← Back to context

Comment by rayiner

5 years ago

Relevant: https://www.cnn.com/2017/04/28/us/la-riots-korean-americans/...

> The Rodney King verdict and the ensuing riots are often framed as a turning point for law enforcement and the African-American community. But it's also the single most significant modern event for Korean-Americans, says Edward Taehan Chang, professor of ethnic studies and founding director of the Young Oak Kim Center for Korean American Studies at the University of California, Riverside.

> The nearly weeklong, widespread rioting killed more than 50 people, injured more than 1,000 people and caused approximately $1 billion in damage, about half of which was sustained by Korean-owned businesses. Long-simmering cultural clashes between immigrant Korean business owners and predominately African-American customers spilled over with the acquittals.

I'm on the side of the protesters here, don't get me wrong. But the media sweeps under the rug how often the rage from these events gets taken out on Indians, Pakistanis, Chinese, Koreans, Vietnamese, etc.-owned small businesses. There is a narrative the media wants to peddle (black versus white), and these complexities don't have any place in the media narratives.

A fair amount of this is caused by the state and police. Why do you think that the rioters were in koreatown during the rodney king riots?

Police defended the rich neighborhoods and pushed the riot into places where society tolerates more damage.

> these complexities don't have any place in the media narratives

I'm reminded of the film "Do the Right Thing", by Spike Lee. 1989. Not much has changed in America.