Graduation Year

2017

Document Type

Open Access Senior Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts

Department

Environment, Economics and Politics

Reader 1

Vanessa Tyson

Reader 2

Char Miller

Reader 3

Marion Preest

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Terms of Use for work posted in Scholarship@Claremont.

Rights Information

© 2016 Emily J. Audet

Abstract

The City of Claremont, California—a suburb of Los Angeles and the home of the Claremont Colleges—stands out as disproportionately non-Hispanic white in comparison to neighboring cities and counties. This research employs the concept of racialization of place to examine how Claremont has been racialized as “white.” Through an analysis of land-use regulations and descriptions of the city, this research analyzes the structural and ideological processes that racialized the city. The city government used exclusionary zoning ordinances and private citizens employed racially restrictive housing covenants to maintain Claremont’s majority-white status. The city government and local organizations and businesses also implicitly assert Claremont’s white identity through maintaining that Claremont residents are unique among the area and through relating Claremont to New England. The city government and local organizations also frame the city as peaceful and principled, which is typical of places racialized as “white.” This research focuses on the process of Claremont acquiring a “white” identity, but further research should examine how this identity facilitates disproportionate resource capture.

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