The Golden State: How Immigration Made California America's Most Diverse State

California, America’s Golden State, has had a longstanding reputation for being a cultural hub for different ethnic backgrounds. This is for good reason: until 2010, the number of foreign-born residents exceeded the figure for those born in the state. Of state residents, 39% are Latino, 37% are white, 15% are Asian American, and 6% are black, with the remainder being of multiracial or Pacific Island descent. In this melting pot of cultures, people live side-by-side, and have managed to convert a previously predominantly Caucasian area into one of vivacious diversity.

As one can see, California has the most concentrated ethnic diversity in the country

Mexican immigration has, undoubtedly, left the biggest impression on Californian society and culture. Hispanic influences are seen all over the state: from Spanish street names, to numerous taco trucks and barrios. However, Hispanic influence was present long before mass immigration into the state. In fact, in 1821, when Mexican Independence was won back from Spain, California became a Mexican province, and its ethnic makeup was wholly Latino. It was only in 1826 when the first US citizens ventured into California, led by pioneer Jedediah Smith. Unfortunately, this occupation only lasted so long, as following the Mexican-American War of 1846-48, Mexico was forced to surrender any control of the state to the US, and Americans migrated West, draining the population of its Hispanic majority. Later, in the 1920s, 500,000 Mexicans migrated to the United States partially in search of refuge from the decade-long Mexican Revolution, and also because of the strengthening American economy.

30% of these immigrants settled in California, and their presence in agricultural, manufacturing, and domestic sectors quickly thickened. Regrettably, this influx was accompanied by a strong anti-minority sentiment, and immigrants were forced into segregated housing, with most Mexicans ending up in the ‘barrios’ of East Los Angeles. Although this blatant racism has simmered down in the present day, Mexican Americans still find it difficult to win public office positions due to anti-immigration attitudes which are still present in more rural zones, and have only been reinforced by public figures, such as Donald Trump, who expressed strong prejudices against Mexicans throughout his time as President.

In spite of this, many say that without Mexicans, California would fall apart. Hispanic residents keep the state running; not only in regard to their strong work ethic, but also their cultural presence in cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco. Olvera Street in Los Angeles is renowned for its celebration of Mexican culture and cuisine, and it’s a place that all of California’s residents, of any ethnic background, can enjoy.

Olvera Street, Los Angeles

Asian immigrants, without a doubt, have also shaped California’s current reality. Anti-Communist attitudes reigned the US in the early decades of the 20th century, and Asians were prohibited from gaining American citizenship. After the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor, the American government gathered up 93,000 Japanese Californian residents and relocated them to camps to keep ‘national security’ intact. Later, after realising their actions were vastly immoral, the federal government made efforts to compensate those who had been displaced: after 40 years of exclusion of Asian immigration into the US, in 1965, immigration policy was changed to include them. In the years after, Asian immigration into the Golden State soared, with around 40% of all Asian immigrants in the US living in California by 1990. There are countless examples of the impact of Asian culture in Los Angeles: Little Tokyo, Filipinotown, Chinatown, and Koreatown.

Koreatown, Los Angeles

African American immigration is a story of hardship, not unlike that of Mexican and Asian immigrants, and also one of triumph. Black Americans first began to migrate into California during the Great Migration, which began in 1916, and eventually ended in the 1970s. During the Second World War, there was a rush of black migration from the South to the West, which offered better opportunities in terms of work, and it seemed, in terms of racial equality. This, however, was not the case. Although racism was less obvious in California, it was still very much alive. Racist real estate policies forced African Americans into what some would call ‘spatial ghettos’, which were culturally segregated neighbourhoods, much like the ‘barrios’ occupied by Mexican immigrants at the time. Conditions here became dire quickly, as so many people were living in close proximity, and fights between residents began to break out. In addition to this, when black people ventured into white neighbourhoods, they were often attacked violently. The existence of white supremacy, along with racist policies constructed by the state government, are some of the main reasons for black gang formation in California, something that has categorised the African American population there for decades. In any case, black migrants in California have formed a proud, supportive community, one that spans time or distance. One can see black influences in West Coast rap music, a genre infamous for its slow, melodic beats and shrewd lyrics, or geographically, in areas like Leimert Park in LA, which is known for its stance on black activism and as a cultural hub for music and art.

Leimert Park

The immigration history of California is one that is messy and imperfect, with many faults and blemishes. However, it’s one of immense victory as well, as the Golden State has managed to form for itself a reputation that will outlive time: one of community. California’s cultural diversity is one that other states in America should strive to follow. It determines California not only as the lively, artistic, and often glamorous place it’s known to be, but also as the pinnacle of 21st century living: the integration of ethnicity is the reality of modern-day life, and the Golden State represents this throughout. If one really wanted to witness the diversity of California first-hand, all you’d need to do is cycle an hour South West from Chinatown, and you’d pass Little Tokyo, Olvera Street, and Leimert Park all in succession.