens and African American (Mexican). They did not put forward predominance of any gender, but maintained an idea of gender solidarity. (Gullet, 220) Americanization idea was not severe rule based on harsh requirements; mostly it was dedicated to improve disadvantages of society.
While studying community of Los Angeles significant role of African American (Mexican) was indicated. It stands to mention that African American people directly participated in agriculture development of Los Angeles. Moreover, African American took part in rail construction in California State, in particularly in Los Angeles. Such engagement demonstrates their importance not only in agriculture sector, but also in city construction. However, uncontrolled flow of Mexican to Los Angeles territory led to repatriation acts. Additionally, essential reasons of repatriation process were requirements of African American workers. Request for well-deserved wage was not only reason of strikes, but inquiry about recognition of Mexican union as well. Native-born people being aware of consequences of recognition could not tolerate with such willing. As a result, agricultural labor movement took place (1928-1934). In the beginning Mexicans were perceived as migrants, however later they acquired community. Namely, status of community enabled them to offer social services. It is important to remember that African Americans were identified both as workers and Mexican people that formed positive condition, so that they could represent interests of agriculture workers and Mexican people simultaneously. (Weber, 289)
Historically, for South Los Angeles’ development influence of Latino and African American farmers was significant while they made a contribution to agricultural prosperity. It stands to mention that for Los Angeles issues related to sustainable development were of value. It is explained by importance of gardens which helped to overcome social difficulties which took place in nineteenth century. Nonetheless, South Los Angeles has been overlooked and as a result it led to disorders. The “food desert” became popular phenomenon and the main idea of it was following. Citizens did not have access to healthy food and markets, as a consequence, health problems such as obesity, diabetes, and heart disease occurred. Moreover, South Los Angeles community was known for its vegetarian movements which happened in 1960s. Such movements were focused on putting forward ideas of healthy life style. (Zappia, 59)
In 1920s situation in South Los Angeles changed, and instead of agriculture, manufacturing and industrial fabrics appeared. Modernization process led to sharp segregation in certain parts of Los Angeles. And riots also made internal situation worth in South Los Angeles. However, after the Los Angeles Riot in 1992 politicians tried to include South Los Angeles within larger economic system. Also, South Los Angeles did not seem attractive to investors; as a result absence of investors delayed its development. (Zappia, 57)
However, after war, it was on record that discrimination on nation and ethnic basis occurred apparently. Retail outlets remained actual problem of the South Los Angeles. Negative matters that directly influenced perception of African American as hostile, crime-ridden, and impoverished people real estate of things. However, anyone did not connected high crime-rate of region with bad living conditions. The problem of South Los Angeles kept in the background and remained ignored. Interesting thing to mention is that no one saw proper to cover an issue in media sources. Challenges that faced Latin African were following. They did not have access to goods, and those things that they could buy were undeservingly expensive. Many researches made by certain individuals as Mark Vallianatos, Andrea Azuma and community of Culver City defined that prices in communities where lived black population were essentially higher with no corresponding quality. The economic foundation for black population in South Los Angeles was manufacturing employment at its highest point in the 1950s and early 1960. However, after decade situation changed dramatically and Latin American work force were no more in demand. The only activity that Latin American could afford were jobs with low-wages, and in such manner, they stayed at the bottom. Nonetheless, black people tried to deracinate discrimination, which had been appearing in society. As a result, the Watts Riot of August 1965 took place. This riot led to massive damage of white owners or some owners remained working in severe conditions and, eventually, became bankrupt. Another problem for white owners was that South Los Angeles had lost its attractiveness for investments based on high rate of crime, poverty and others. Lack of investments followed by failure of white owners who were not able to maintain their business. (Sides, 37)
The second the Los Angeles riot occurred in 1992 and this riot led to drastic changes in South Los Angeles. In 1992, damages were even more evident, so it was decided to solve existing problems by means of active investments. The Economic Empowerment of 1993 supposed to maintain social programs such as education, health, housing and other. In 1999 political representatives put forward project named Chesterfield Square directed to provide new work places aiming at cutting of poverty. Moreover, this project supposed employment of five zip zones while Los Angeles is not defined as a city/ neighborhood. This procedure was activated in order to simplify data collection and plan implementation in South Los Angeles. It stands to mention that by the 2000, proportion of the population in Los Angeles had changed and Latin Americans were in the majority. (Sides, 40)
In spite of Chesterfield Square project, key features of South Los Angeles community remain almost unchanged. The proportion of people who lived below the poverty level even increased. There were not evident results in crime records while decrease of crime rate in one zip zone was balanced by increasing it in another region. On this ground, it is challenging to give exact answer to the question about results of above-mentioned project. (Sides, 47)
As can be seen from the above information, African American people significantly influenced community of South Los Angeles. There are several statements can be distinguished. Firstly, discover of gold in Los Angeles predetermined migration process. Historically, places where mineral wealth and natural resources found are attractive for people. The reason is that people hold an opinion that such kind of places are supposed to be an easy way of wealth accumulation. In 1870s in Los Angeles, gold was discovered and it was the explanation of migration, in particular African American movement. Secondly, as every event has influence on general situation African movement resulted following consequences. On the one side, African American people agreed to do any work that maximized their appeal. Should people hire those workers whose requirements are not profitable for them? By nature, people give preference to those who can do the same work for less wages and comfortable conditions. Such situation explained why African American were preferable in Los Angeles. On the other side, as migrants take existing work places it means that there will be shortage of work places for native-born people. In return, unemployment of citizen constitutes a threat to stability in society. Thirdly, migration flow and unsatisfactory conditions of African American people encouraged native-born women to conduct Americanization process. Americanization process aimed to minimize distance between native-born people and African American. Moreover, by means of women movements problems on equality, independence, and political awareness were touched. African American community in Los Angeles is demonstrative example of interdependence and interrelation between stability in society and condition of national communities. As nowadays, almost every country is multicultural and multinational such approach of a great value.
It should not be overlooked that religious and political matters composed important part of social life in South Los Angeles. Different religious views distinguished territorial borders of cities. It was indicated that prosperity of the Los Angeles was accompanied by frequent breach of law and decline of moral values. Moreover, illegal actions of police officers negatively affected on political institutions. Therefore, it was decided to differentiate policy-making and police systems. Violation of law is frequently occurred issue. All over the world, many people suffer from breach of law and corruption. However, universal ways of overcoming these vices are not found.
References
Chan, Sucheng. Major problems in California history. Wadsworth Publishing, 1996. Print.
Sides, Josh. Post – Ghetto: Reimagining South Los Angeles (Western Histories). Huntington Library and University of California Press, 2012. Print.
