In the 1950s, Chávez Ravine was a peaceful remote place nestled in the hills, a stone's throw from the Los Angeles Civic Center. Living in Chávez Ravine was a closely knit Mexican-American community of domestic workers and other laborers who had been pushed out of the LA neigborhoods due to housing discrimination. They lived there in peace until Los Angeles City officals used eminent domain to take their property, claiming that the land would be used for low-income public housing and that the residents of Chávez Ravine would have first-pick of the newly constructed apartments. But as soon as city officials obtained the land, they announced that it would be used instead as the building site of a stadium for their newly acquired baseball team from New York City, the Dodgers.
As a child I lived not that far from Chávez Ravine. I remember the evening news for several days showing on TV the sad events as they unfolded. The homeowners and residents did whatever they could to protect their homes from the bulldozers without success --- in many cases, physically removed.
It wasn't until much later that I understood what actually happened --- corporate greed and city corruption.
Inspired by a black and white photo by Don Normack taken of two young residents of Chávez Ravine, Manuelito Muñoz and his little sister Sarita. A hardcover book, Chávez Ravine, tells the story with photos taken by Don Normack.
Proud Brother, Little Sister
20 X 24
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