SOURCE: Glasrud, Bruce A., and Laurie Champion. “‘No Land of the Free’: Chester Himes Confronts California (1940-1946).” CLA Journal 44, no. 3 (March 2001): 391-416.

In the following essay, Glasrud and Champion examine Himes's World War II-era short stories, novels, and essays, which reveal the effects of racism on both African Americans and other minorities during this period.

During World War II thousands of African Americans sought new opportunities and pursued the lure of the West by moving to California in search of the “elusive Eden.” They had reason for high expectations—the West was celebrated as the region with more freedom, and defense contracts and spending for the “Arsenal of Democracy” opened up employment prospects.¹ However, they soon were disabused of their expectations—not only did the California to which they migrated promise much more than it delivered, but it also featured racial animosity and rampant discrimination.

Among black Americans...