Twilight: LA

I was shocked at some of the footage from the April ‘92 LA Riots. I couldn’t believe the amount of senseless destruction and violence unleashed in just 3 days. I felt bad for the neighbors in the surrounding areas who were the victim’s of the rioters.

I obviously don’t think the beating of Rodney King or the shooting of Latasha Harlins was acceptable either but I personally don’t see it as an excuse to go crazy and riot and burn everything in sight to the ground. I also thought it was wierd that the targeted the Koreans in the riots, because Asians are also a minority in the United States with a history of oppression. I found the part of the movie that talked about the upper body control hold very interesting, talking about how it was used to hurt and even kill blacks.

The facts of the jury in the King case I was surprised to learn. The jury was ALL white, middle age people, not exactly the most objective people for a race case involving a black victim. When the jury acquitted them I was captured when the reporter told one of the juors “People are dying and buildings are burning in South Los Angeles because of YOU.”, thats a pretty powerful and lasting statement from a reporter who is supposed to be neutral. I also thought it was unfair for the judge to release the names and addresses of the jurors as quick he as he did. He put those people’s lives in jeopardy. I found it pretty appauling that the KKK sent letters to the jurors offering assistance and support, and inviting them into their organization. In a sensitive time like that, it wasn’t something these people needed.

I was interested when the lady was talking about “They” are burning the Beverly Center. “They” obviously meant the Blacks, as if because she was white, she had no tie to what was happening. Then later The person talking gulit, and how he said “I” dont derserve it, may “us” did. This white guy felt that some of the actions of White America provoked an attack like this, and maybe they were somewhat justified for what they were doing.

The last thing that hit me while watching this was the horrific beating of trucker Reginald Denny. He was the innocent “white” version of Rodney King. I was surprised to find out it was 4 BLACK people who came to his aid. These people had the courage and compassion to help some person they saw on TV, and didn’t know from Adam. They put their lives in danger to save this man, and I was touched by that act.

In all 45 people died (75% black or latino) and over $1Billion done in damages, and the question I have is,

All of this , for what?

Zia Ch. 7-8

I was touched in chapter 7 when Zia was discussing the One Stop shop run by the Kim family in Los Angeles. Their store was burned to the ground on April 30, 1992, druing the LA race riots. This family lost a lot when their place burned to the ground. They lost their extended family’s income. They also lost a lot more than that. They lost their hopes and dreams Zia said. It took them a while to gather the resources to rebuild their shop. Then the city wouldn’t permit the Kim family to reopen unless he hired a security gaurd. He didn’t have the money, so he got a license and was the guard himself. Then after reopening the store was involved in an armed robbery attempt. The shooter missed because of the Plexiglas.

In 1995, 15 grocers in Los Angeles County were killed. During the 3 days of rioting, 54 people were killed and 4500 Korean shops were destroyed.

I was particulary struck by this because this family had an absoluetly devastating story telling the life of a Korean shop owner in Los Angeles. Their store was burned to the ground in senseless rioting and then they were nearly killed in their store during an attemoted robbery. Most of us will never see anything like this. Most of us won’t run a small shop in Los Angeles. This is the way the Koreans in LA live. They live day to day, depending on the income the make from running their business.