The Shifting Grounds of Race

The Shifting Grounds of Race examines the complex relationship between Black and Japanese Americans in Los Angeles from the 1920s through the 1990s. The book tracks how these two communities navigated racial politics, economic opportunities, and civil rights movements in a rapidly changing city. Kurashige documents the distinct approaches each group took to advance their interests: Japanese Americans built economic power through business ownership despite being denied citizenship, while African Americans leveraged their citizenship status to pursue political influence. The narrative covers key periods including the Great Depression, World War II internment, and postwar civil rights era. The book analyzes how these communities both competed and cooperated while living in close proximity, challenging traditional racial narratives that focus solely on Black-white relations. Through extensive research and historical analysis, it reveals how both groups responded to and resisted white political dominance in Los Angeles. This historical account offers insights into how racial identity, citizenship status, and economic opportunity shaped the development of multicultural Los Angeles and continues to influence urban race relations today.

Readers describe this as a detailed academic examination of racial politics in Los Angeles during WWII and the postwar period. The book resonates with academics and those interested in urban studies, civil rights history, and Japanese American experiences. Readers appreciated: - Extensive archival research and documentation - Clear analysis of multiracial coalition building - Connection between local organizing and national movements - Fresh perspective on LA's civil rights era Common criticisms: - Dense academic writing style - Too much theoretical framing - Some sections move slowly - Limited accessibility for general readers Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (22 ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (8 ratings) One reader noted: "The research is impeccable but the prose can be challenging." Another commented: "This fills an important gap in LA history, though it requires careful reading." JStor reviews highlight the book's contribution to understanding interracial activism in postwar Los Angeles.

The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson The history of Black migration from the South to Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York illuminates the parallel patterns of racial discrimination and community formation across multiple American cities.

Japanese American Internment During World War II by Roger Daniels This documentation of Japanese American incarceration emphasizes the economic and political forces that shaped racial policy in the western United States.

City of Quartz by Mike Davis The transformation of Los Angeles through the 20th century reveals how racial politics, urban development, and economic shifts reshaped communities and power structures in Southern California.

American Exodus by James N. Gregory The migration patterns of white and non-white communities to California demonstrate the intersection of race, labor, and regional identity in the American West.

Black Power in the Suburbs by Andrew Wiese The movement of African Americans into suburban spaces after World War II presents the complex dynamics of housing, integration, and community formation in metropolitan areas.

🔸 Los Angeles' Little Tokyo and the African American community of Bronzeville briefly overlapped during WWII, when Japanese Americans were interned and African Americans moved into the vacant neighborhood. 🔸 The author Scott Kurashige received the prestigious Beveridge Award from the American Historical Association for this groundbreaking work in 2008. 🔸 During the 1920s and 1930s, Japanese Americans owned nearly 40% of Los Angeles' produce markets, creating significant economic influence despite facing legal discrimination. 🔸 The book reveals how both communities created powerful civil rights organizations - the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) and the Los Angeles NAACP - which sometimes collaborated but often pursued different strategies. 🔸 After the Watts Riots of 1965, Japanese American businesses were largely spared from damage due to positive relationships built with the local African American community over decades.