October 22nd, 12pm-1pm Sexson Auditorium
It was an interesting Southland “coincidence.” While Japanese Americans were detained in concentration camps during World War II, African Americans migrating into LA’s defense jobs had limited housing opportunities. Thus, Blacks occupied Little Tokyo. This was the temporary community of Bronzeville. After the Japanese Americans returned to Los Angeles, Blacks and Japanese lived side by side for a few years. Dr. Hillary Jenks is Assistant Professor of Interdisciplinary Studies at Portland State University. Her research on Bronzeville forces us to rethink race relations in Los Angeles.