This revelatory social history resurrects a largely forgotten place and era in African-American and California history and discovers there a hugely influential scene--the pop culture flipside of the 1920s Harlem Renaissance--which spawned the civil rights movement, rhythm & blues, and hip-hop.
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This revelatory social history resurrects a largely forgotten place and era in African-American and California history and discovers there a hugely influential scene--the pop culture flipside of the 1920s Harlem Renaissance--which spawned the civil rights movement, rhythm & blues, and hip-hop.
Read Less
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Seller's Description:
Fine in Fine jacket. No Flaws or Blemishes but minimal shelf handling; Still Gift Quality. Unread, unopened; 9.5 inches tall; 320 pages with Chapter Notes, and Index. In the 1940s, FDR's decision to integrate the defense industry prompted a significant influx of black workers to a concentrated area of Los Angeles, sparking vibrant cultural activity in arts, culture, and politics. Central Avenue became a hub for black musicians, independent labels, and social gatherings, giving birth to rhythm and blues. Chester Himes pioneered the black detective novel and noir style, while black comedians abandoned minstrelsy for socially-conscious humor. This period also marked the nascent stages of the civil rights movement, favoring grassroots empowerment over top-down approaches. Unlike Harlem's Renaissance driven by the intellectual elite, L.A. 's black identity evolved from street-level experiences. However, as the era faded, so did many aspirations and lives. Drawing from original research and interviews, this book compellingly argues that contemporary phenomena like hip hop, slang, and street fashion trace their roots back to the dynamic 1940s scene along the Great Black Way.