The Shift of Culture in Compton and the Transcendent Cultural Effect it Formed in America

958 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: How does racial segregation affect us today

In less than forty years, the city of Compton went from a shielded suburb near the confines of Los Angeles, to a terrorizing image of American culture. The results of this transformation and creation of “gangsta rap” is still well renowned today. Through de jure segregation, Reagan economics, undermining of black prosperity, N.W.A., and “Boyz n the Hood”, the city of Compton told its story and became a global image. This paper will analyze the shift of culture in Compton and the transcendent cultural effect it formed in America.
Thousands of migrants in the 1920’s - 1950’s envisioned Compton, California as the perfect place to settle down and ideal center for industrial workers. That vision did come true for white Americans, although it didn’t last long. The problem facing the newly reckoned neighborhood was the impending number of African Americans moving into the area due to: the desire to leave the south, growing population with higher incomes, and ruling of Shelley vs. Kramer, effectively abolished restricting housing through racial discrimination. With the surging movement of African Americans through social and geographical context came the rise in defense of whites. “Keep the negroes north of 130th street” was the slogan by the whites of Compton. What started out as a real-estate ploy to keep blacks out of the area, escalated to feral actions after de jure segregation. The implications through Compton were serious as African Americans suffered death threats, vandalism, and other scare tactics. However, there were some whites willing to help by selling their homes to African Americans and as time prevailed, so did blacks. A stimulated “panic selling” frenzy to sell whites houses was in full-effect; sell now or lose the...

... middle of paper ...

...ly surprised to found out what Compton used to be and I’m sure others would be to.

Works Cited

Bryan J. McCann, (2014) On Whose Ground? Racialized Violence and the Prerogative of “Self-Defense” in the Trayvon Martin Case. Western Journal of Communication.

Boyz N The Hood: A Colonial Analysis. James Nadell. Journal of Black
Studies, Vol. 25, No. 4 (Mar., 1995), pp. 447-464. Published by: Sage Publications, Inc. Article Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/2784403

Straight into Compton: American Dreams, Urban Nightmares, and the
Metamorphosis of a Black Suburb. Josh Sides. American
Quarterly . Vol. 56, No. 3, Los Angeles and the Future of Urban Cultures (Sep., 2004) , pp. 583-605. Published by: The Johns Hopkins University Press. Stable URL:http://www.jstor.org/stable/40068235

"N.W.A – Straight Outta Compton." Rap Genius. N.p., n.d. Web. 21
Apr. 2014.

Show More
Related

  • Gentrification and White Preference in the Rhode Island Housing Market

    929 Words  | 2 Pages

    “Gentrification is a general term for the arrival of wealthier people in an existing urban district, a related increase in rents and property values, and changes in the district's character and culture.” (Grant) In layman’s terms, gentrification is when white people move to a black neighborhood for the sake of cheaper living, and in turn, raise up property values and force black neighbors to leave because of a higher price of living. Commonly, the government supports gentrification with the demolition of public housing in areas that are developing with more white neighbors. This is causing a decreasing amount of African Americans to be able to afford to live in the neighborhood as their homes are taken away from them, forcing them to relocate. Whilst gentrification normally has negative connotations, there are several people who believe gentrification brings about “an upward trend in property values in previously neglected neighborhoods.” (Jerzyk) On the other hand, this new trend in property value and business causes those...

    Read More

  • Ghetto Takes Shape

    1561 Words  | 4 Pages

    Cleveland’s black population was quite small before the “Great Migration” in 1915, but then began to gradually increase. This meant that black associations and leadership depended very much on white support. The socioeconomic position of blacks, however, at the same time, got worse as whites got stricter on discriminatory control over employment and public places. After 1915, Cleveland’s black population grew quickly, starting racist trends. One of the results was segregation of the living conditions of blacks, their jobs, and in social aspects. As isolation increased, however, this began the growth of new leaders and associations that responded to the needs of the ghettos. By 1930, the black ghetto had expanded; Cleveland’s blacks had increased class stratification in their community, as well as an increasing sense of cultural harmony in response to white prejudice.

    Read More

  • More than Just Race: Being Black and Poor in the Inner City

    1316 Words  | 3 Pages

    Wilson created the atmosphere of not only binding black race with economical and social issues when there are other contributing factors as well. The plight of low-skilled inner city black males explains the other variables. He argues “Americans may not fully understand the dreadful social and economic circumstances that have moved these bla...

