If you want to understand the roots of some of L.A.’s biggest social justice issues, City of Inmates by Kelly Lytle Hernández (Booknet rating: ★★★★☆) is a must-read. Hernández, a historian and MacArthur “Genius” Grant winner, shows how Los Angeles didn’t just end up with one of the largest jail systems in the world, it was built that way on purpose, as a way to control Black, Indigenous, immigrant, and poor communities. The book dives deep into this history and really pushes back on the usual stories we hear about crime and punishment. It gives important context for current issues like police reform, homelessness, and mass incarceration in the city.
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