Wilmington California | is a district located in South Los Angeles County. The City of Los Angeles annexed Wilmington in 1909.Today, it is about 90 percent White.
When Esmeralda Inglava moved to Wilmington in 1971 it was a predominately White working class neighborhood, but the Puerto Rican grandmother has seen the demographics of her neighborhood change over time.
“It was beautiful, my block Ronan Avenue it was a beautiful block. There were only two Spanish people on the block. It was very different only two Spanish speaking people on the block,” said Inglava.
Inglava’s experience is a part of a growing trend in Los Angeles. According to a Brown University study L.A Latinos are living with fewer whites, when compared with other Latinos living in Metropolitan areas
Today, Wilmington is about 86 percent Hispanic according to the Los Angeles Times.
“The Spanish, I don’t like the way they live. The way they keep the streets, trash cans all over the place, filthy I don’t like that,” said Inglava.
“ I’ve seen it change from White to Latina. We don’t have the businesses we once had before all the drugstores. When they moved the navy out of here in San Diego everything went down,” said Joe Ocana, a Wilmington resident.
Born in Puerto Rico, Esmeralda relocated to the states in 1960 first residing in New York before moving to Wilmington in 1971 due to her husband’s job.
“ I still remember not wanting to move. I didn’t know what to expect in California. Wilmington was a very nice place to have to move to,” said Inglava.
Located in Wilmington is the port of Los Angeles. In the 1920’s, William Wrigley built innovative housing dubbed the “ court of nations.” Wilmington is adjacent to the Wilmington oil field and continues to be home to the industry.
“ I moved to Wilmington in 1964 it was a city of industry today it feels so different. I can see drugs and gangs taking over the streets. It makes me sad,”said Ocana. Inglava’s adult children live in Wilmington today.
“Wilmington has changed since I was growing up. I remember all these stores when I was growing up. AT& T used to be here Lucky store they are all gone.Now it’s just the crime rate going up and down, and a curfew,” said Ingava’s son Charles Inglava.
“ A lot of the latino community that’s here now. They don’t have respect for anybody. ”said Charles Inglava.
Next door to Inglava lives the Romero’s a family she has known for over 35 years.
“We moved here from Mexico in the 1970’s. Esmeralda was the only other Hispanic woman on the street. We had a connection then over just our background,” said Maria Romero.
“Esmeralda is an example of what it means to spend a lifetime in a community, together we have seen so many changes on this street,” said Romero.
However, despite her Latin roots, Inglava still has reservations about the new demographic makeup of her community.
“ I am not a racist. I don’t want to see my community become segregated, but that’s the way it is. I don’t like that it’s all Spanish at all,” said Inglava.
Other Wilmington residents have a more native connection to the city.
“ I’m from Long Beach. I grew up in Wilmington. This place has always been mainly Latino or Mexican. This is little . Most people from here are from there, “ said Wilmington resident Rene Ixta
“ In Long Beach it’s obvious when you are poor, in Wilmington everyone’s poor,”said Ixta.
A majority of Latinos believe that the economic downturn that began in 2007 has been harder on them than on other groups in America, according to a Pew Research Hispanic Center study.
“ Wilmington is my hometown and growing up we all had it tough,” said Leonardo Chavez a former Wilmington resident.
Between 2006 and 2010, the poverty rate among Hispanics increased nearly six percentage points—more than any other group—from 20.6 percent to 26.6 percent. By contrast, poverty rates among whites increased from 8.2 percent to 9.9 percent.
For some poverty is merely a benefit to this community.
“ It’s more love in Wilmington more of a community, no matter what the ethnic make up, we are Latino and we are one here,” said Ixta.
On a warm spring night live Mariachi music spills over the backyard fences of Ana Garcia and Jose Cervantes new home.
The couple hold each other arm and arm as they dance among a cheerful crowd of their friends and family.
Ana Garcia and her boyfriend Jose Cervantes moved into their new home late December 2012.
“ It was a process but we finally got it and I felt like the happiest man alive! I felt like I finally fulfilled my own American dream,” said Jose Cervantes.
Garcia was born in Mexico, but grew up in Wilmington. Cervantes was born and raised in this community.
“ This is a city where I grew up. It’s not known to be one of the best but I think it’s what you make it,” said Ana Garcia.
During the last housing boom home ownership rates increased to record high. Since then the market has falling and the collapse in the housing market has brought declining homeownership rates and falling housing prices.
For Latinos, after reaching a record high of 49.8% in 2006, the homeownership rate fell to 47.4% in 2011, matching similar declines among other groups.
“Actually Wilmington was not a city we were looking to buy a house. The first house we put an offer on was in Wilmington, but it fell thru my heart was broken,” said Garcia.
According to a Brown University study, the average LA resident of Mexican descent lives in neighborhoods where just 16 percent of residents are white. Nationally, Hispanics living in urban areas can expect more than a third of their neighbors to be white.
Across town, inside a three story apartment building in the heart of the diverse community of Silverlae, lives a 30 year old woman from El Salvador.
Marta Gonzales moved to California eight years ago first settling in Silverlake, the place her aunt had already established a home.
“ I was so happy to be in America. It didn’t matter where I lived, but I love Silverlake,” said Gonzales.
As a woman of Salvadorean descent, racial tensions are a reason for her preference of a more diverse city.
“Some Mexicans fight with my people so I couldn’t live with just Hispanics,” said Gonzales
Silverlake is a neighborhood in Los Angeles known as an eclectic gathering of hipsters and the creative class.
Garcia and Cervantes share Gonzales hope for peace no matter who their neighbors are.
“There’s so much negativity in this community, we want to bring some light and something positive to this community for our kids,” said Garcia.
In June 2011, the Wilmington Waterfront Park was opened between the Port of Los Angeles and Wilmington. The city is also home to The Banning Recreation Center is in Wilmington. The park includes an auditorium, a lighted baseball diamond, lighted indoor basketball courts, unlighted outdoor basketball courts, a children's play area, picnic tables, and lighted tennis courts.
“ My dream for my future in this house is for my kids to love this community the way I do. I hope Wilmington becomes a better more peaceful place so that we can get that magic back,” said Garcia.
And their new house is a down payment on that dream.
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