    Read More

  • Watson and Rayner’s Classical Study with Llittle Albert

    1737 Words  | 4 Pages

    In response to the question set, I will go into detail of the study, consisting of the background, main hypotheses, as well the aims, procedure and results gathered from the study; explaining the four research methods chosen to investigate, furthering into the three methods actually tested.

    Read More

  • Chicago's South Side Analysis

    874 Words  | 2 Pages

    The setting of the story is Chicago’s South Side. This area of Chicago was known as the “capital of black America” (Manning), and according to Andrew Wiese, Chicago used to be known as “the most segregated city in America” (118). These seriously contradictory statements are true. Chicago’s South Side was home to William L. Dawson, who was the most powerful black politician at the time, and Joe Luis, who was a boxing champion and was known as the most popular black man in America (Manning). It was the most popular place for blacks to migrate to during the Great Migration, and the population grew from 278,000 blacks to 813,000 blacks. Most of the neighborhoods located in the South Side were poor and highly segregated from the rich white neighborhoods located just outside the South Side (Pacyga). The housing in these areas was very poor as well. Most of the African Americans at the time lived in a small apartment called a kitchenette. These were cramped with a small kitchen and small rooms (Plotkin). Lorraine Hansberry describes the Youngers house as a worn out, cramped, and very small apartment (23). She also talks about the small kitchen, living room, and bedrooms (24). These apartments were not ideal, but it was all that many African Americans could afford. If African Americans tried to move nicer neighborhoods, whites would perform violent acts on them (Choldin). This violence was recorded in a African American newspaper, known the Chicago Defender (Best).

    Read More

  • African-American Street Gangs in Los Angeles

    6209 Words  | 13 Pages

    Surprisingly, little has been written about the historical significance of black gangs in Los Angeles (LA). Literature and firsthand interviews with Los Angeles residents seem to point to three significant periods relevant to the development of the contemporary black gangs. The first period, which followed WWII and significant black migrations from the South, is when the first major black clubs formed. After the Watts rebellion of 1965, the second period gave way to the civil rights period of Los Angeles where blacks, including those who where former club members who became politically active for the remainder of the 1960s. By the early 1970s black street gangs began to reemerge. By 1972, the Crips were firmly established and the Bloods were beginning to organize. This period saw the rise of LA’s newest gangs, which continued to grow during the 1970s, and later formed in several other cities throughout the United States by the 1990s. While black gangs do not make up the largest or most active gang population in Los Angeles today, their influence on street gang culture nationally has been profound.

    Read More

  • Housing Segregation and Minority Groups in the United States

    846 Words  | 2 Pages

    The downgrading of African Americans to certain neighborhoods continues today. The phrase of a not interested neighborhood followed by a shift in the urban community and disturbance of the minority has made it hard for African Americans to launch themselves, have fairness, and try to break out into a housing neighborhood. If they have a reason to relocate, Caucasians who support open housing laws, but become uncomfortable and relocate if they are contact with a rise of the African American population in their own neighborhood most likely, settle the neighborhoods they have transfer. This motion creates a tremendously increase of an African American neighborhood, and then shift in the urban community begins an alternative. All of these slight prejudiced procedures leave a metropolitan African American population with few options. It forces them to remain in non-advanced neighborhoods with rising crime, gang activity, and...

    Read More

  • Tragic Hero in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein

    1080 Words  | 3 Pages

    56, No. 3 (1989), pp. 543-569. The Johns Hopkins University Press. JSTOR. Web. 24 April 2014.

    Read More

  • Oakland, CA

    641 Words  | 2 Pages

    This paper will discuss the many unique aspects of Oakland, California. Divided into five major parts, Oakland is a very diverse city. The five major parts include: Downtown Oakland which is located in the heart of the city, East Oakland which consists of the majority of the city, West Oakland, North Oakland, and the Oakland hills where the terrain is quite different from other parts of the city. While many may perceive the population to mainly consist of African Americans and Whites, there is a significant growing population of Latinos, and Asians. The topics covered in this paper will shed light on the city of Oakland itself, and discuss the unique city that it is. I will also give my personal experience and perception on the city, after living there for 16 years of my life.

