Prologue

Walter Thompson-Hernández reflects on the complex evolution of Los Angeles, juxtaposing his childhood nostalgia for the city’s cultural landmarks with the harsh realities of modern gentrification. After spending two decades traveling the world as a journalist, he returns home to find his neighborhood transformed, with long-standing community staples replaced by rising rents and a shifting demographic landscape. This return is driven by a profound sense of familial responsibility and an obligation to document the authentic, often overlooked stories of the city. By contrasting his youthful memories—anchored by the anthem "California Love"—with the current displacement of black and brown residents, he highlights the city's systemic flaws, including inadequate housing and public infrastructure. Ultimately, the narrative serves as a deeply personal exploration of belonging, reconciling the pain of witnessing a city's erasure with an enduring, complicated love for its identity.