Seeing Beyond The Strip: West Las Vegas and It's Role in Racial Justice in Sin City

A picture of Berkeley Square, a subdivision located in West Las Vegas. Source: Joe Buglewics.

A response I commonly get when I share with someone that I am from Las Vegas is, “People actually live there?”

Yes, people actually live there. I am qualified to make that assertion as a Las Vegan (pronounced vay-gan).

In fact, The Strip, the stretch of casinos and resorts that most people associate with the image of Las Vegas, is not even a part of Las Vegas – it actually sits right outside of the city limits, in the unincorporated town of Winchester, Nevada! The reasons for this have to do with decision-making during development, specifically regarding municipal taxes and regulations. This is not a well-known fact, so it is pretty surprising when people realize that what they culturally know to be Las Vegas is technically not.

Las Vegas actually has a huge residential population, and it is constantly expanding. Growing up there can look different for everyone, depending on whether you live in the calm suburbs of Henderson, the bustling neighborhoods off Spring Mountain Road, or any of its other enclaves.  My upbringing in Vegas was defined by my experiences in the neighborhood I lived in: West Las Vegas, also known as the Historic Westside. It is certainly a place of sentimental value to me, as it is where I live, attended school, and worked, and the history of how it came to be has shaped my perception of Las Vegas and what it means to be a Las Vegan.

The Westside was the first and only neighborhood in Las Vegas where Black residents, performers, and workers were able to own homes. Despite its proximity to Downtown and The Strip, Black residents could not work in casinos and shops and were forced to set up their own establishments in the Westside. This ultimately led to the creation of an active hub of entertainment, business, and livelihood.  The first racially desegregated casino in the city — “The Moulin Rouge” — opened in 1955, and while it was only open for a short duration of 5 months, the impact of its historical significance can be felt to this day.  As the Civil Rights movement ramped up, the Westside did not take a backseat in making a change. Through the efforts and advocacy of Westside residents, Las Vegas passed legislation to desegregate hotels and casinos in 1960, and Nevada banned segregated neighborhoods in 1971. Now, it is a majority Black and Hispanic neighborhood that takes pride in its cultural heritage and its impact on the city. The importance of remembering and teaching this history has been realized through the retellings of Westside history in its local school curricula, something I experienced through all 11 years of my grade schooling there.

Undoubtedly, there are socioeconomic barriers faced contemporarily by the Westside that shape the experience of the residents currently living there, ones that can also be felt through other communities with predominantly Black and Latino residents in the East and North. This includes poverty, disinvestment, gentrification, and food insecurity. Efforts to preserve the historical fabric of the Westside do exist, though, and they have seen great success in not only conserving buildings and sites of cultural significance but also revitalizing third spaces in the neighborhood and improving the welfare of its residents.

While the Westside has changed since I was younger, a lot of the change is good, and a lot of the good that is familiar to me has remained; the local community center and library continue to hold more and more events and opportunities for youth and adults alike. New locally owned grocery markets and restaurants have begun to spring up, fortifying our economic stability and providing new food options for the neighborhood. New academic and professional development centers have been built, increasing our access to important resources and after-school programs. The Westside continues to strengthen its sense of community through neighborhood cookouts, block parties, and other festivities.

Las Vegas definitely is as glitzy and outrageous a city as its reputation has made it out to be. However, past the lights of casinos and resorts, diverse neighborhoods with rich culture and history make up the essence of daily life in Las Vegas. Though it is a different perception compared to how the rest of the world sees it, when I think of Las Vegas, I think of the Westside neighborhood I grew up in and how it has been shaped by the ebb and flow of Las Vegas’ growth.

Source: KTNV