History of California 300 word MIN. blog post
HRW33
Week6-CaliforniasDiversityandtheFutureaudioupdate2.pptxCalifornia: a place of human diversity
but also ethnic tension, as well
Starr, chapters 12-13
California’s diversity
Simply put, California is today one of the most ethnically diverse places on earth.
“The world rushed in” over its relatively brief history
But recall that even before the arrival of Europeans, the Native Americans of the area already reflected a strong diversity
California is home to some of the largest communities of peoples outside of their ethnic homelands
Los Angeles has become home to significant and influential Jewish community
Los Angeles has also become home to “the second or third largest Korean city on the planet” (Starr 307)
The Immigration and Nationality Acts amendments (beg. 1965) made major impacts (307)
Allowed for greater immigration, especially from Asia
Now in the twenty-first century, 80+ languages are represented by the children of the LAUSD (308)
Modern Riots: ongoing ethnic tension in California
Zoot Suit Riots: (June, 1943)
Took place during World War II
The West Coast Japanese Americans had already been targeted with prejudice and extreme segregation
Assertive Mexican American zoot suit culture was part of jazz age culture
Tension developed with Navy sailors who frequented Los Angeles between assignments
A major riot broke out at the beginning of 1943 between sailors and Mexican American youths, often identified with the zoot suit culture
Eventually involved civilians , Marines and Army personnel
Police rarely stepped in to stop the rioting
The riot stopped because military leaders restricted servicemen from going into the city, and zoot suits were banned
See the video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwINn5DEL1c
Modern Riots: ongoing ethnic tension in California
Watts Riots: Began August 11, 1965
Watts is in Los Angeles
34 dead; 1000+ injured
black vs. white
A major sociological investigation afterward found that economic and psychological marginalization characterized this part of Los Angeles
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xg6HYwZ_ePQ
Modern Riots: ongoing ethnic tension in California
Los Angeles Riots: Began April, 1992
Was a reaction to the acquittal of LAPD officers for the 1992 beating of motorist Rodney King, which had been caught on video by a local resident
black and Latino vs. white and Korean
45+ dead; major destruction of property
West Coast Rap: expresses the anger and anxiety of this area in the late 80s and early 90s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWhYmb1sANM
Issues: Illegal immigration and Affirmative Action
Illegal immigration:
Keeping in mind that Los Angeles is the third largest Mexican city in the world
Legality-based discrimination against Latino illegal immigrants tends to have the added negative effect of diminishing the perceived social status of legal Latino residents of California, which further feeds ethnic prejudices
This was famously revealed in Proposition 187 (1994); not supported by President Clinton
However, the 1996 federal Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act not only imposed some of the same restrictions as Prop. 187, but also placed new restrictions on legal immigrants in obtaining government aid.
Why the ongoing racism in California?
Affirmative Action:
Addresses diversity and equality, including redressing previous wrongs
UC regent Ward Connelly (an African American) stood against the UC’s affirmative action policy as restrictive of high achievers and institutionalizing biases concerning ethnic groups. UC regents made the change in 1995
Then Prop 209 was passed (1996), which is now the law, forbidding Affirmative Action in California’s governments
Starr thinks things are getting better. Are they? What about the election of Villaraigosa as mayor of Los Angeles in 2005 (Starr 316)?
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