South Central Dreams: Finding Home and Building Community in South L.A.

South Central Dreams is a book that explores the transformation of South Los Angeles from a historically Black neighborhood to a predominantly Latino one, providing a fresh, inside look at the relationships between these two racial and ethnic groups in California. It draws on almost two hundred interviews and statistical data to explore the experiences of first- and second-generation Latino residents, their long-time Black neighbors, and local civic leaders seeking to build coalitions.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 352 pages
Publication date: 13 July 2021
Publisher: New York University Press

Over the past half-century, South Los Angeles has experienced a remarkable demographic transformation. In South Central Dreams, esteemed scholars Pierrette Hondagneu-Sotelo and Manuel Pastor delve into the transformation of South Central from a historically Black neighborhood to a predominantly Latino community, offering a fresh and insightful perspective on the intricate and evolving relationships between these two racial and ethnic groups in California.

Drawing on nearly two hundred in-depth interviews and comprehensive statistical data, Hondagneu-Sotelo and Pastor examine the experiences of first- and second-generation Latino residents, their long-time Black neighbors, and local civic leaders who are working tirelessly to forge alliances. Recognizing the initial tensions between Black and Brown communities, they shed light on how Latino immigrants have adapted to their new country and neighborhood, finding diverse ways to coexist, collaborate, and, most recently, demonstrate solidarity with Black communities amidst growing threats faced by both racial and ethnic groups.

Hondagneu-Sotelo and Pastor showcase how Latino and Black residents have creatively practiced and adapted innovative strategies of belonging within a historically Black context, ultimately forging a new path toward place-based identity and political representation. South Central Dreams sheds light on how racial and ethnic demographic shifts, coupled with the quest for identity and belonging, are shaping the landscape of South Central and beyond.

Weight: 564g
Dimension: 152 x 228 x 25 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781479807970