History of the City of Inglewood

The city of Inglewood has a rich history which is largely the outcome of the interaction of different racial groups such as whites, blacks, Asians and Latinos. However, Inglewood is home to a considerably larger number of African Americans than any other ethnic community. For that reason, it is accurate to argue that the city’s growth has been largely the outcome of the efforts of blacks. The strategic location of Inglewood in relation to the Los Angeles Airport has played a major role in promoting the city’s economic development and stability. Across L.A., land use is valued either for intrinsic use or the potential market yield. To some residents, Inglewood has is home and plays a special role in promoting their overall wellbeing whether psychologically, spiritually, emotionally, as well as socially. On the other hand, there is the aspect of being market-oriented whereby gentrification continues to threaten the city’s social fabric through increasing rental rates. While most residents are not likely to gay pay rise, they can no longer afford the houses they have been living in for years. African Americans have made a genuine contribution to the growth of the city of Inglewood trying to establish a balance between a homely environment and limiting the overbearing impact of business-oriented ventures such as real estate. 

Racial Makeup 

Inglewood’s racial makeup encompasses the interaction of different communities which have been instrumental in promoting the city’s growth. The migration of African Americans to Los Angeles occurred in large numbers after the beginning of the 20 th century. The numbers continued to grow doubling up decade after decade and as at 1940, the black community comprised of about 4% of L.A.’s total population (Sonksen, 2018). However, prior to black occupation, Inglewood was largely home to Spanish settlers which explains the famous building, Cantelina Adope, that is situated on Rancho Agape de la Canteline. Ignacio Machado, a son of one of the Spanish soldiers who were protecting the first settlers from Mexico, built the house in 1834. Inglewood is regarded as one of the first settlements which was “carved out of the 25,000-acre Cantelina Ranch in 1888 shortly after a railroad station had been built in the area” (City History, n.d., para. 3). In particular, the city’s emergence was attributed to Spanish settlement, but this would later change following immigration of other communities such as African Americans at the start of the 20 th century. The mass migration of blacks to L.A. would later change the face of this particular region following the introduction of a new culture. 

Despite the increase in numbers of African Americans, their experiences were not pleasant following restrictive housing covenants – housing covenants were agreements and conditions which set the rent rate high thereby undermining affordability by members of the black community. Sonksen (2018) noted that, “In the wake of the Executive Order 8802, hundreds of thousands of blacks migrated to Los Angeles to work in the newly opened defense industries.” However, subsequent overcrowding led to the emergence of the housing crisis which became L.A.’s number one issue at the time. The greater the growth of the black population, the tighter the restrictive housing covenants grew thereby limiting the places where African Americans could live (Sonksen, 2018). In support, Patel et al. (2019), of the New York Times, gave the account of Timothy Wynn (a former worker in retail and banking), whose parents came to L.A. escaping segregation and seeking a middle-class standard of living. At the time Mr. Wynn and his family were migrating to L.A., Inglewood and other parts of the region were booming. However, Mr. Wynn’s family came into Inglewood during a time when discrimination and racism were at the peak. In consequence, there was restriction of black families to particular neighborhoods especially following discriminative housing and mortgage lending practices (Patel et al., 2019, para. 7). Therefore, segregation appears to have shaped the outcomes of blacks living in L.A., a reality that still has considerable effects even on the modern day. Mr. 

Inglewood became a predominantly black city during the late 1960s and early 1970s following the migration of whites from L.A. Schneider (2008) explained that during the 1960s, L.A. was majorly a white city, but two decades later, they fled the city in search of more conservative communities whereby the racial makeup was not as diverse as it was in LA. The anticipated effect of white flight was that the African American community would become dominant in the area taking large proportions of the city’s economic opportunities. However, the migration of whites from L.A. had far reaching consequences that undermined the wellbeing of those that were left. Sonksen (2018) noted that white flight led to a plant closures accompanied by black unemployment and rising poverty rates in the next decades. These conditions further catalyzed polarization in low- and semi-skilled employment sectors among African Americans. The conditions were also responsible for the emergence of the crack cocaine economy whereby the sale of crack was considered to have a high profit margin. The deterioration of parts of L.A. following the leaving of whites had other effects as well. Schneider (2008) stated that, “ Whites abandoned central cities, and as a consequence, the school systems of those urban areas began to reflect their populations—struggling, under-resourced, and non-white” (p. 995). Therefore, as the city of Inglewood, for instance, became a predominantly black community, the standard of living did not reflect what it was during white occupation. 

