HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA-HIST XL M155

How Identities and Conflicts Based on Race, Gender and Class Shaped Los Angeles

Introduction

Notably, identities and conflicts based on race, gender, and class had a significant influence on the rapid growth of Los Angeles in the first half of the 20^th century. Among others, these factors played a critical role in shaping the social, economic and the cultural landscape of the region during this period. In addition to determining resources available to different groups of people, the interaction of the identities and conflicts brought about social tensions and systematic inequalities which had a long lasting impact on the development of the city. For a comprehensive understanding, this paper explores various ways in which identities and conflicts based on race, gender, and class shaped Los Angeles as it grew rapidly in the first half of the 20^th century.

Racial based Identities and Conflicts

From Week 6 voice thread, it can be noted that in the early 20^th century, Los Angeles was dominated with racial segregation and discrimination where African Americans among other minority groups in the regions were marginalized. Through the restrictive convents, residential segregation was prevalent as the sale of properties was not allowed to people of certain races (McWilliams 6). This approach confined the African Americans and other minority groups to specific neighborhoods which include East Los Angeles for Mexican Americans and South Central for African Americans. This, in turn, resulted to racial tensions and gave rise to the Zoot Suit Riots of 1943 where Mexican Americans were discriminated and violated by the whites.

Similarly, from Week 5 voice thread, we learned that the racial based identities and conflicts during the time had a major influence on the labor market. Mexican Americans often worked in low wage labor with poor working conditions. In the same context, exclusionary laws such as the internment of Japanese Americans and the Chinese Exclusion Act discriminated on Chinese and Japanese despite their role in transforming the economy of Los Angeles (Kim 16). Lastly, despite the discrimination, the minority groups such as African Americans brought about cultural diversity in the region.

Gender based Identities and Conflicts

Similarly, the gender based identities and conflicts influenced Los Angeles as it grew rapidly in the first half of the 20^th century. In the early 20^th century, there was significant changes in the gender roles, as women entered the workforce (Kim 18). This is following the World War II (WWII) that forced men into war and thus women had to assume the traditional roles of men. The aircraft and defense forces is one area that employed more women during this time, marked evident through the role of the renowned Rosie the Riveter. Nevertheless, this period did not result to gender equality as men ultimately took over their roles after the war. Also, women played a critical role in the social and political landscape of Los Angeles. The women rights suffrage movements helped in bringing social reforms in the country leading to rapid development of the region (Kim 16).

Additionally, from Week 7 voice thread, the growth of the entertainment industry witnessed in Los Angeles created more opportunities for women. More women landed in the workforce defying the prevailing norms. Although women faced exploitation in the workforce, the opportunities played a role in ensuring gender equality. Understandably, the women of color faced discrimination based on their race and gender. These gender based identities resulted to labor strikes from African American women among others from different minorities and this gave rise to activism which brought significant social reforms (McWilliams 8).

Class based Identities and Conflicts

Lastly, class based identities and conflicts had a role in shaping Los Angeles as it experienced a rapid growth in the first half of the 20^th century. As the city experienced the rapid growth, the class divisions more pronounced. Different residential houses were constructed to ensure that various classes of people in the society was separated (McWilliams 4). While the whites lived in safe neighborhoods, the people of color on the other hand faced economic exploitation and poor housing conditions. The minority groups were often relocated to poor and under-resourced neighborhoods which further exacerbated the class division issue based on race. Class conflicts were observed following strikes and protests as the working class demanded for better wages as well as working conditions (Kim 20).

The protest through diverse labor movements were critical in bringing positive changes in favor of the minority groups. On the same note, the process of urban development also led to class conflicts. The construction of the freeways brought class conflicts as the low class neighborhoods were destroyed and displaced. The urban development clearly demonstrated the need for the elites of the city to develop in expense of the marginalized and vulnerable populations (McWilliams 10).

Conclusion

In conclusion, the identities and conflicts based on race, gender, and class helped shape Los Angeles as it experienced rapid growth in the first half of the 20^th century. The racial discrimination and segregation of the people of color resulted to racial tensions. Despite the significant role they played in the economic growth of Los Angeles, the African Americans among other minorities were discriminated and exploited in the labor market. The presence of many minority groups also brought about cultural diversity in the region which was key for the growth of the city. During this period, there was significant change in the workforce as more women joined the labor market. Growth of the entertainment industry is a good example that helped in diversifying and bringing changes in the labor market. Lastly, class divisions were evident as whites often lived safe neighborhoods while the people of color lived in poor and under-resourced regions. The labor strikes and labor movements helped in bringing positive changes in favor of the people of color.

Works Cited

Kim, Jessica M. Imperial metropolis: Los Angeles, Mexico, and the borderlands of American empire, 1865–1941. UNC Press Books, 2019.

McWilliams, Carey. Southern California: An Island on the Land. Gibbs Smith Publisher; Salt Lake City, 2010.