THE GEORGE GUND FOUNDATION IMPRINT IN AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDIES The Goerge Gund Foundation has endowed this imprint to advance understanding of the history, culture, and current issues of African Americans. The publisher gratefully acknowledges the generous support of the African American Studies Endowment Fund of the University of California Press Foundation, which was established by a major gift from the George Gund Foundation. Spaces of Conflict, Sounds of Solidarity AMERICAN CROSSROADS Edited by Earl Lewis, George Lipsitz, George Sánchez, Dana Takagi, Laura Briggs, and Nikhil Pal Singh Spaces of Conflict, Sounds of Solidarity Music, Race, and Spatial Entitlement in Los Angeles Gaye Theresa Johnson UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA PRESS Berkeley · Los Angeles · London The publisher gratefully acknowledges the generous support of the Lisa See Endowment Fund in Southern California History and Culture of the University of California Press Foundation. University of California Press, one of the most distinguished university presses in the United States, enriches lives around the world by advancing scholarship in the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. Its activities are supported by the UC Press Foundation and by philanthropic contributions from individuals and institutions. For more information, visit www.ucpress.edu. University of California Press Berkeley and Los Angeles, California University of California Press, Ltd. London, England © 2013 by The Regents of the University of California Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Johnson, Gaye Theresa. Spaces of Conflict, sounds of solidarity : music, race, and spatial entitlement in Los Angeles / Gaye Theresa Johnson. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references. ISBN 978-0-520-27527-0—ISBN 978-0-520-27528-7 eISBN: 9780520954854 1. Los Angeles (Calif.)—Race relations—History. 2. Minorities— California—Los Angeles—Social conditions. 3. Minorities—Political activity —California—Los Angeles—History. 4. Community development— California—Los Angeles—History. 5. Popular music—Social aspects— California—Los Angeles. 6. Los Angeles (Calif.)—Social conditions. I. Title. F869.L89A2533 2013 979.4’94-dc23 2012039813 Manufactured in the United States of America 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 In keeping with a commitment to support environmentally responsible and sustainable printing practices, UC Press has printed this book on Rolland Enviro100, a 100% post-consumer fiber paper that is FSC certified, deinked, processed chlorine-free, and manufactured with renewable biogas energy. It is acid-free and EcoLogo certified. For Mary Ella and Theresita, for Shanti and Fauna, for Clyde . . . with thanks. For Juanita and Hymon, for abiding love and faith. For Chuck and our Cayeloncita, for always. Contents Introduction: The Future Has a Past 1. Luisa Moreno, Charlotta Bass, and the Constellations of Interethnic Working-Class Radicalism 2. Spatial Entitlement: Race, Displacement, and Sonic Reclamation in Postwar Los Angeles 3. Cold Wars and Counter WAR(s): Coalitional Politics in an Age of Violence 4. “Teeth-Gritting Harmony”: Punk, Hip-Hop, and Sonic Spatial Politics 5. Space, Sound, and Shared Struggles Conclusion: In This Great Future. . . Acknowledgments Selected Bibliography Index