The Way We Really Were

The customary picture of the World War II era in California has been dominated by accounts of African Americans, women on the home front, and concentration camps for Japanese Americans. The Way We Really Were substantially enlivens this view, addressing topics that have been neglected or incompletely treated in the past to create a more rounded picture of the wartime situation at home.Exploring developments brought to fruition by the war and linking them to their roots in earlier decades, contributors examine increased political involvement by women, Hollywood's response to the war, and the merging of business and labor interests in the Bay Area Council. They address the diversity of the musical scene, which arose from a cross-pollination of styles brought by Okies, blacks, and Mexican migrants, and reveal how wartime dynamics led to substantial environmental damage and lasting economic gains by industry.The Way We Really Were examines significant wartime changes in the circumstances of immigrant groups that have been largely overlooked by historians. Among these are Italian Americans, heavily insular and pro-Fascist before the war and very pro-American and assimilationist after, and Chinese-American men, who achieved new legitimacy and entitlement through military service. Also included is a look at cultural negotiation among multiple ethnic groups in the Golden State.