Seeking Community in a Global City: Guatemalans and Salvadorans in Los Angeles

by Professor of Political Science Nora Hamilton, Norma Stoltz Chinchilla

Diven by the pressures of poverty and civil strife at home, large numbers of Central Americans came to the Los Angeles area during the 1980's. Neither purely economic migrants, though they were in search of stable work, nor official refugees, although they carried the scars of war and persecution, Guatemalans and Salvadorans were even denied the aid given to refugees such as Cubans and Vietnamese. In addition, these immigrants sought refuge in a city undergoing massive economic and demographic shifts of its own. The result was - and is - a complex interaction that will help to reconceptualize the migration experience. Based on twenty years of work with the Los Angeles Central American community and filled with facts, figures, and personal narratives, Seeking Community in a Global City presents this saga from many perspectives. The authors examine the forces in Central America that sent thousands of people streaming across international borders. They discuss economic, political, and demographic changes in the Los Angeles region and the difficulties the new immigrants faced in negotiating a new, urban environment. They look at family roles, networking, work strategies, and inter-ethn

292 pages, Hardcover

First published March 21, 2001

Reviews

[William · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good overview of a group of people who are often erased from the political and historical narrative in Los Angeles and the United States.

[Chuy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seeking Community in a Global City tells the story of Central American migrants, mainly from Guatemala and El Salvador, who came to Los Angeles in the 1980s. They fled war and hardship but weren’t given the support other refugees received. The book uses research and personal stories to show how they built new lives in a changing city. Though it's a sociological study, I read it more as a history book of people escaping violence and starting over. What’s tragic is the millions who fled received little asylum due to the U.S. refusing to acknowledge them as refugees, instead as “economic migrants” to avoid their direct role in the instability in their home country.

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite books that focuses on Salvadoran and Guatemalan immigration to the U.S. It also chronicles social justice struggles involving both communities such as the early Sanctuary movement, the street vending debacle of the late 80s early 90s, central american student groups on campus (Back when Oxy was less of crappy school), among other things.