MINORITY GROUPS AND THE 1992 LOS ANGELES RIOTS

My chosen subject is sociology, and it focuses on social group diversity within a society. The paper will use the 1992 Los Angeles riots scenario to address this idea, giving special attention to the role of minority groups in these incidents. The revolt in Los Angeles in 1992 is widely regarded as the most destructive in America's history. Even though it is a part of our history, it is essential to comprehend it to learn from it. Cultural diversity affects the entire country. The United States of America is a diverse country. It comprises people of different races, ethnic backgrounds, and religions. Having a good grasp on this concept will help foster integration among these different social groups. As such, this paper provides insight on the importance of harmony and proper diversification management by pointing out the effects of failing to do so. The paper gives a detailed analysis on this concept paying keen attention to the involvement of minority groups.

Personal knowledge

The 1992 Los Angeles riots involve a series of demonstrations that occurred in the county of Los Angeles. The civil unrest was as a result of the acquittal of several police officers who had been charged with abuse of power. The police officers were charged after a video was recorded as they used excess force to arrest a driver. In the video, the police officers are seen harassing the driver during the arrest. This video went viral within a few days and caught a lot of attention. The public was furious, and many came out claiming that such actions should not go unpunished. Following the series of events as the video was going viral; the police officers in the video were charged in the court of law.

Many people hoped that the police officers would be severely punished so as to be a lesson to the rest. However, this was not the case. A verdict was reached, and the police officers were acquitted of the charges. The public was furious and devastated. Based on the verdict, the public felt that the government did not care about them but was only interested in protecting its own. In demonstrating their anger and disappointment, people began rioting in the streets. The anger then shifted from the government to the different minority groups. Many felt that it was a case of racial and ethnic inequality. As such, the African-Americans and the Hispanic-Americans who were the main groups involved in the riots began targeting the white-Americans, the Korean-Americans, and other Asian groups. They felt that the government did not intend to protect their rights and thus they had to do it themselves. Things worsened and the only option left was for the armed forces to move in to restore peace. The military was deployed, curfews were set, and after a few days, peace and calm were restored.

Research

In conducting research on this topic, various sources were used. The first source was an article by Bergesen, Albert, and Max, which was part of the American Sociological review. In this article, the authors gave a detailed exposition of the concepts of immigration, race, and riot in relation to 1992 L.A riots. In the article, the authors explain how oppression by the government was just a tip of the iceberg. The article points out how the continuing immigration into the United States and especially into Los Angeles where the immigrants settled had brought about cultural diversity that was not properly managed (Bergesen, Albert, and Max 43). It also points out how there were racial differences and how all these aspects played a part in the riots.

The second source used in this research is a journal by Johnson, James, and Walter, which was published in 1992 after the riots. This journal does not focus on the events that transpired during the riots but is instead keen on what caused it in the first place. In the introduction of the journal, the authors point out that the events that transpired during the riots are a great lesson to the nation, but if the root cause of this occurrence is not determined and addressed, the lesson is yet to be learned (Johnson James and Walter 3). In the journal, the authors discuss the role played by minority groups in the riots.

Another source is an article by Rose M. Kim, which focuses on the impact the 1992 LA riots had on the Korean-American society. The Korean-Americans were a significant target during these riots (Kim 42). Most of them had established businesses in South Central part of Los Angeles where the riots mostly happened. Many of their businesses were looted, destroyed and burned down. The author discusses how the violence and trauma caused by these events shaped this society and the formation of its racial identity.

This research also made use of Mary McEnrue’s article in organizational dynamics as a source. This article discusses the concept of diversity and how it should be managed. It discusses this concept using the 1992 LA riots as a case study. In the article, the author discusses the issue of both ethnic and racial diversity and its implications and contributions in the riots. The author gives a detailed exposition on the concept of ethical and racial diversity before the riots and after the riots. As such, this piece, by Mary acts as a great source of information on this topic.

In addition, this research involved a review of an article written by David Whitman, which was published by the U.S. News & World Report in 1993. This article gives a detailed exposition on the occurrence of events during the 1992 riots. The author focuses on discussing what caused the events and how they transpired. In this article, Whitman points out that contrary to popular belief, the main factors behind this unrest were alcohol, hatred, incompetence and greed (Whitman, 1). He then goes ahead to explain how each of these played a role in the events that transpired. Other sources used include books published and videos posted online related to this topic.