A critical assessment of Inglewood’s history with regard to its racial composition reveals that African Americans had great expectation in terms of a good standard of living. Their motivation was that they could find employment opportunities in L.A. after which they could acquire the middle-class lifestyle. However, being that there was continued racism across the country, whites were unwilling to share the city with blacks or any other racial groups for that matter. Therefore, their fleeing from Inglewood and other parts of L.A. led to the emergence of a substandard lifestyle among the blacks. Based on these outcomes, it was difficult for members of the black community to upgrade their lifestyle due to limited employment opportunities, among other resources. 

The Effects of Gentrification 

Inglewood is in the top-flight to becoming one of America’s greatest cities. However, such aspirations have varied consequences some of which are threatening to change racial composition of the city. Jennings (2019) cited that “A surge of economic development is wiping away [Inglewood’s] reputation as a battle zone for rival gangs and promises to remake the city not only into a sports and entertainment mecca but also a cultural destination” (para. 2). Notably, the issue of gang wars has been a crippling reality especially in South Central Los Angeles whereby there is a great disconnect between and among racial communities. However, the gangs are largely due to the effects of the white flight which led to the emergence of the crack cocaine economy which persists even in the modern day. An assessment of the relationship between Korean Americans and African Americans in the region provides a clear image of the racial tension in South Central whose effects trickle down to Inglewood. The author of a book, Koreans in the Hood: Conflict with African Americans , Kwang Chung Kim, gives a description of the unfriendly relations between the two races. Kim (1999) noted that the racial tension is the outcome of class, racial consciousness, educational background, and historical experiences. Of these factors, racial consciousness has been identified as a major factor that propels the antagonism between Asians and other racial groups such as African Americans. The bone of contention is that among African Americans, there is a negative attitude toward Korean American merchants. They feel that Korean Americans have been accorded an advantage that they were denied decades ago hence their substandard status in L.A. Comparatively, Kim (1999) observed that most African Americans in Inglewood put blame on institutionalized racism for impeding progress among members of the black community. Such kind of reasoning was identified as being the foundation of African American negative attitudes toward Asians. 

While Inglewood is not shy of issues pertaining racial tensions between and among the city’s diverse ethnic groups, gentrification looks to forcefully evict black residents from the city. Understandably, the negative attitudes that African Americans have toward Asians could be the outcome of such a factor as gentrification which promotes profit-oriented initiatives that disregard the social wellbeing of the city’s occupants. Jennings (2019) gave the story of 67-year-old Donald Martin who has lived in Inglewood for over two decades but was given a notice of 60 days to vacate. Tomisha Pinson also faced similar circumstances after her rent surged from $1,145 to $2,725 because she borders the new L.A. rams and Chargers stadium. Aged 43 years and a mother of two, Pinson complained stating, “It makes you feel pushed out, like, ‘We don’t need you guys no more, the upper class is going to be moving in” (Jennings, 2019, para. 6). The situation gets even more sensitive being that Pinson takes in foster children implying her positive effect on Inglewood with regard to providing care to disadvantaged members of the society. Jordan (2017) explained that while gentrification looks to revamp the city’s image, there is a need to address the critical issues such as displacement of those who have called the city home for years. There are concerns that when money is coming into Inglewood, the result will be squeezing out of a target of residents such as Martin and Pinson. Jordan (2017) explained that, “Inglewood homeowners and commercial real estate landlords are already seeing increased property values, and many speculative investors have placed sharp focus on the area” (para. 13). The expected outcome will be growth in rent which will push those who cannot afford the new rates out of Inglewood. Hence, gentrification appears to threaten Inglewood’s social fabric through establishing a new culture that is based purely on the pursuit of high-profit margins as the real sector in the city continues to experience a major boom. 

