The post-war years in California also led to a mass migration of people into the state. As many people were coming to the state the demand for housing increased. As a result, many suburban areas were developed across the state (Textbook, 489). However, not all people who came to California, or who were already living in the state, experienced the same opportunities as others. During the post-war years, African-Americans experienced hostile attitudes from white Californians. In George J. Sánchez’s What’s Good for Boyle Heights is Good for the Jews, he states, “As agricultural land was turned into single-family tract housing, racially restrictive convents continued to operate, but these new restrictions explicitly limited buyers to those of the
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One group of migrants who came to California were the Koreans. Many Korean migrants wound up owning businesses such as liquor stores and grocery markets in the poorer neighborhoods of Los Angeles. As immigrants, these were the only kinds of businesses they could afford to establish (Erik Email, 3/15). Many white-owned businesses in many low-income areas of Los Angeles moved out of the areas, leaving minorities in the inner cities with no other options of buying food, or other goods. The only places available were fast-food restaurants and Korean-owned grocery and liquor stores. The establishment of Korean grocers negatively affected them and the African-Americans in the neighborhoods they entered. In 1991, a Korean grocer named Soon Ja Du argued with an African-American teenager named Latasha Harlins because of a possible theft. As the two finished arguing, and as Latasha was leaving the store, Du pulled out a gun and shot Latasha. Du was found guilty of manslaughter and only received five years of probation instead of sixteen years in prison (Erik Lecture, 3/14). The African-American community was already in an uproar because earlier that year, they and many Californians witnessed on live television the police beating of Rodney King. African-Americans felt that they had no one they could trust or anyone who cared about their safety and equality because of the way racism …show more content…
There were various groups of people, specifically minorities, throughout California’s history, who suffered extreme bigotry and aggressive attitudes when they arrived in California. Throughout California’s history, various newcomers came to California because they felt the state offered hope, freedom, and an opportunity to achieve wealth and success. However, migration did not always create a receptive society that allowed all residents, even newcomers, to flourish and thrive. We have to ask ourselves how migration will shape and influence California’s future. Mark Twain once said, “ 'History does not repeat itself, but it often rhymes” (Erik Greenberg Lecture, 1/6). It is true that history does not repeat itself in the sense that exactly the same things happen over and over. Hopefully, California will be able to embrace migration to the state in the future years and can avoid the dark historical moments that discriminated and belittled many newcomers and
One group of migrants who came to California were the Koreans. Many Korean migrants wound up owning businesses such as liquor stores and grocery markets in the poorer neighborhoods of Los Angeles. As immigrants, these were the only kinds of businesses they could afford to establish (Erik Email, 3/15). Many white-owned businesses in many low-income areas of Los Angeles moved out of the areas, leaving minorities in the inner cities with no other options of buying food, or other goods. The only places available were fast-food restaurants and Korean-owned grocery and liquor stores. The establishment of Korean grocers negatively affected them and the African-Americans in the neighborhoods they entered. In 1991, a Korean grocer named Soon Ja Du argued with an African-American teenager named Latasha Harlins because of a possible theft. As the two finished arguing, and as Latasha was leaving the store, Du pulled out a gun and shot Latasha. Du was found guilty of manslaughter and only received five years of probation instead of sixteen years in prison (Erik Lecture, 3/14). The African-American community was already in an uproar because earlier that year, they and many Californians witnessed on live television the police beating of Rodney King. African-Americans felt that they had no one they could trust or anyone who cared about their safety and equality because of the way racism …show more content…
There were various groups of people, specifically minorities, throughout California’s history, who suffered extreme bigotry and aggressive attitudes when they arrived in California. Throughout California’s history, various newcomers came to California because they felt the state offered hope, freedom, and an opportunity to achieve wealth and success. However, migration did not always create a receptive society that allowed all residents, even newcomers, to flourish and thrive. We have to ask ourselves how migration will shape and influence California’s future. Mark Twain once said, “ 'History does not repeat itself, but it often rhymes” (Erik Greenberg Lecture, 1/6). It is true that history does not repeat itself in the sense that exactly the same things happen over and over. Hopefully, California will be able to embrace migration to the state in the future years and can avoid the dark historical moments that discriminated and belittled many newcomers and