By: Patty Hori, GVJCI-NCI Intern
Many Japanese Americans have grown up listening to the stories of their ancestors telling about their lives in the United States Government-run concentration camps during World War II, but what happened to the many Japan-towns along the west coast after Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066? Little Tokyo, Los Angeles did not just stop operating because Japanese Americans were forced out. In fact, an entirely new culture arose during the three years in a town known as Bronzeville.
Incarceration and World War II occurred during the same time; with about 120,000 Japanese Americans evacuated from their homes, there was an enormous shortage of war-related industrial workers along the West Coast and many vacant apartments. Since laws were passed prohibiting Japanese Americans to own property, the non-Japanese landowners needed a way to attract tenants into their once Japanese-dominated apartment complexes. A meeting was held among the landowners of Little Tokyo and the initial idea was to open them up to Latin Americans, but before they began to execute their plan, a huge wave of Southern ("Bible Belt") African Americans migrated into an unsuspecting Little Tokyo. Hearing of the Japanese incarceration in the West, African Americans envisioned this move as their opportunity to not only escape the cruel Jim Crow Laws dominating the South, but also to work in the factories abandoned by Japanese Americans.
Incarceration and World War II occurred during the same time; with about 120,000 Japanese Americans evacuated from their homes, there was an enormous shortage of war-related industrial workers along the West Coast and many vacant apartments. Since laws were passed prohibiting Japanese Americans to own property, the non-Japanese landowners needed a way to attract tenants into their once Japanese-dominated apartment complexes. A meeting was held among the landowners of Little Tokyo and the initial idea was to open them up to Latin Americans, but before they began to execute their plan, a huge wave of Southern ("Bible Belt") African Americans migrated into an unsuspecting Little Tokyo. Hearing of the Japanese incarceration in the West, African Americans envisioned this move as their opportunity to not only escape the cruel Jim Crow Laws dominating the South, but also to work in the factories abandoned by Japanese Americans.
 | The influx of new African Americans did not occur without repercussions. Prior to World War II, Little Tokyo housed about 30,000 people; after the signing of Executive Order 9066 nearly 80,000 people (majority African American and some Latin Americans) filled up these vacancies. With nearly three-times as many people now living in the once Little Tokyo, it was plagued by overcrowding and as a result disease, more specifically communicable diseases. The once Japanese-run city morphed into a typical American urban neighborhood. Every apartment was stuffed with families and living conditions deteriorated. |
| Parents worked long hours and children had to rely on older siblings and social welfare to take care of them after school. Racially-based crime sky-rocketed as Los Angeles quickly became among the most diverse cities in America and as Los Angeles also became temporary stomping grounds for the many white servicemen defending the United States. Misunderstandings arose and racially-charged young adults began to feud. In the infamous Zoot Suit Riots in June 1943, African American 23 year-old Lewis W. Jackson, a young resident of Bronzeville was attacked by servicemen for wearing a zoot suit, which were wide-legged pants tightened at the ankle and a sleeved jacket down to their fingertips. During this era, zoot suits became a symbol of rebellious youths among racial minorities. Eventually, the Zoot Suit Riots led Mayor Fletcher Brown to call a unity meeting of Los Angeles. |  |
However, many notable cultural shifts also occurred in Bronzeville. World War II demanded industrial workers to work 24-hour shifts, which made Bronzeville a thriving hive of activity between the graveyard and day shifts. Therefore, night life in Bronzeville became increasingly competitive with the long-established and already-famous clubs in downtown Los Angeles. Many of the Bronzeville club owners found it profitable to remain open into the morning hours, which gave rise to the term Breakfast Clubs. Breakfast Clubs in Bronzeville became hubs of African American music and culture and helped kick-start notable musician's careers. Among the most famous clubs that had their roots in Bronzeville were Shepp's Playhouse, Finale Club, and the Cobra Room. Breakfast Clubs had performances by famous musicians like Coleman Hawkins, T-Bone Walker, and Bronzeville's very own Charlie Parker; they even hosted A-list celebrities like Helen Humes, Julie Garland, and Gene Kelly. Bronzeville demonstrated how much influence a group of people could have under shared passions and community.
Upon the release of Japanese Americans from incarceration camps, they came back to their former home to find it drastically different from how they left it. As the war ended, industrial jobs were no longer needed and many African Americans found themselves unemployed, so many left to seek other career opportunities. The returning Japanese Americans re-opened their shops and businesses and bought out Bronzeville business leases. However, there were occasional instances where lawsuits ensued. In the court case involving the Nishi Hongwanji, non-Japanese Buddhist Minister Julius Goldwater cared after the temple and rented it out to various institutions including a Baptist Church, but Nishi Hongwanji refused to renew leases after January 5, 1945. In revolt, the Baptist Association sued the temple, but it was dismissed in September 1950. Understandably, it was difficult for institutions to give up their land claims to a group whom they had no connection with; so even after the 'end' of Japanese American incarceration, our ancestors were not done fighting for their freedom. Even today, Little Tokyo is under siege by corporate companies and franchises ready to buy out lands and alter the community feel of Little Tokyo. We cannot allow our ancestors' hard fight to end just because they are no longer here. Their spirit, determination, and need for change still remains within Little Tokyo and must be defended for decades to come.
Bronzeville, Los Angeles was a brief three-year moment in history, but was filled with incredible stories about the harms of urbanization, its powerful influence in popular and musical culture, and the aftermath of World War II in Little Tokyo. It's often a forgotten time in Los Angeles, but as Japanese Americans, we should not only remember the fight that occurred within the barbed wire fences of concentration camps or the literal battles on foreign soils, but also appreciate the non-Japanese minorities who brought their own unique cultures into Little Tokyo to influence a community that is truly Japanese American.
Bronzeville, Los Angeles was a brief three-year moment in history, but was filled with incredible stories about the harms of urbanization, its powerful influence in popular and musical culture, and the aftermath of World War II in Little Tokyo. It's often a forgotten time in Los Angeles, but as Japanese Americans, we should not only remember the fight that occurred within the barbed wire fences of concentration camps or the literal battles on foreign soils, but also appreciate the non-Japanese minorities who brought their own unique cultures into Little Tokyo to influence a community that is truly Japanese American.
For more information, check out some of these awesome websites:
http://bronzeville-la.ltsc.org/
http://encyclopedia.densho.org/Little_Tokyo_/_Bronzeville,_Los_Angeles,_California/
http://www.npr.org/2017/02/19/516064700/how-little-tokyo-of-los-angeles-changed-into-bronzeville-and-back-again
http://bronzeville-la.ltsc.org/
http://encyclopedia.densho.org/Little_Tokyo_/_Bronzeville,_Los_Angeles,_California/
http://www.npr.org/2017/02/19/516064700/how-little-tokyo-of-los-angeles-changed-into-bronzeville-and-back-again
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