This is the story of the largest Mexican-American community in the United States, the city within a city known as "East Los Angeles." How did this barrio of over one million men and women—occupying an area greater than Manhattan or Washington D.C.—come to be?Although promoted early in this century as a workers' paradise, Los Angeles fared poorly in attracting European immigrants and American blue-collar workers. Wages were low, and these workers were understandably reluctant to come to a city which was also troubled by labor strife. Mexicans made up the difference, arriving in the city in massive numbers.Who these Mexicans were and the conditions that caused them to leave their own country are revealed in East Los Angeles. The author examines how they adjusted to life in one of the fastest-growing cities in the United States, how they fared in this country's labor market, and the problems of segregation and prejudice they confronted.
Author(s): Richardo Romo
Publisher: University of Texas Press
Year: 1983
Language: English
Pages: 236
Tags: Nonfiction, Social & Cultural Studies, Social Science, Cultural Studies, Ethnic Studies,
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data......Page 6
Contents......Page 7
Acknowledgments......Page 13
1 Introduction......Page 17
2 Prelude to the Barrio......Page 28
I......Page 45
II......Page 47
III......Page 56
IV......Page 64
Table 1. Population Growth of Major Border Cities, 1910 - 1 930......Page 72
V......Page 73
Map 1. Los Angeles and the Surrounding Area......Page 74
4 Creating the Eastside Barrio......Page 75
Map 2. Central and East Los Angeles, 1915-1930......Page 88
5 The "Brown Scare"......Page 103
6 Work and Restlessness......Page 126
I......Page 127
Table 2. Occupational Distribution of Male Labor Force in Boston and Los Angeles......Page 130
Table 3. Occupational Structure of Mexican Men in California,1930......Page 131
II......Page 132
Table 4. Occupational Structure of First-, Second-, and Third-Generation Mexicano Men in Los Angeles, 1 91 7- 1 918......Page 133
Table 5. Occupational Structure of Non-Mexican Men with Mexican Wives, 1917 - 1918......Page 135
III......Page 136
Table 6. Comparison of Male Occupational Mobility in Los Angeles and Boston......Page 137
IV......Page 138
Table 7. Persistence Rates for Boston and Los Angeles......Page 139
7 Reform, Revival, and Socialization......Page 143
I......Page 144
II......Page 150
III......Page 156
IV......Page 162
V......Page 169
VI......Page 173
8 Afterword-East Los Angeles since 1930......Page 177
1. Introduction......Page 187
2. Prelude to the Barrio......Page 190
3. From Homeland to Barrio......Page 195
4. Creating the Eastside Barrio......Page 202
5. The "Brown Scare"......Page 207
6 . Work and Restlessness......Page 213
7. Reform, Revival, and Socialization......Page 217
8. Afterword - East Los Angeles since 1930......Page 223
Index......Page 227
