L.A. 1992: How Race Riots Have Shaped America
The illegal and inhumane use of force against African Americans has been a leading cause of death among the Black community. The fact that African Americans are most likely to die in the hands of police officers than any other group for unwarranted causes highlights the disparities and injustices that African Americans face in this country. The theme of racial injustice and brutality can be presented by the thousands of hushed cases that only resurface with social media’s presence. Sean Reed’s case is not a unique case. Ahmaud Arberry’s case is not a unique case. These cases are just two out of the thousands that have been initially ignored by the justice system. Police brutality and racial injustice is too prevalent among the African American community to ignore, yet it is still ignored. This leads us to conclude that our country is not void of inequality and injustices, as our constitution promises.
Martin Luther King Jr. once said that “a riot is the language of the unheard.” This was indeed the case behind the civil unrest that took place historically and of which continues to this day. The first race riots involved white mobs shooting, hanging, and lynching African Americans before their rights were protected in the constitution. The “modern riots” evolved into targeting property as opposed to people. During the Harlem riots of 1935, African Americans were beaten and abused while they were seeking equal employment in Texas and Alabama. Yet, these riots were not confined to the South, as the Rodney King riots of LA showed how white authority could get away with racially motivated violence.
In the article titled “L.A. 1992: How Race Riots Have Shaped America” written by Greg Tate, the author highlights the effects of systemic racism and the role it plays in most issues present in African American communities today. While mainstream media often chooses to portray Black Americans as “angry and uncivilized,” their frustration is justified as it was caused by centuries of subjugation and dispossession carried out by the United States as a whole. Furthermore, this article opens our eyes to the injustices that these communities face day-to-day due to the pervasiveness of white supremacy. By spreading awareness and sharing useful information, we as individuals can take a stance against the injustice system and do our part to stay well informed.
Understanding one’s history is the key to forming a better future. This week in the MAPS intern class, we discussed the recent injustices against Ahmaud Arbery and Sean Reed amongst our discussion of racial injustice and police brutality. MAPS works with communities that have witnessed key points in Black American history, these two deaths being another among them. Addressing and understanding this history allows MAPS to properly cater to their students who face the implications of this history in their daily lives. For Black Americans, history is not simply history - these systems of oppression are still present but carried out in different ways. It is important to note the names and stories of these people that were rashly murdered, for in a time where these deaths become simply another statistic, we must humanize them. As Ahmaud Arbery’s mother said, Ahmaud was more than just that senseless video. As MAPS volunteers, we can guide discussions about these topics and what it means to our students. We have to craft a safe space for them in which they can have these conversations. Understanding the significance of this history allows MAPS to better support our students on a deeper level.
In a country where these injustices seem to be the “normal,” MAPS works to fight this notion. We are not the voice for our students, but we can foster and sustain their confidence in raising their voices. MAPS can further support our students by holding workshops in building these skills and prompting conversations that allow for students to address these topics that impact them. This will help build a strong generation of leaders in these communities.
Ignorance is not bliss, in this case - it’s bloodshed.
This reflection was written by Maryam Bacaloni and Saba Khan, both a part of the Spring 2020 Internship class. "L.A. 1992: How Race Riots Have Shaped America" by Greg Tate linked below!
https://www.rollingstone.com/.../l-a-1992-how-race-riots.../
