Analysis: The Beach Boys, The Great Migration Of African-America

Los Angeles is described as sunshine and noir. The beautiful climate, mountains, and beaches encapsulate the geography of Los Angeles. Further, Los Angeles is the capital of many entertainment industries—which for many hopefuls is a way to be rich and famous. However, Los Angeles is also pure noir. The situation in Los Angeles is often bleak. Many seeking freedom and fame in Los Angeles have been victimized and their ideas silenced by an oppressive government. However, the music industry has always thrived in Los Angeles. Oftentimes using biting commentary to critique the bleakness of life in Los Angeles while raising bigger political issues. Three Los Angeles music groups encapsulate this trend; The Beach Boys, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, and
At the end of the 19th century, ninety percent of African-Americans lived in the South. However, the South was no paradise for African-Americans. Instead, the South was filled with poverty, lynchings, and segregation. It was under these conditions that the first Great Migration occurred in the early 20th century (Ruck 28). However, World War II would trigger a sizable migration of African-Americans to Los Angeles in search of work. However, the vision of sunshine and opportunity did not come true for African-Americans. The treatment of African-Americans during this period was extremely discriminatory. African-Americans were frequently mistreated and were refused hiring in defense plants. The discrimination only when President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 8802 which barred racial discrimination in defense work (Ruck 79). After World War II, African-Americans seemingly found themselves transported back to the South. Los Angeles was filled with Ku Klux Klan cross burnings, police abuse, and segregation (Engel 15,77,139). This was not paradise, but instead pure noir. The ideas of pure noir of crime, the legitimacy of the American dream, and pessimism would greatly influence the music of The Beach Boys, The Red Hot Hot Chili Peppers, and
The Beach Boys were directly connected to murder. Beach Boys Dennis Wilson was friends with notorious murdered Charles Manson. Manson helped the Beach Boys write the song “Never Learn Not to Love” and was introduced to record producer Terry Melcher by Dennis. Melcher lived in a beautiful home on 10050 Cielo drive. Melcher would eventually rent the home to director Roman Polanski and his bride Sharon Tate. Unfortunately for Polanski and Tate, they would rent the home when Charles Manson would order his “family” to viciously murder the residents of the home; killing Tate and leaving Polanski distraught. Polanski would use the experience to write the pessimistic 1974 neo-noir classic Chinatown (Timberg 2). Drugs would also plague the lives of the Beach Boys, particularly Brian. Brian became addicted to LSD and became a recluse while his mental health deteriorated. Desperate, Brian’s former life entrusted him into the care of Dr. Eugene Landy. However, Landy would abuse Brian taking away any independence Brian had. It was only when Brian’s future wife Melinda Ledbetter got involved that Brian was able to break the shackles of Landy (Moverman). It was an outsider much like noir protagonist, Sam Spade that was able to solve the crime and seek justice. While the Beach Boys attempted to hide the noir themes of death, drugs, and violence the Red Hot Chili Peppers embraced