    Read More

  • Gangster Rap: A Subgenre Of Hip Hop Music

    958 Words  | 2 Pages

    Gangster rap is a subgenre of hip hop that often centered on the troubled lifestyles and poor condition of inner-city youths, ghetto boys are artists most regularly known with the founding of gangster rap. It also exposes the illegal activities of street gangs and thug lifestyle. Gangster was criticized left and right from commentators, as well as religious leaders, saying it encourages crime, murder, serial killing, violence, drug dealing etc. the music became one of the best commercial lucrative subgenre of hip hop. The government that is white house administration of George H.W Bush and Bill Clinton was against gangster, gangster artist was not happy that are singled out and that is not fair to them because they are using their song as a means of getting public to know the changes that the community needs and is not been addressed in the public forum. Journalist chuck Philips make it known in a review of the battle between the establishment and defender of a rap music, that white politicians never budge to know anything happening in the devastated community where gangster was given birth to. Gangster that started in a rural area became a means of exposing critical issues that are not solved or discussed in American politics. Sister Souljah told Philip the journalist that the problem is that the white house administration does not want to deal with inner city urban

    Read More

  • Longtown, Ohio: A Case Study

    457 Words  | 1 Pages

    The city of Longtown, Ohio is crashing down. The population of blacks is decreasing, and the population of whites is increasing. Individuals in Longtown have a past of integration, and Connor Keiser is trying to preserve the life him and his ancestors have lived. Riverside should adapt some of the ways Longtown, Ohio functions. The city has demonstrated unity and the positive ways black and white people live together. The article by Washington Post, “Ohio town holds rare history: Races mix freely for nearly 200 years” expresses the need for integration and how Connor Keiser plans to save it. The foundation of Longtown was by James Clemens, and according to the great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great grandson the town has a past history that should not be changed.

    Read More

  • Gentrification

    1826 Words  | 4 Pages

    Zukin, Sharon. "Gentrification: Culture and Capital in the Urban Core." Annual Review of Sociology 13(1987): 129-147.

    Read More

  • Hip Hop's Effect on American Culture

    3349 Words  | 7 Pages

    Hip hop has permeated popular culture in an unprecedented fashion. Because of its crossover appeal, it is a great unifier of diverse populations. Although created by black youth on the streets, hip hop's influence has become well received by a number of different races in this country. A large number of the rap and hip hop audience is non-black. It has gone from the fringes, to the suburbs, and into the corporate boardrooms. Because it has become the fastest growing music genre in the U.S., companies and corporate giants have used its appeal to capitalize on it. Although critics of rap music and hip hop seem to be fixated on the messages of sex, violence, and harsh language, this genre offers a new paradigm of what can be (Lewis, 1998.) The potential of this art form to mend ethnic relations is substantial. Hip hop has challenged the system in ways that have unified individuals across a rich ethnic spectrum. This art form was once considered a fad has kept going strong for more than three decades. Generations consisting of Blacks, Whites, Latinos, and Asians have grown up immersed in hip-hop. Hip hop represents a realignment of America?s cultural aesthetics. Rap songs deliver a message, again and again, to keep it real. It has influenced young people of all races to search for excitement, artistic fulfillment, and a sense of identity by exploring the black underclass (Foreman, 2002). Though it is music, many people do not realize that it is much more than that. Hip hop is a form of art and culture, style, and language, and extension of commerce, and for many, a natural means of living. The purpose of this paper is to examine hip hop and its effect on American culture. Different aspects of hip hop will also be examined to shed some light that helps readers to what hip hop actually is. In order to see hip hop as a cultural influence we need to take a look at its history.

    Read More

  • Niggaz Wit Attitudes (N. W. A)

    628 Words  | 2 Pages

    Growing up a young black male in Compton, California was an especially difficult task around 1970. During that time drugs were being sold at a record breaking high. Crimes committed and racism continuously took turns for the worse. It was not until the 1980’s that a group took rise to stardom. A voice that spoke for the ones in the ghetto. Four men from the streets of Compton’s slum formed a rap group which became known as “Niggaz Wit Attitudes” (N.W.A). They faced tremendous scrutiny, but never forgot where they came from. N.W.W. was a fearless group who revolutionized the rap culture forever.

    Read More

  • Literature Review: Theoetitive Strategy, Total Quality Management

    1882 Words  | 4 Pages

    This section examines the theoretical foundations of the study, review of empirical literature, the conceptual framework and research hypotheses.

    Read More

More about The Shift of Culture in Compton and the Transcendent Cultural Effect it Formed in America

Open Document