The New Suburbia: How Diversity Remade Suburban Life in Los Angeles after 1945

The New Suburbia examines the transformation of American suburbs, from lily-white to majority-minority, and explores the experiences of Asian Americans, Black Americans, and Latinos who moved into formerly white neighborhoods. It explores a range of community experiences, from exclusion to inclusion, and the enduring landscapes of single-family homes and families seeking the good life.

Format: Hardback
Length: 560 pages
Publication date: 07 March 2024
Publisher: Oxford University Press Inc

America's suburbs have undergone a remarkable transformation, defying the traditional narrative of white, middle-class homeowners. Today, these communities encompass a diverse range of individuals, including wealthy and poor, Black and Latino Americans, Asians, immigrants, and those experiencing homelessness. The everyday experiences of suburban life have taken on new nuances, particularly in Los Angeles, where lily-white suburbs have largely disappeared, and majority-minority suburbs have emerged.

"The New Suburbia" delves into this transformative era, focusing on the experiences of Asian Americans, Black Americans, and Latinos who have moved into formerly white neighborhoods. These individuals have faced a critical choice: whether to remake the suburbs or allow them to reshape them. In places like Pasadena, San Marino, South Gate, and Lakewood, suburbanites have navigated the challenges of living together in diversity, encountering internal resegregation, suburban poverty, an embrace of law-and-order culture, and instances of police brutality.

Historian Becky Nicolaides explores a wide range of community experiences, shedding light on the complexities of suburban life. She examines the varying attitudes towards inclusion and multiculturalism, highlighting both communities that perpetuate exclusion and those that embrace more inclusive suburban ideals. The book draws upon a wealth of quantitative data spanning half a century and includes unpublished oral histories to provide a comprehensive and authoritative account of suburbia's evolution.

Throughout the narrative, the common denominators of suburbia remain evident: low-slung landscapes of single-family homes, and families seeking a good life. "The New Suburbia" offers a valuable insight into the changing face of American communities, challenging preconceived notions and illuminating the diverse experiences and challenges faced by suburban residents. It serves as a testament to the resilience and adaptability of human societies in the face of rapid social and economic change.

Weight: 970g
Dimension: 168 x 244 x 38 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780197578308