Los Angeles in If He Hollers Let Him Go

1287 Words6 Pages
Los Angeles in If He Hollers Let Him Go If He Hollers Let Him Go, written by Chester Himes, presents the story of an African American, and takes place during the 1940s in Los Angeles. The protagonist, Bob Jones, moves to Los Angeles in search of a job and a better life because he is tired of the pervasive racial discrimination in Ohio. He begins to work as a leaderman in the Atlas shipyard, getting a car and some authority along with the job. In spite of the authority he receives from his job, Bob constantly lives in the fear of never feeling equal to the white people. The story only takes place over four days, however, his dream of reaching equality is quickly broken by the deeply embedded racism in Los Angeles. In the novel, the car plays an important role in Bob’s life. Traditionally, in Los Angeles, where people largely depend on driving, cars are viewed as a necessary thing and a symbol of LA. Meanwhile, in If He Hollers Let Him Go, through the depiction of Bob’s life, Himes associates car ownership with a symbol of wealth, a feeling of personal power and control in Los Angeles. In Los Angeles, cars are seen as a particularly significant symbol of wealth and success, which Bob wants to have in order to become equal to the white people. Generally, driving one’s own car seems to be a superior means of transportation than taking public transit. Moreover, owning a car typically means that one has the financial ability to afford the car in addition to basic living expense, such as food and housing. Therefore, car ownership reveals one’s social status indicating wealth and success. In the novel, Himes constantly puts emphasis on Bob’s car. Right after becoming a leaderman in the shipyard, Bob gets his ’42 Buick Roadmaster (10), which is a physical manifestation of prominence. Back to the 1940s, when World War II took place, cars became less accessible to people

More about Los Angeles in If He Hollers Let Him Go

Open Document