Lopez 1

Itzel Lopez
Jennifer Rodrick
English 115
15 November 2016
Race in L.A
Studies show that police are more likely to pull over and frisk blacks or Latinos than whites. In
fact, in New York City, 80% of the stops made were blacks and Latinos, and 85% of those people
were frisked, compared to a mere 8% of white people stopped
(https://www.dosomething.org/us/facts/11-facts-about-racial-discrimination). On March 3, 1991,
an African-American, Rodney King was speeding in his motorcycle and was stopped by 21
officers and was beaten by four white officers. Although, this event was videotaped the people
and authorities took no interest until April 1992. During this time, the cops were found not guilty
which raged and triggered all the African Americans in Los Angeles. As a result, the main
essence of the riot in 1992 was focused on race and discrimination of African Americans. This
event was videotaped but interest died down until April 1992 where the cops were found not
guilty which triggered all the African Americans in Los Angles. What was the main factor in the
riot of 1992? It was race and discrimination of the African Americans. In the novel, Another
City, Los Angeles by Richard Rayner illustrates racism in Los Angeles seen normal and natural
which would ultimately be Los Angeles downfall
Rayner discusses the racism in Los Angeles and witnessing the events such as the riots
and violence against the African-American and seeing the destruction it left Los Angeles. For
instance, Rayner talks about when the police officers arrived near his neighborhood arresting

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African-American men, he says, I was surprised, not by the fact that this was happening in my
neighborhood, but by the fact that the people of my neighborhood accepted it all witch such
indifference. There was, apparent, nothing remarkable of the LAPD. (Rayner 174). Rayner
portrays how in Los Angeles this scenario is normal for white officers to arrest African
Americans without a proper reason to do so. Also Rayner points out that his neighbors would
watch the whole scene as if its their normal routine. Another example, Rayner and his friend
Jake start discussing about the effect of the riot, Rayner states, He said that these kids had no
hope of getting out as he had. Everything about society told them they were worthless,
nonpeople. They had nothing, so they had nothing to lose, something Id hear a lot of blacks say
over the next days (Rayner 182). This statement is portraying how Los Angeles racism has
showed African-American kids or even adults that their existence doesnt matter in society and
are not even considered human beings. By sending this message to all the African Americans it
caused them to start a riot so the people can know how it felt like being excluded from society.

Los Angeles is the home of many diversities, but due to the racism of African Americans
it caused a shift in Los Angeles. Although, Los Angeles homes various diversities the riots due to
racism negatively impacted Los Angeles. For instance, in the article Civil Society and Crisis:
Culture, Discourse, and the Rodney King Beating Jacobs states, The videotape served a
naturalizing function for the subsequent interpretations that would be made. The primary image

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of the videotape, the brutality of the white officers toward the African-American victim, Rodney
King, was easily related to earlier historic images of white police violence against AfricanAmericans (Jacob 1246). The video of the beating of Rodney King illustrates the police
brutality against African-Americans and even if theres proof of racism, it will just be viewed as
normal such as when Rayner mentioned that his neighborhood watched as the cops were
threatening and arresting some African-American man it was considered as a normal routine in
Los Angeles. Although there was footage of Kings beating, the officers were not charged with
any felonies and let go which caused the riots to take place. In the image above it illustrates
firefighters trying to put out the fire and the message on it says Can we all get along?. This
image is depicting that instead of causing chaos, why cant there be peace in Los Angeles.
Instead of one race having privileged why cant everyone in Los Angeles stop the racism and
treat others as equal human beings. Some were privileged and didnt get stopped or attacked by
the cops. For instance, in the article, Diversity Issues in Los Angeles Eco-Village Arkin states
If I got stopped by a police officer, I might get a warning, or maybe a jay-walking ticket. If the
others were stopped, they might be searched, hands above head, hand-cuffed, taken off to jail,
deported, who knows what else (Arkin 15). Arkin was privileged that she didnt get stopped by
the cops but she witnesses other races such as African-American or Latinos would be stopped,
arrested or threatened. This demonstrates the perspective from the privileged point of view and
how racism is viewed by other peoples eyes.
When Los Angeles was nearly destroyed, some were trying to rebuild Los Angeles but it
was not an easy task. For instance, in the article The unavoidable presence of space: initiating
change in South Central Los Angeles Beauregard states From the date of its inception, Rebuild
LA began to falter. It faced numerous challenges from community groups, a private-sector leery

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of any large or long-term commitment, and a strategy that turned out to be seriously flawed. By
1994, even its supporters were publicly admitting that it had lost direction (Beauregard The
unavoidable presence of space: initiating change in South Central Los Angeles). Rebuilding Los
Angeles after its riots was not an easy task, people knew that Los Angeles will never be the same
or will be in fear for what chaotic event can possibly happen next. When he mentions that its
supporters were publicly admitting that it had lost direction means that rebuilding Los Angeles
wasnt going according to plan since they werent sure if the citizens of Los Angeles was going
to change their views and if they were going into the right direction.
Rayners story Los Angeles points out how the racism in Los Angeles effected its
surrounding and the people living it. Rayner witnessed the racism in Los Angeles and never
looked at Los Angeles the same again but still continued to live there. Rayner realized that
racism was the cause of Los Angeles destruction. Jacobs and Beauregards articles both had the
same idea that riots in Los Angles were the result of race and the diversity of Los Angeles. Even
Arkins article she mentions how a privileged person notices how they are treated differently
from the other races. Overall, due to the racism that was happening in Los Angeles it affected
many peoples lives, some realized that they were racist due to the environment they were in ,
some realized that African Americans are human being and lastly it made Los Angeles reflect its
mistake.

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Work Cited
Arkin, Lois. "Diversity Issues in Los Angeles Eco-Village." Communities 155 (2012): 14-18.
Academic Search Premier. Web. 15 Nov. 2016.
Beauregard, Robert A. "The unavoidable presence of space: initiating change in South Central
Los Angeles." American Behavioral Scientist 40.3 (1997): 365+. Expanded Academic
ASAP. Web. 12 Nov. 2016.
Jacobs, Ronald N. Civil Society and Crisis: Culture, Discourse, and the Rodney King Beating.
American Journal of Sociology, vol. 101, no. 5, 1996, pp. 12381272.
L.A Riot 1992. Digital Image. Houston Press. 29 April 2011. Web. 12 November 2016.
Rayner, Richard. "Los Angeles." Another City: Writing from Los Angeles. Ed. David L. Ulin.:
City Lights Bookstore, 2001. 173-1968. Print.
"11 Facts About Racial Discrimination." DoSomething.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Nov. 2016.