Compton, California, a city often mentioned in popular culture, especially in music and film, is located in Southern California, specifically in south Los Angeles County. Founded in 1867 by Griffith Dickenson Compton and thirty pioneer families, the city is nestled in the sprawling landscape of the Los Angeles metropolitan area. Its geographical coordinates place it strategically within the region, contributing to its unique history and cultural impact.
Initially conceived as an agricultural community, Compton transformed significantly throughout the 20th century. Early on, it was characterized by a predominantly white population. However, like many cities in America, Compton’s history is intertwined with racial segregation and demographic change. In 1921, racially restrictive covenants were adopted, preventing African Americans and other people of color from residing in the city. These policies, reinforced by civic leaders and real estate practices, maintained Compton as a racially exclusive municipality for decades.
The demographic landscape of Compton began to shift notably in the post-World War II era, particularly in the late 1940s and 1950s. As African Americans in south central Los Angeles achieved greater economic stability, they sought opportunities to move to suburban areas like Compton. The 1948 Supreme Court decision banning restrictive covenants legally opened the door, and Black families started purchasing homes in Compton. This integration was not without resistance; early Black residents faced acts of violence, vandalism, and intimidation.
White flight, a phenomenon where white residents rapidly depart a neighborhood due to changing racial demographics, became prominent in Compton by the mid-1950s. Real estate brokers sometimes fueled this exodus by creating fear among white homeowners about declining property values due to racial integration. Consequently, Compton’s Black population surged from a mere 5 percent in 1940 to 40 percent by 1960. The Watts Riots in Los Angeles in 1965 further accelerated both Black migration out of Los Angeles and white flight from Compton. By 1970, Compton became a majority African American city, with 65 percent of its population identifying as Black.
Despite the demographic shift, political power remained largely in white hands during the early 1960s, including control over law enforcement. However, the tide began to turn. In 1969, Douglas Dollarhide made history as Compton’s first Black mayor, marking a significant milestone in the city’s political evolution. By the 1980s, however, Compton started to develop a “ghetto” image, coinciding with rising unemployment among Black men, which reached double the national average.
Economic hardship and increasing poverty contributed to a rise in crime and the emergence of street gangs. The Crips, a notorious street gang, originated in south central Los Angeles in 1969, and their rivalry spurred the formation of the Bloods gang in Compton in the early 1970s. The introduction of crack cocaine in the 1980s exacerbated gang violence. In 1988, the rap group NWA (N****s Wit’ Attitude), hailing from Compton, released their groundbreaking album Straight Outta Compton. This album vividly portrayed gang life and police brutality in the city, bringing Compton’s image as a hub of gangs and violence to international attention.
Gang violence reached a peak in the aftermath of the 1992 riots following the Rodney King beating. Simultaneously, middle-class Black families began leaving Compton, seeking opportunities elsewhere. By 2000, Compton’s overall population had decreased significantly, and the city became predominantly Latino.
Today, while Latinos constitute the majority in Compton, political representation has lagged. In 2013, Aja Brown, an African American woman, was elected mayor at the age of 31 and re-elected in 2017, demonstrating continued African American political leadership. Although crime rates have decreased, Compton still faces challenges with high unemployment and declining median income, indicating ongoing socio-economic struggles. Compton’s story is a complex narrative of geographical location, racial transformation, and persistent urban challenges within the larger context of Southern California.
