Death of a Suburban Dream Race and Schools in Compton, California

Emily E. Straus, "Death of a Suburban Dream: Race and Schools in Compton, California "
English | ISBN: 0812245989 | 2014 | 328 pages | EPUB | 1389 KB
Compton, California, is often associated in the public mind with urban America’s toughest problems, including economic disinvestment, gang violence, and failing public schools. Before it became synonymous with inner-city decay, however, Compton’s affordability, proximity to manufacturing jobs, and location ten miles outside downtown Los Angeles made it attractive to aspiring suburbanites seeking single-family homes and quality schools. As Compton faced challenges in the twentieth century, and as the majority population shifted from white to African American and then to Latino, the battle for control over the school district became symbolic of Compton’s economic, social, and political crises.