Since the 1980s; Los Angeles has become the most racially and economically divided city in the United States. In the poorest parts of South Central Los Angeles; buildings in disrepair—the legacy of racial unrest. Moving beyond stereotypes of South Central's predominantly African American residents; João H. Costa Vargas recounts his almost two years living in the district. Personal; critical; and disquieting; Catching Hell in the City of Angels examines the ways in which economic and social changes in the twentieth century have affected the black community; and powerfully conveys the experiences that bind and divide its people.Through compelling stories of South Central; including his own experience as an immigrant of color; Vargas presents portraits of four groups. He talks daily with women living in a low-income Watts apartment building; works with activists in a community organization against police brutality; interacts with former gang members trying to maintain a 1992 truce between the Bloods and the Crips; and listens to amateur jazz musicians who perform in a gentrified section of the neighborhood. In each case he describes the worldviews and the definitions of “blackness†these people use to cope with oppression. Vargas finds; in turn; that blackness is a form of racial solidarity; a vehicle for the renewal of African American culture; and a political expression of revolutionary black nationalism.Vargas reveals that the social fault lines in South Central reflect both contemporary disparities and long-term struggles. In doing so; he shows both the racialized power that makes “blackness†a prized term of identity and the terrible price that African Americans have paid for this emphasis. Ultimately; Catching Hell in the City of Angels tells the story of urban America through the lives of individuals from diverse; overlapping; and vibrant communities. João H. Costa Vargas is assistant professor in the Center for African and African American Studies and the department of anthropology at the University of Texas; Austin.Robin D. G. Kelley is the William B. Ransford Professor of Cultural and Historical Studies at Columbia University. He is the author of numerous books; including Yo Mama's Disfunktional: Fighting the Culture Wars in Urban America.
#3859664 in Books Facts on File 1997-06Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 .66 x 6.23 x 9.32l; #File Name: 0816032483176 pages
Review
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. A wonderful resource for students and teachersBy Noelle HeenanAs a high school teacher; I have suggested this book be used by my students when researching the issue of segregation. I read the book and found it to be very easy to follow and understand and written on a level amenable to both high school and junior high school students. I have referred to the book in class discussions and found that the way in which Dr. Rasmussen explains the Jim Crow laws intrigues my students so that they want to read the entire book themselves. Dr. Rasmussen explains the origins of the laws and their effect on American society and people in general; including their lasting psychological implications.3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Outstanding for Classroom Use: Farewell to Jim CrowBy Susan J. MaskinAs a high school teacher of regular and Advanced PlacementU.S. History; I have used portions OF FAREWELL TO JIM CROW withexcellent results. The maps and pictures are conducive to producing document-based questions. The text is clearly presented. The students are especially impressed with theearly chapters including one entitled: " A Strange Idea: HowSegregation Worked." I have shown the book to several colleagues and they too have begun using it when teachingabout racial issues in America. The book is strongly recommendedfor those interested in a problem that still haunts our country.0 of 18 people found the following review helpful. Me and my father.By michelleFor 14 years i lived with my father;till the day came that he had to leave me;to go stay in heaven with our god of all times. The one who leads us the right way;who is the father of our kingdom.Sometimes i wonder...wil he ever come back.On 9 march 1957 my good father was born and on 26 july 2000 he had to leave us.As we all know that each and everyone of us is going to get our time of leaving our family;enemy's and friends.Me and my father had our good times and on the other hand our bad times and very bad times;but for what i know is that i will only try to remember the good times;cause there were more of the good times then the bad times.I know that i was sometimes wrong against my great father and i ask forgiveness every night of my live.All the bad things that I have done in my life;I already told him.Every night when I pray;I ask God to give me a chance to speak to my father.I tell him then evrything that happend that day allthough he have seen evrything.The message out of my review is to know that the person that you have lost in your life is always in your hart and that you can speak with him or her every day and night of your life.
