Asian American Studies 197B
Spring Quarter 2002

Political Tours of Communities
Garment District Political Tour by Gillian Claycomb

I participated in the tour of the Garment District with some of the other members of the Garment Worker Center group. Most of the information I contributed to the tour was information that I have learned over the years of working with United Students Against Sweatshops, but some of it also came from the research that I did last quarter for the political tour that we led then. What was very exciting to me was that I was also able to tie in information that I have learned from my experience working at the Garment Workers Center last quarter and this quarter. Having had the experience of flyering during rush-hour when all the workers are on their way home has made me feel a deeper understanding of the area. The buildings are not just faceless, looming sweatshops to me anymore, because I have seen the faces of the people who work in them everyday. It was fun to try to communicate the significance that the district’s buildings, streets, bus-stops, food carts, and shops play in the people’s lives.

It was also very motivating to hear the viewpoints of my fellow group members, who have also been spending time in the area. I know that Suzan is a little newer to working on garment worker issues, and I was interested to see how her awareness of the economic, ethnic, and social concerns has developed. Diem is also new to these issues, and she asked questions that demonstrated her growing consciousness. I think this tour was valuable because it sparked discussions that helped us educate each other.

We visited California Mart, just as we did last time, but this time we got to talk to some of the store owners. I learned more about the Mart’s operations, and what kinds of companies locate themselves there. We also walked into a couple garment factories, and were not able to spend much time inside. But just hearing the noise of the machines and seeing everyone leaning over their work gives you a very strong impression. It feels so oppressive and claustrophobic. It was interesting how many of the workers were men. The phenomenon of the gradual shift in workers’ genders, so that the industry now employs many men, is something we talked about. We also discussed the ethnic composition of the workforce. I think that approximately twenty percent of the workers are Asian or Pacific Islander, and I wonder if they work in a different area. In the Garment District, it appears that in the factories and at the bus stops, most of the workers are Latino.

I hope to participate in another tour of the Garment District before I leave Los Angeles. Each time I help lead, I think it will get easier, as I have to look at my notes less. We have discussed co-leading a tour with some students from another class, and I think this would also be a good experience for the USAS members who will remain at UCLA next year. There are many student groups at UCLA that work on social justice issues, but are just now beginning to focus on labor rights. I think that coming down to the Garment District would be a good catalyst for them to devote more time and resources towards workers’ rights issues. Once you have been in an environment of exploitation, I think it is easier to keep it in the center of your efforts. I am glad that I have been able to go on tours of the area, as well as spend time there each week.