UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA Santa Barbara El Barrio Lindo: Chicana/o and Latinx Social Space in Postindustrial Los Angeles A dissertation submitted in partial satisfaction of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Sociology by Jonathan Daniel Gomez Committee in charge: Professor George Lipsitz, Chair Professor Jon Cruz Professor Gaye Theresa Johnson January 2018 ! This dissertation of Jonathan Daniel Gomez is approved. ____________________________________________ Jon Cruz ____________________________________________ Gaye Theresa Johnson ____________________________________________ George Lipsitz, Committee Chair September 2017 El Barrio Lindo: Chicana/o and Latinx Social Space in Postindustrial Los Angeles Copyright © 2018 by Jonathan D. Gomez ! iii! Dedication This project is dedicated to every social justice seeker that has carved out spaces for us to congregate, organize, and mobilize for freedom. This is for my first teachers. For my Big Dad, David R. Carrillo, who began working full days as a farmworker after the third grade, who proudly worked the ten-inch mill at Bethlehem Steel in Los Angeles, California for thirty years, who sat me on his lap to tell me stories about what it was like to be a pachuco in East Los Angeles in the early 1940s, who always did so much to ensure that we never had to miss a meal. For my Big Mom, Lydia Carrillo, who was pushed out of school after the fourth grade because she did not have shoes, who smiled whenever she reminisced about being a pachuca in East Los Angeles, who invited neighbors less fortunate than us into our home to share a meal, who showered me with love, and who made sure that we always stood together. This is for my Nina, Sandra Carrillo, a tough Chicana with a rebel spirit and a lot of guts, who gives me nothing but cariño and honest advice. For uncle Bob (RIP), who use to remind me to be who I needed to be and to never be ashamed of what that was. For my aunty Viv, who always gives me blessings and does not let me leave any visit without letting me know that she loves me. For my nino Frank (RIP), who was a joker, an artist, and a giant presence in my life. For my Nini and uncle Bert, who opened their home to me when it was needed most, and who continue to be my biggest fans. For my cousins Greg and Dave, two brothers who shared their room with me and always informed everyone on the schoolyard that I was their baby cousin. For my primas hermanas, Lil and Steph, who always root for me, show me big love, and always save a seat for me at the table. For my primo hermano Frank G. Anaya II, who taught me how to stand tall, stand strong, and who always reminds me that the barrio is in the heart. This is for my big brother, Henry D. Gomez, who took me for rides on the rear pegs of his bicycle down Hammel Street hill, who taught me how to put my nose under a pop fly to get the out, and who took me to his math classes at USC to “see what college is like” when I was only a boy. For my sister-in-law Danielle, who stands tall no matter what. For my nephew Jacob, who is a mighty force of light and love in my life. For my god son Adam, whose entrance into this world changed the direction of my life for the better, and who makes me proud to be his nino. This is for my Sissy, Kimberly D. Gomez, who watched over me on the school playground, who never let me go without anything I needed, and who continues to meet me beyond half ways. Most of all, though, this is for my marvelous mother, Diane J. Gomez. When life seemed uncertain her strength and persistence to make sure we had what we needed made me feel safe and sound. Through thick and thin, she always showed up, and continues to. She has taught me so much about taking hold of opportunities, caring for others, and giving thanks for each day and night. We do not choose who we are born to, but I thank the heavens that I was born to her. She is the best. I have a village behind me. I am so thankful for the love and support I have received coming up, and that I continue to receive. I come from a sturdy stock of barrio people who give it their all and then some. My first teachers have given me so much. I am blessed. ¡Gracias! ! iv! Acknowledgements The dissertation before you is the product of a collective effort. But there are people who have really had my back and rolled with me. Ana Maria Gallegos holds it down, showing me by example that an engaged educator means listening and learning from those that we are assigned to teach. She reminds me to keep poetry and art at the center of daily life. She asks what she can do to help, and always follows through. Her love, through thick and thin, up- close and far away, in waking life as in dreams, is marvelous like the music of Brenton Woods- I share this triumph with her! Our dear gata Dolores kept me company as I wrote at all hours of the day. Jorge Ramirez and Ismael Illescas shared heart, voice, food, and drink with me, encouraged me to keep going, and invited me to take part in important conversations about the Black Radical Tradition. These friends have helped me to stand tall through the good and bad of this process. I am proud to say that together we continue to figure out how to walk with “modest audacity.” These life forces have blessed me with more than they know. Jordan T. Camp helped me develop my undergraduate senior thesis into a writing sample for the graduate school application. He was selfless in the amount of time he gave to me to sharpen my ideas and questions. To this day, he continues to inspire me with his scholarship and vision. Bridget Harr helped me to make it through the early rounds of graduate school at UCSB. Sociology cohort buddies and comrades in the struggle, I am so grateful for her kindness, big heart and brains. Tomas Carrasco helped me to delve into the poetics of life each time he invited me to the stage. Steven Osuna and Daniel Olmos welcomed me to Santa Barbara, and made sure to include me in their circle of critical reading and friendship. Denise Segura and Victor Rios were wonderful first year mentors in the sociology department. They always showed great support throughout the entire process. Jon Cruz, Gaye T. Johnson, and George Lipsitz formed my committee dream team. No question was ever too small or too big for them to tend to. I am thankful for all their mentorship and guidance. Howard Winant has been a wonderful teacher. He has always kept his door open to me. I am grateful for the lessons I learned from him as his Teaching Assistant and as his Research Assistant at the UCSB Center for New Racial Studies. Avery Gordon took the time to sit with me to think through questions and search for answers. Kum-Kum Bhavnani, Maria Charles, Reginald Daniel, Simonetta Falasca-Zamponi, Geoffrey Raymond, Bill Robinson, and France Windance-Twine contributed toward making my experience pleasant and memorable. Sharon Applegate is an amazing Graduate Program Advisor! On many occasions, she invited me to sit and talk with her about my progress. If I needed something, she tried her best to make it happen. Thank you! Lisa Blanco, Madhu Khemani, Vera Reyes, Kim Summerfield always made me feel welcome and a part of a team. The UCSB, Center for Black Studies Research was my base throughout most of my time in graduate school. I was invited here by the late Professor Clyde Woods. Professor Woods took me under his wing. From him, I was provided a lot of love, critique, and responsibility. To this day, I give big thanks to Professor Woods for inviting me into his world of rigorous scholarship and love. Following his passing, Professor Diane Fujino became the Director of the Center. With her, I have been able to do wonderful things. I do not have the words to thank her for everything she has done for me and everything she has included me in. Together, we co- facilitate the Transformative Pedagogy Project. In this endeavor, we have created a space where students, professors, community members, and visiting artists and activists come together to envision the world we want to live in. In addition to all of this, she invited Ana and ! v! I into her home and the world she shares with her amazing husband Matef Harmachis, and lovely children, Kano and Seku. I am very thankful for this dynamic mentorship. A special thank you goes out to Mahsheed Ayoub and Rosa Pinter, two Business Officers who hold it down in more ways than one! Thank you for your kindness and support! Early on the Department of Black Studies became a space for me to think and act seriously as a scholar. Professor Woods took on a group of sociology graduate students as his students, and made us sharper for it. Gaye T. Johnson showed me that work in the classroom and in the community, go together. Reading her scholarship as an undergraduate empowered me. Following a visit to her classroom, I remember thinking, “wow, I want to have that kind of impact on the students in my classes,” and then I hit the library to get started.