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[[File:9780520249905.jpg|250px|thumb|left|''[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0520249909/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0520249909&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=7cf8034e3054bb9b50fbb973a6e4f355 Bound for Freedom: Black Los Angeles in Jim Crow America]'']]Los Angeles has emerged from a small pueblo in the Spanish colonial backwater to become one of the most recognizable and populous cities in the United States. Los Angeles is an idea, the butt of many jokes, and a topic of serious academic inquiry. Historians have studied Los Angeles for over a century. In terms of historical scholarship, Los Angeles sits at an interesting spot. It's Its history can be explored from Indigenous, Spanish, and American points of view, it can be on a colonial or modern reading list, regionally it is the Spanish north, American West, and Pacific Rim. When looking at race relations in Los Angeles, we see a diversity that is characteristic of the American west, and contrary to the racial dichotomy in the American South.

Carey McWilliams, ''[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0879050071/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0879050071&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=7844e99e2175f9ed2f11d6f0a168d763 Southern California: An Island on the Land]'' (Layton: Gibbs Smith, Publisher, 1946). [[File:41pMSkTrLvL._SX331_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg|right|150px]] Carey McWilliams is easily his own subject of study when it comes to Los Angeles History. This journalist, editor, and lawyer is one of the most well known figures among Southern California historians and enthusiasts. McWilliams was a prolific writer and wrote extensively on Southern California. ''Southern California: An Island on the Land'' is widely regarded as one of the best works on Los Angeles in the 1920-1940s. It details many of the unique personalities in Los Angeles at the time, and also gives thoughtful consideration to minorities as well--unique considering this was first published in the 1940s. If you would like an overview of Los Angeles from someone who was there are the time, this book may be just what you're looking for. You may be frustrated by McWilliams' lack of footnotes, though.

[[File:9780806159041One of the most enduring myths about California is that African Americans did not experience as much racism or hostility there as in the South.jpg|150px|thumb|right]] Erika Pérez, In ''Colonial Intimacies: Interethnic Kinship, Sexuality, and Marriage in Southern California, 1769-1885Bound for Freedom'' (Norman: University Flamming provides one of Oklahoma Press, 2018). In this book, Pérez explores colonization and power through intimate relationships. She explains how everyday interactions illuminate larger ideas about the colonial projects that frame them. Pérez also looks at most comprehensive studies of African American Los Angeles from the children produced through these interethnic relationships late 19th century to explain how their experiences with colonialism were different than their parents'--and World War II. He illustrates that this was often related for most African Americans, when they came to their sexLos Angeles, and what economic opportunities they might havecame to a city that was half-free. Not as violent as the Jim Crow South, but just as racist. This is one Ultimately, Flamming argues that the Civil Rights Movement of the more recent books on this list, yet 1950s and 1960s would have been unfeasible were it covers not for the earliest period, chronologicallywork of African American activists in his study. This book is well-researched and quite thorough. Those who are If you're interested in African American history or the history of imperialism or colonialism may be interested in the Civil Rights Movement, you will likely enjoy this book.

[[File:9780520256231.jpg|150px|thumb|left]] Daniel HurewitzIn this book, ''Bohemian Los Angeles Pérez explores colonization and power through intimate relationships. She explains how everyday interactions illuminate larger ideas about the Making of Modern Politics'' (Berkeley: University of California Press, 2008)colonial projects that frame them. If you read this book Pérez also looks at the children produced through these interethnic relationships to explain how their experiences with George Chaunceycolonialism were different than their parents's ''Gay New York: Gender, Urban Culture, and the Making of the Gay Male World, 1890-1940'' you would have a thorough understanding of the pre-Civil Rights Movement history of the gay community on the East and West coasts. Hurewitz uncovers the story of that this movement from a group of artists, leftistswas often related to their sex, and gay men and women who, together, began to formulate ideas that we what economic opportunities they might now call "identity politicshave." This book uses an assortment is one of records to tell the more recent books on this storylist, and Hurewitz argues that yet it covers the earliest period, chronologically. Those who are interested in the legacy history of these people is still significant imperialism or colonialism may be interested in American politics todaythis book.

