AP+2016+Los+Angeles+in+1980's

Aim By: Sanne Casello

During the 1980s, Los Angeles, specifically South Los Angeles, was a crime filled area. Through the Los Angeles police department, the aim of the city at this time was to end the prominent gang activity and drug trade. An L.A. Times article states, “The crack epidemic rolled through some lives like a wildfire and burned slowly through others over years. Crack steered fathers to jail, lured mothers into the streets and left children to raise themselves in neighborhoods bristling with despair and anger” (Banks). Although a small percentage of the population did hold a wholesome and crime-free life, many were bound to corruption through their crack cocaine drug addictions. To clean up the city, many of the goals set by the city government of the time was to aid the police force in cracking down on gang activity and drug use.

Audience By: Sanne Casello

The demographic of the population of Los Angeles in the 1980s was very widespread. Prior to Second Great Migration in the 1940s, a vast number of black americans migrated to Los Angeles increasing the black population by almost five times what it was previously. During the 1980s, the migration of black americans had subsided, but was replaced with that of Asian and Mexican immigrants. A New York Times article published at the times state's, “Layer by layer, the racial and ethnic structure of the nation's second largest city is being transformed by rising immigration from Asia and Latin America” (Cummings). This increase in migrants and immigrants increased the poverty line in Los Angeles. This change in politics, in combination with the crack cocaine epidemic, turned parts of Los Angeles, such as South Los Angeles neighborhoods into places of great poverty. Although the wealthy and middle class in Los Angeles enjoyed the great luxuries available to them, much of the population was caught in gang activity and poverty.

Historical By: Sanne Casello

Los Angeles in the 1980’s was a dangerous place. In the early 1980’s, the majority of cocaine was shipped to Miami from the Dominican Islands. However, due to the surplus of the drug, drug dealers decided to convert the drug from a powder to a solid called crack. This solid quickly travelled all around America, in particular, Los Angeles. This introduction to such a powerful drug caused a crack epidemic that came on full-force in 1984. This not only increased hospital related emergencies by 12%, but also increased the already present gang activity. These newly formed gangs were different, however, as they were mainly focused around territory and crime unlike the Black Panther Party and Brown Berets. An article on gang history in Los Angeles states, “The beginning of the Crack Epidemic only worsened the effect, as the number of gang sets increased into the hundreds and spread out throughout the country. The neighborhoods of South Central became very separated at this time” (Web). The safety of Los Angeles in this time was in shambles and molded the Los Angeles of today.

Cultural By: Sanne Casello

After surpassing Chicago for second largest city in the country with a population of 3,005,072, Los Angeles was a mixing pot of culture. At this time, the Paisley Underground movement was in full swing. This movement involved a new genre of punk rock introducing an alternative attitude to Los Angeles. Additionally, Wolfgang Puck opened Spago on the Sunset Strip which inspired a new era of cuisine in Los Angeles. Holding the Olympics for the second time the summer of 1984, exercise and healthy living was promoted to the upper class. Additionally, film had a prominent effect on the culture of Los Angeles as it was a top place in the United States to pursue a career in film and design. However, in parallel to the rich neighborhoods of Los Angeles, South Los Angeles was in deep poverty. A novel on gang activity in Los Angeles states, “Widespread unemployment, poverty and street crime contributed to the rise of street gangs in South Central, such as the Crips and Bloods. They became even more powerful with money from drugs, especially the crack cocaine trade, dominated by gangs in the 1980s” (Hunt). Therefore, Los Angeles was a very diverse area with a great separation of wealth creating varying culture in the rich and poor neighborhoods.

Works Cited

Web, Gary. "Gang History." South Central History. 1999. Web. 6 Jan. 2016.

"Historical Timeline of Los Angeles." Discover Los Angeles. Web. 6 Jan. 2016.

Hunt, Darnell M. //Black Los Angeles American Dreams and Racial Realities//. New York: New York UP, 2010. Print.

Cummings, Judith. "CHANGING DEMOGRAPHICS, AND POLITICS, IN LOS ANGELES." The New York Times. The New York Times, 23 Aug. 1986. Web. 6 Jan. 2016.

"The Crack Epidemic's Toxic Legacy." Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times, 7 Aug. 2010. Web. 6 Jan. 2016.

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