Analysis

From the research, it is evident that there is more to the 1992 Los Angeles riots than what immediately catches the eye and thought. As noted by McEnrue, before the riots erupted, tension had been building up between the different ethnic and racial groups in Los Angeles (19). The differences between the African-American and the whites date back to the times of slavery. As such, the two groups tried to live in harmony, but each group maintained the differences with the other behind their heads. Any slight misunderstanding or conflict between members from these different groups immediately sparked a lot of emotions (Johnson, James and Walter 12). Despite this being evident, nothing was done to mitigate a future disaster.

Ethnical disparity was also growing before the riots erupted. African-Americans were the main minority group in Los Angeles at the time of the riots. However, the presence of Korean-Americans was growing steadily (Bergesen, Albert, and Max 44). Korean-Americans were mainly merchants who established numerous businesses in Los Angeles (Kim 44). African-Americans claimed that this ethnic group looked down upon them and treated them with disrespect. The two ethnic groups were becoming more and more uncomfortable with each other. The language barrier between them also contributed to this factor. Before the eruption of the riots, there was a devastating incident whereby a Korean-American merchant shot a young black girl with claims that she had the intentions of stealing. This was a great mistake as police confirmed that the girl had money in her hand, which she intended to use for the purchase. This increased the rift between these two ethnic groups. Tensions built even higher when the merchant was charged a $500 fine, which the African-Americans considered lenient (Johnson, James, and Walter 21).

All the pressure and tension that had been building up erupted after the Rodney King arrest incident, which was caught on tape. In the video, upon getting Rodney out of the car, police are seen clobbering him brutally. This transpires even before they handcuff him. They aggressively put him on the ground and go ahead to assault him. Upon being shared, the video went viral and received a lot of media attention. It was discussed in almost every news station with the police officers being highly criticized for their actions. The public was furious especially the African-Americans who at the time had been complaining of oppression by the police (Whitman 3). There were numerous calls for action to be taken upon them. The police officers were arraigned in court and charged with assault, use of excessive force and misconduct. A lot of tensions built up as people waited for the verdict. The tension was so intense that the venue for issuing the verdict was shifted to the Semi Valley Courthouse in the neighboring Ventura County (McEnrue 21). A verdict was issued, and the police officers were acquitted. In its defense, the court explained that the video did not depict the true occurrence of events. This move by the judiciary made the public more furious. Among the first individuals to make a statement was Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley. He publicly disagreed with the jury but called for calm among the residents.

The announcement of the verdict acted as a trigger for a pending bomb. The public was so angry with the entire government. Majority of the people felt that the government did not care about them but was only concerned with protecting their own. This resulted in demonstrations and civil unrest. The tension between ethnic and racial groups also erupted. As a result, these groups turned against each other. The African-Americans began attacking the whites. In the process, several truck drivers such as Reginald Denny were brutally attacked and injured (Whitman 4). There was also a huge confrontation between the African-Americans and the Korean-Americans. In the process, many businesses owned by the Korean-Americans were destroyed (Kim 49). Other minority groups such as the Hispanic-American’s and the Latino’s were also involved in the riots. They did not have differences with other ethnic groups but instead their main difference was with the government, which they felt favored, the white-Americans (Bergesen, Albert, and Max, 47).























Work Cited

Ban, H and R C Adams. LA Times coverage of Korean Americans before, after 1992 riots. Los Angeles: Sage Publications, 21.4 (1998).

Bergesen, Albert, and Max Herman. "Immigration, race, and riot: The 1992 Los Angeles uprising." American Sociological Review (1998): 39-54.

Claire Jean Kim. “Imagining race and nation in multiculturalist America.” Ethnic and Racial Studies. Taylor & Francis, 27.6 (2004): 987-1005

Johnson Jr, James H., and Walter C. Farrell Jr. "The fire this time: The genesis of the Los Angeles rebellion of 1992." NCL Rev. 71 (1992): 1403.

Kim, Rose M. "Violence and trauma as constitutive elements in Korean American racial identity formation: the 1992 LA riots/insurrection/saigu." Ethnic and Racial Studies 35.11 (2012): 1999-2018.

McEnrue, Mary Pat. "Managing diversity: Los Angeles before and after the riots." Organizational Dynamics 21.3 (1993): 18-29.

Whitman, David. “The Untold Story of the LA Riot.” U.S. News & world report. (1993) Retrieved from: https://www.usnews.com/news/articles/1993/05/23/the-untold-story-of-the-la-riot