[[File:9780520246676.jpg|150px|thumb|right]] William F. Deverell, If you read this book with George Chauncey's ''Whitewashed AdobeGay New York: The Rise of Los Angeles Gender, Urban Culture, and the Remaking Making of its Mexican Pastthe Gay Male World, 1890-1940'' (Berkeley: University you would have a thorough understanding of the pre-Civil Rights Movement history of California Press, 2004). In focusing the gay community on several key points in Los Angeles history, Deverell explores the process through which Los Angeles became modern, white, East and AmericanWest coasts. Deverell argues that Hurewitz uncovers the story of this process took place movement from the late 19th century through the early 20th century a group of artists, leftists, and occurred through the selective erasure gay men and obliteration of its Mexican pastwomen who, together, began to formulate ideas that we might now call "identity politics. If you're interested in the history " This book uses an assortment of memory, records to tell this book provides a fascinating perspective on how places are rememberedstory, or how histories and Hurewitz argues that the legacy of places are createdthese people is still significant in American politics today.

[[File:Blue HeavenIn focusing on several key points in Los Angeles history, Deverell explores the process through which Los Angeles became modern, white, and American. Deverell argues that this process took place from the late 19th century through the early 20th century and occurred through the selective erasure and obliteration of its Mexican past. If you're interested in the history of memory, this book provides a fascinating perspective on how places are remembered, or how histories of places are created.jpg|150px|thumb|left]] <dh-ad/>Becky M. Nicolaides, ''[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0226583015/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0226583015&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=4c159f30471a184841be06b4106001a5 My Blue Heaven: Life and Politics in the Working-Class Suburbs of Los Angeles, 1920-1965]'' (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2002). In ''My Blue Heaven'' Nicolaides lays out the early history of suburbanization near Los Angeles--focusing on the suburb of South Gate. Nicolaides explains how some of these early homeowners in this blue-collar area built their homes from the ground up. Over time, as the are became more diverse, and especially as it was geographically situated next to the African-American community of Watts during the Civil Rights Movement, homeowners in South Gate became increasingly became interested in protecting their homes. However, this was not just about literally protecting their homes, rather they were also concerned with what their homes represented: self-reliance and white homeowner rights.

Nathaniel West, ''[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1618951998/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1618951998&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=772da865581226b1e8958ccd782a3035 The Day of the Locust]'' (New York: Random House, 1939). [[File:Locust.jpg|150px|thumb|right]]While this may be a novel and part of our Western Canon, it can also be considered a loose primary source. In ''The Day of the Locust'' West writes about Hollywood during the Great Depression. The novel is from the perspective of the protagonist Tod Hackett, and the tone for much of the book is despondent and cynical. In the novel, all of the characters are shallow, and all have come to Hollywood to make it big. The city is full of outcasts and rejects and West is critical of the masses and popular culture. Where this seems like a primary source is in its discussion of the American dream and its elusiveness--particularly for Americans who were negatively affected by the Great Depression. Similarly, a significant number of people did try to move to Los Angeles during this period because the movies that came from Hollywood seemed to suggest that the Depression had not reached Tinseltown. Nevertheless, it had.

[[File:9780520248113.jpg|150px|thumbthumbnail|left|250px|''[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0520248112/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0520248112&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=c76c065b0dd8823ef0ca736534cb41ec Popular Culture in the Age of White Flight: Fear and Fantasy in Suburban Los Angeles]'']] Eric Avila, [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0520248112/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0520248112&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=c76c065b0dd8823ef0ca736534cb41ec ''Popular Culture in the Age of White Flight: Fear and Fantasy in Suburban Los Angeles'' ] (Berkeley: University of California Press, 2006) and Genevieve Carpio, ''Collissions at the Crossroads: How Place and Mobility Make Race'' (Berkeley: University of California Press, 2019). [[File:9780520298835.jpg|150px|thumb|right]] These two books are side-by-side and complement each other in specific ways. Carpio explores how mobility helped to define race by looking at specific ordinances and policies. Race often determined how easily one was able to move in and out of specific spaces. At the same time, Avila's work explores the racialization of ''public'' entertainment after World War II. Both books speak to the racialization of space--whether that is the suburbs, Disneyland, or boarding schools.

[[File:Sanchez.jpg|150px|thumb|left]] George J. Sanchez, ''[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0195096487/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0195096487&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=f556fef4f5e201282369af054141e224 Becoming Mexican American: Ethnicity, Culture, and Identity in Chicano Los Angeles, 1900-1945]'' (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1995).  In this groundbreaking work, Sanchez explains the formation of Mexican identity in Los Angeles the first half of the 20th century. Sanchez traces this process by looking at the lives of Mexican immigrants to the city and follows the identity of these individuals from migrant to eventually resident. Sanchez explores Mexican Americans' adaptation, accommodation, and resilience through religion, kinship, and consumerism. Of note is Sanchez's exploration of this topic during the Repatriation campaign of the Depression. If you are interested in Latino historiography, this book should be at the top of your list. [[Category:Wikis]][[Category:United States History]] [[Category:California History]] [[Category:Booklists]]