Urban Borderlands

Multiracial Histories and Gendered Borders in Los Angeles

By Isabela Seong Leong Quintana | Publisher: The University of North Carolina Press

About the book

Los Angeles in the late nineteenth century was bustling with the rise of industrialization, but the growing labor force that propelled it, mostly consisting of Mexican and Chinese men, was met with exclusion policies and deportation campaigns. Nevertheless, Chinese and Mexican women, children, and men built vibrant residential and business districts—until they were all but eradicated in the 1930s. In this compelling and textured history, Isabela Quintana unearths the entwined stories of Chinatown and Sonoratown through the everyday lives of their residents. As Quintana argues, their ordinary experiences illuminate the interlocking and gendered processes of racial segregation and border formation that built the Los Angeles we know today.

The blurry borders, geographic, cultural, and otherwise, between these communities—what Quintana calls urban borderlands—were less defined than official records would have us believe. Centering the lives of women and children, and the archival glimpses and silences that account for them, Quintana uncovers moments of familiarity, kinship, conflict, and collaboration born of proximity and shared space, particularly that of the Los Angeles Plaza. Revealing experiences of border policing, racial violence, and perceived foreignness, Quintana’s dynamic narrative offers an innovative approach to understanding the layered histories of urban renewal in Mexican and Chinese Los Angeles.

Editions of Urban Borderlands

Hardcover
ISBN 9781469675794
Paperback
ISBN 9781469675800
EBook
ISBN 9781469675817
PDF
ISBN 9781469687339

Read an Excerpt

Los Angeles in the late nineteenth century was bustling with the rise of industrialization, but the growing labor force that propelled it, mostly consisting of Mexican and Chinese men, was met with exclusion policies and deportation campaigns. Nevertheless, Chinese and Mexican women, children, and men built vibrant residential and business districts—until they were all but eradicated in the 1930s. In this compelling and textured history, Isabela Quintana unearths the entwined stories of Chinatown and Sonoratown through the everyday lives of their residents. As Quintana argues, their ordinary experiences illuminate the interlocking and gendered processes of racial segregation and border formation that built the Los Angeles we know today.

The blurry borders, geographic, cultural, and otherwise, between these communities—what Quintana calls urban borderlands—were less defined than official records would have us believe. Centering the lives of women and children, and the archival glimpses and silences that account for them, Quintana uncovers moments of familiarity, kinship, conflict, and collaboration born of proximity and shared space, particularly that of the Los Angeles Plaza. Revealing experiences of border policing, racial violence, and perceived foreignness, Quintana’s dynamic narrative offers an innovative approach to understanding the layered histories of urban renewal in Mexican and Chinese Los Angeles.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Urban Borderlands about?

Los Angeles in the late nineteenth century was bustling with the rise of industrialization, but the growing labor force that propelled it, mostly consisting of Mexican and Chinese men, was met with exclusion policies and deportation campaigns. Nevertheless, Chinese and Mexican women, children, and men built vibrant residential and business districts—until they were all but eradicated in the 1930s. In this compelling and textured history, Isabela Quintana unearths the entwined stories of Chinatown and Sonoratown through the everyday lives of their residents. As Quintana argues, their ordinary experiences illuminate the interlocking and gendered processes of racial segregation and border formation that built the Los Angeles we know today.

The blurry borders, geographic, cultural, and otherwise, between these communities—what Quintana calls urban borderlands—were less defined than official records would have us believe. Centering the lives of women and children, and the archival glimpses and silences that account for them, Quintana uncovers moments of familiarity, kinship, conflict, and collaboration born of proximity and shared space, particularly that of the Los Angeles Plaza. Revealing experiences of border policing, racial violence, and perceived foreignness, Quintana’s dynamic narrative offers an innovative approach to understanding the layered histories of urban renewal in Mexican and Chinese Los Angeles.

What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Urban Borderlands?

Society and Social Sciences > Society and culture: general > Social groups, communities and identities > Ethnic studies / Ethnicity

Where can I read a sample of Urban Borderlands?

You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9781469675794

How long is Urban Borderlands and how many pages does it have?

Urban Borderlands has 210 page(s)

Is Urban Borderlands part of a series, and can it be read as a standalone?

Yes it is a part of series Gender and American Culture

Who is/are the Author/s of the book Urban Borderlands?

Isabela Seong Leong Quintana

Who is the Publisher of the book Urban Borderlands?

The University of North Carolina Press

What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?

Urban Borderlands is available as hardcover(ISBN 9781469675794) and paperback(ISBN 9781469675800) and ebook(ISBN 9781469675817) and pdf(ISBN 9781469687339)

Where can I buy Urban Borderlands online or support local independent bookshops?

You can buy Urban Borderlands from below

Where can I buy Urban Borderlands?