Set The Night On Fire
L.A. In The Sixties
Mike Davis and John Wiener
Verso
Mike Davis and John Wiener’s forensic examination of Los Angeles during the turbulent sixties is relevant to today. Los Angeles was more than often depicted as being a glitzy ‘youth paradise’ with endless sunshine and a Beach Boys soundtrack. It was a completely different story for the 1 million people of African, Asian and Mexican heritage who were deliberately airbrushed out of the picture, as well as being victims of discrimination when it came to housing, jobs, education, and the brutality dealt out by the LAPD. Everything came to a head with the Watts Riots in 1965, when the mistreated had finally had enough.
Not only does this book map out a decade of protest and discontent, the counter-culture of the time is also examined. The title of this book is taken from The Doors number one hit song “Light My Fire” from 1967. “No time to wallow in the mire… Try to set the night on fire.” sang Jim Morrison. The Doors were offered thousands of dollars for the song to be used in a Buick car commercial. Morrison threatened to take a sledgehammer to a Buick live on television if they dared to use “Light My Fire” in a TV advert.
Much of Davis and Wiener’s 788 page book is made up of stories of people fighting back against racism, injustice and corporate greed enforced by villainous politicians and brutal authorities. Los Angeles is where Malcolm X and Angela Davis initially became known, as well as being the launchpad of the antiwar movement and gay liberation. There are many heroes in this book who sacrificed everything to rid the city of toxicity and to be heard.
‘Set The Night On Fire…’ is an astonishing book that proves that people really do have the power to force change for the better.
Words: David Nobakht
8/10
