Has the face of LA changed dramatically?

Question

I am curious about how most LA residents perceive their city these days. Since the massive influx of immigrants from Mexico began during the last decade, what does LA seem like to you? When you go to malls, restaurants, office buildings, etc. do you notice that you see a lot more diversity now? Has racial tension become worse in the city? Are Whites and Asians moving out? Where do Black people fit into this equation? Are most people angry about the influx of Hispanics or mostly pretty laid back about the whole issue? I wonder, bc I'm moving out to LA in a month or so and wonder what the social dynamic of the city is like. Is it really, really segregated? If I live in San Gabriel Valley, does that mean I'm only going to see one ethnic group? Does LA still feel "American" or does it feel almost like an extension of Mexico these days?

Answer 1

I was born in Los Angeles in 1953 and have lived in southern Calfornia my whole life. I am Caucasian. I just have to shake my head at this question, because it shows that so many people who aren't native to this area believe that somehow LA use to be white, but that it's recently changed.

Here is the real story from someone born here, who's father was born here in 1923. There have always been Mexican people here. They were here before white people came. I feel incredibly lucky to have been brought up in the San Fernando Valley area where I was exposed to Mexican culture, so different from my own. Ironically, in my neighborhood the common prejudice of white people was againt blacks, because everyone understood that the Mexicans were established in our neighborhood before whites ever arrived.

I remember my aunt from Michigan visiting circa 1962..we took her to a really great taco stand for shreaded beef tacos and she was so racially prejudiced about Mexican FOOD that she wouldn't even leave the car!!!!

Look at your Los Angeles area map and what do you see? Los Angeles. La Mirada. Pico Rivera. San Fernando. San Gabriel. Santa Monica. Santa Susanna. Costa Mesa. El Toro. Sierra Madre. La Puente. San Dimas. Santa Ana. El Monte. Sierra Madre. El Segundo. Playa del Rey. Palos Verdes.

I could keep on going, but I hope you see my point. Some revisionist history has taken place where some people are promoting the idea that Mexicans have invaded the land of the white people, when it's more like we all have invaded this place.

Me, for one, am proud to live in a land with multiple ethnicity. I don't feel invaded except by recent arrivals who don't know the history of this area. I want to live in a community with different ethnic groups. If you don't want to, then please don't come, we have enough racism here already. Despite what you've heard, a lot of people like living in a multiethnic world.

Answer 2

A lot has changed, but thats all in how ya look at it. There are so many unique parts of the city; some places feel like a different city or sometimes even, a different country. But there is always some sense of it still being part of the whole that is LA.

I live about a mile from MacArthur Park, in the Wilshire Center. Sometimes, driving by Alvarado on Wilshire, it does look like Mexico or Central America. The ethnic makeup is a lot different in other places. In the San Gabriel Valley, you'll definitely encounter a lot more Asians and even Whites. LA is for the most part integrated, but you'll find pockets of different ethnic groups in many places.

The only people I've come across angry about the Latino migration are a few people who live far away in the suburbs. Immigrants are branching out to the 'burbs for more work and a better living for their families (living in Downtown LA is hell), and I guess a few residents are afraid that they'll bring the squalor of Pico-Union with them. Its preposterous, for the fact that they're moving to get away from the nastiness of the inner city.

Does LA still feel American? Well, I guess it does in the sense that New York still feels "American", or Chicago, or any diverse metropolis for that matter. What IS American these days? The SOUTH?!?! Hehe.

Answer 3

LoL.Hey I am a Latino born here that makes me a American. You see whos the ignorant dopey and fatous person. LoL
Okay. Look I live in Compton. A black/latino community. I disagree with you white folks trying to say that we are not americans. When you saying that Asians are. Anywhom, look yes you would see more Latinos and Hispanics in the L.A. area. Yes it still feels like America. Something that Compton dosent has in coment with the so called"L.A. Culture" is that we dont got that many racial crime. Like L.A. Compton is made up of diligent Americans and Illegals.(Blacks and Brown). You making asians look like they white? Why?

God Bless Compton and God Bless America.

Answer 4

The only significant change I see is the open racism towards immigrant Latinos. To hear it, you'd think they're responsible for all the ills in the southland.

And the increased gang violence.

Answer 5

there are way too many mexicans, most of whom can't speak english (or don't want to). it feels like mexico in most parts of la. i won't go along with angelenos and say that mexicans are helping theeconomy and that i accept them. i think thy should all be sent back to mexico. they are rude, violent, loud and have attitude problems. i would say a lot of whites are moving out, including me hopefully soon. not only is la flooded with disgusting mexicans, but eberything is way overpriced too.

Answer 6

lol all of california is turning into mexico it seems. blacks and mexicans dont really get along out here and asian gangs and mexicans dont get along but asians get along with blacks. some places are way worst than others and there some parts in LA that u would think ur in tijuana