East LA Interchange

Danny Trejo narrates this well-researched documentary centering on the Boyle Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles, which for years has been better known for its level of criminal activity. Director Betsy Kalin opens with remembrances from residents who arrived from the 1920s through the 1960s. Momo Yashima, who moved there in 1953, drew comfort from the diverse population. Joe Frumkin remembers speaking "Spanish and Yiddish growing up," although once he began school he wound up in a remedial English class. The area's racial diversity stemmed from restrictive districting laws that kept immigrants and minorities away from other neighborhoods. World War II, however, led to the internment of Japanese-Americans, who represented one-third of the population, and after the war, the Jewish population shrank due to redlining and other factors. From the 1940s though the ‘70s, freeway construction displaced thousands more, but as the surrounding area grew more conservative, Boyle Heights leaned towards progressive ideals, developing a reputation for protests and walkouts. The community also elected Edward Roybal, a Mexican-American, as their representative on the Los Angeles City Council (he would later go on to serve as a state representative). Roybal's daughter, Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard, here speaks to his legacy. Unfortunately, Latino gangs would come to dominate the wider perception of Boyle Heights, starting with a CBS News report in 1978. With gang warfare on the wane in the 2010s, Boyle Heights is now struggling to hold onto its character in the face of gentrification. Kalin ends by looking at how residents have restored historical landmarks and resisted harmful environmental proposals through community activism. An interesting social portrait of a community over time, this is recommended. Aud: C, P. (K. Fennessy)