STUDY QUESTIONS FOR “L.A. IS BURNING: 5 REPORTS FROM A DIVIDED CITY”

1. Black perspective: Blacks, both militant and middle-class, seem to agree that the criminal justice system is not fair. Consistent with the “functional equivalents” hypothesis (Sears and McConahay 1973), militant blacks see violent confrontation as a symbolic means of expressing grievances when denied legitimate channels (the criminal justice system, local government, and the chamber of commerce). Middle class blacks do not defend violent confrontation and do not defend the beating of Reginald Deny, but push for fair treatment (e.g., L.A. four plus committee). The video gives many examples of racial bias in criminal justice system:

1. Damian Williams’ bail was $½ million vs. $5000 for police officers accused of beating Rodney King.

2. Police officers beating Rodney King (official representatives of law) acquitted in first trial.

3. For killing a black woman, Soon Ja Du was given community work with no prison.

4. Harassment by police in Georgiana Williams’ neighborhood

5. Paul Parker’s father killed but police do not want to file charges because of black-on-black crime

2. White perspective: Whites do not seem to be concerned with unfair treatment of blacks. As the “haves’ confronted by the “have-nots,” the major focus is on protecting white privileges, property, power structure, and security. This is epitomized by Richard Reeves story about his 85 year-old mother clutching her purse when she walks down Roosevelt Blvd. and sees four blacks guys coming the other way. She does not assume that they are on leave from Harvard medical school. This is similar to Angela Oh’s discussion of Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome, which she responds to Sheryl Lee Ralph (“Why do I hold my pocketbook closer to me when I see a young black man”). This is the theme behind the automatic weapons and communities walling themselves in.

One scene, cut from the edited version of the video, shows wealthy white women being trained how to use guns to protect themselves in case of another riot. There is another scene focusing on police being trained for the next riot. Whites focus on rioters being criminals and thugs, and those attacking white justice as “being part of the problem” (Los Feliz Hills attorney says this). Whites are segregated (see only whites except for people who mow lawns and empty garbage), so they have no grasp of the black perspective or understand the black business experience (unlike owner Art Washington, who understands injustice and rioters despite being a riot victim).

3. Korean perspective: Korean do not like being a “scapegoat,” inserted into conflict that was not their fault and which they do not understand. Edward Chang, Korean professor, says that Korea Town is sandwiched between white Hollywood and black South Central Los Angeles, making them a buffer. Also, he notes that “Koreans have become a symbol of the oppressor” meaning that they take the blame for discrimination, poverty, and powerlessness created by white corporate America and the white power structure. Although Koreans may be insensitive (“all you want is a nice cold bear”) because they come from a homogeneous society, they are simply small businessmen trying to make a niche for themselves. Because the police did not defend their property, they suffered more than ½ of the property damage. They had to call on a few armed Koreans to defend what they had--they are not armed vigilantes as the new media portrayed them. While blacks attacked Koreans as a symbol of white oppression, whites were more than willing to use Koreans as a scapegoat. When the L.A. city council responded to the black community by investigating Korean liquor licences, this was characterized by Chang as “pure ethnic politics.” He states that it is alright to limit liquor licenses, but all ethnic groups should be treated equally.

4. Hispanic perspective: because Hispanics are an economically depressed and politically under-represented, they resent being in competition with blacks for a share of the pie. Consequently, they complain that blacks get more attention and this needs to change. For example, Javier Elmasio (spokesman for “News for America”) states, “They Better Pay Attention and Listen to us! Unlike Blacks, we may not overcome, but we will overwhelm.” A second theme is victimization by violent blacks. The Watts Century Latino organization is a forum for complaints about black (gang) violence toward Hispanics, which is also part of Elmasio’s complaint about blacks disrupting a construction cite using Hispanic workers in South Central Los Angeles. Like blacks, Hispanics without empowerment were most prone to riot (Pico Union) compared to those whose parents owned businesses (East Los Angeles). In 1967, Hispanics rioted in East LA, the incident being triggered by a police shooting of a prominent Hispanic reporter who happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.