Erin Aubry Kaplan of the L.A. Times gave an account of her experience with gentrification which is, to some degree, being mirrored by the movement of whites back to Inglewood. As mentioned earlier, the white flight left Inglewood and other parts of L.A. largely deteriorated as employment opportunities plunged thereby pushing the black community into poverty. The dream of a middle-class kind of life for such an individual as Mr. Wynn was far from being realized at the time. Currently, gentrification is threatening to have a similar impact on black residents. Likening the movement of whites back into Inglewood as a form of gentrification, Kaplan (2017) cited that such from such advance, “working-class and lower-income people across the county stand to lose a lot,” and that “Black people in particular will feel the sting” (para. 3). The growing concern is that gentrification will create conditions that promote the segregation of blacks following their inability to match the new rent rates as the outcome of the city’s acquisition of a new image. Jordan (2019) emphasized that about 64% of Inglewood residents who are renters will not be granted home equity through price-appreciation. While these individuals face considerable rent increases, there is no guarantee that they will be safe when such changes come into effect. Already, Martin and Pinson are good examples of members of the black community who have experienced the direct effect of gentrification. These individuals are likely to lose their homes, an outcome that mirrors the reality that blacks faced during the period of the white flight. 

City Statistics and Community Organizations 

The racial composition of Inglewood is, to some extent, an outcome of its historic development. A look at population data shows that the ethnic composition is divide among Hispanics, African Americans, Whites and other hybrid races. For instance, Hispanics comprise of about 51.4% compared to African Americans who stand at 40.9% followed by whites at 4.13k. Individuals who are from one or two more races are about 1.78% which cumulatively, Asians make up 1.49% of Inglewood’s population (Inglewood, n.d.). Based on the data given, one can observe that Hispanics are the dominant population in Inglewood. The median age among natives is 28, while that of foreign-born individuals is 47. The median household income as at 2017 stood at $46,389 among 36.500 households, a rise from $44,377. When it comes to home ownership, there was about 35.8% home ownership in 2017 compared to 34.7% in 2016 signaling a rise in individuals’ capacity to buy houses (Inglewood, n.d.). Further, the change can also be attributed to their ability access mortgage lending facilities. The Asian community appears to be the highest earners with an annual income of about $65,946 compared to that of whites and individuals of two or more races standing at $59,925 and $49,289 respectively. A look at the wage distribution could be used to explain the city’s poverty by race whereby Hispanics are most affected, followed by individuals of other races, and ranking third is the African American community (Inglewood, n.d.). 

The city’s statistics reveal that Inglewood is majorly occupied by Hispanics who, unfortunately, lead in poverty rates. African Americans rank third which could be the outcome of their low numbers with regard to Inglewood’s ethnic composition. For the case of Asians, they are highly involved in businesses which provides them an opportunity to have a stable source of income. In support, Kim (1999) explained that among African Americans there have been complaints regarding their representation in the business sector in Inglewood. He explained that African Americans wanted more African American-owned businesses expressing their anger and frustration over the overrepresentation of businesses under the ownership of Korean Americans. Such concerns have been integral in shaping racial relations between African Americans and Korean Americans in Inglewood. Further, while the source consulted is approximately a decade old, one can observe its validity in that, based on current data, Asians are leaders as they are higher earners in Inglewood. The distribution of income signals an existing disparity with regard to access to business opportunities among African Americans alongside the level of educational attainment. Additionally, the pervasiveness of gang-related activities could also be a factor influencing the plight of African Americans in Inglewood. 

According to the U.S. Department of Commerce (1987) black adults in Inglewood recorded the highest level of completing high school. However, such a statistic does not appear to have much effect in modern-day Inglewood. The city statistics presented earlier reflect a dim picture for African Americans who rank third with regard to poverty rates in the city. Further, gentrification appears to threaten members of the community through promoting hikes in rent rates making it impossible for previous owners to continue affording their apartments. Such changes have shaken the ethnic composition in Inglewood pushing African Americans toward migration in search for cheaper locations where the rent is not as exaggerated as it is in Inglewood. In response to the growing concerns over high rates of black unemployment in the city, various community organizations have been established. One good example is the Clean360 Bath & Body Store/Factory whose focus is on providing employment opportunities to individuals who are facing employment challenges. According to the organization’s Senior Regional Director, Yusef Andre Wiley, Clean360 is a multi-service firm that operates three health centers, two factories and three Clean360 stores (“African American Based”, 2017). The decision to venture across different fields is focused on increasing employment opportunities for marginalized communities among which are African Americans. 

The California Black Women’s Health Project is yet another example of a community organization that is focused on improving the lives of African Americans in Inglewood. However, the organization’s focus is on black women. The services provided focus on the lived experiences of African American women with regard to the social, historical, and systemic factors that have affected them negatively. The group is geared to help black women deal with mental and emotional self-healing, whose effects extend toward their families and communities (California Black Women’s Health Project, n.d.). For such an organization, the idea is to empower women such as through giving them access to avenues they can share their experiences and acquire the needed intervention. The group addresses such cases as domestic violence, discrimination, the effect of being a single mother, among others. With regard to the larger context of Inglewood, having a stable and enabled body of African American women will most likely promote positive outcomes for the rest of the community. For instance, access to educational opportunities can help raise the status of African American households such as through the level of income. Further, one can anticipate other changes such as stable families with access to necessary resources such as food, shelter, clothing, transportation, and health insurance to reduce poverty. 

Conclusion 

Despite the lack of sufficient resources addressing the history of Inglewood, gathered evidence is credible as it presents an accurate representation of the city’s development. The dominant ethnic community are Hispanics, which traces back to when Spanish soldiers occupied the land; Inglewood was part of a 25,000-acre ranch called Cantelina Ranch in 1888. Since then Hispanics have continued to enjoy the status of the most dominant ethnic community in the city. However, the migration of African Americans into the city followed by white flight created an opportunity for blacks to become the second-most concentrated community in Inglewood. However, white flight let to deterioration of standards of living following plant closures leading to unavailability of employment opportunities for African Americans. Apart from that, Korean Americans seem to have established their position across L.A. such as through business, a concern for African Americans. Gentrification seems to threaten blacks who have been living in Inglewood for years through hikes in rent. Apart from that, the migration of whites back into the city could also have far-reaching effects such as undermining the position of African Americans with regard to employment opportunities. Such possibilities should be discussed to help in finding measures that can secure the position of African Americans in Inglewood. 

References 

African American based social enterprise Clean360 brings new employment opportunities to Inglewood . (2017, September 25). https://rootsclinic.org/african-american-based-social-enterprise-clean360-brings-new-employment-opportunities-to-inglewood/ 

California Black Women’s Health Project. (n.d.). Our Impact. https://www.cabwhp.org/our-impact.html 

City History. (n.d.). https://www.cityofinglewood.org/512/City-History 

Jennings, A. (2019, April 19). Must reads: One of California’s last black enclaves threatened by Inglewood’s stadium deal. L.A. Times . https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-inglewood-gentrification-rent-crenshaw-rams-stadium-20190410-htmlstory.html 

Jordan, K. (2017, July 24). What happens when two NFL teams come to town? Inglewood, CA, is about to find out. Forbes . https://www.forbes.com/sites/bisnow/2017/07/24/what-happens-when-two-nfl-teams-come-to-town-inglewood-ca-is-about-to-find-out/#4b27b5b24816 

Kaplan, E. (2017, November 26). Whites are moving back to Inglewood. There goes our neighborhood. LA Times . https://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-kaplan-inglewood-gentrification-20171126-story.html 

Kim, K. (1999). Koreans in the Hood: Conflict with African Americans . JHU Press. 

Patel, J., Arango, T., Singhivi, A. & Huang, J. (2019, December 22). Black, homeless and burdened by L.A.’s legacy of racism. New York Times . https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/12/22/us/los-angeles-homeless-black-residents.html 

Schneider, J. (2008). Escape from Los Angeles: White Flight from Los Angeles and Its Schools, 1960-1980 .  Journal of Urban History ,  34 (6), 995-1012.  https://doi.org/10.1177/0096144208317600 

Sonksen, M. (2018). Inglewood today: The history of South-Central Los Angeles and its struggle with gentrification. USC Lusk. https://lusk.usc.edu/news/inglewood-todaythe-history-south-central-los-angeles-and-its-struggle-gentrification 

U.S. Department of Commerce. (1987). Summary characteristics of the black population for states and selected counties and places, 1980 . Bureau of the Census.