Los Angeles: The City of Riots
Los Angeles: The City of Riots
Home of the largest populated area in the United States with just over 4 million people; the city of Los Angeles is one of the most well known cities in the world. It is home to many of the world greatest actors as well as the upper class of America. The city is full of life with many iconic landmarks such as Hollywood boulevard, the Hollywood sign, and the Kodak Theatre, yet it is hard to believe that this great city has been home to two of the worst riots in U.S. history. The Watts riots of 1965 and the L.A. riots of 1992 were both motivated by racial tensions and in both cases started with the unfair treatment of an African American by city policemen. Although the black community started the riots because of a rift between themselves and the whites, there were more reasons for rioting but the events that received the most national attention were perceived to be the one and only reason for the riots.
With the increased number of other minorities besides African Americans, the city became more and more diverse. In 1980 Los Angeles’ Hispanic population was about 28% and increased to a staggering 40% as they became the majority in the city, while the Black population decreased from 17% to 13%. Naturally the struggling black community sees the increase in the Hispanic population as a “threat” to their jobs and as well as their neighborhoods (Bergesen, Herman 42). Yet with the Hispanic populations increasing the Black communities of Los Angeles were not as bad as they are believed to be. In 1964 the Watts area was actually a community consisting of mostly one and two-story houses, a third of which owned by the occupants. “At the time, a Black person could sit where he wanted on a bus or at the movies. They were allowed to vote and could use public facilities without discrimination. The opportunity to succeed was probably unequaled in any other major American City.”(Fogelson 3) Even with all these rights on one summer night
Home of the largest populated area in the United States with just over 4 million people; the city of Los Angeles is one of the most well known cities in the world. It is home to many of the world greatest actors as well as the upper class of America. The city is full of life with many iconic landmarks such as Hollywood boulevard, the Hollywood sign, and the Kodak Theatre, yet it is hard to believe that this great city has been home to two of the worst riots in U.S. history. The Watts riots of 1965 and the L.A. riots of 1992 were both motivated by racial tensions and in both cases started with the unfair treatment of an African American by city policemen. Although the black community started the riots because of a rift between themselves and the whites, there were more reasons for rioting but the events that received the most national attention were perceived to be the one and only reason for the riots.
With the increased number of other minorities besides African Americans, the city became more and more diverse. In 1980 Los Angeles’ Hispanic population was about 28% and increased to a staggering 40% as they became the majority in the city, while the Black population decreased from 17% to 13%. Naturally the struggling black community sees the increase in the Hispanic population as a “threat” to their jobs and as well as their neighborhoods (Bergesen, Herman 42). Yet with the Hispanic populations increasing the Black communities of Los Angeles were not as bad as they are believed to be. In 1964 the Watts area was actually a community consisting of mostly one and two-story houses, a third of which owned by the occupants. “At the time, a Black person could sit where he wanted on a bus or at the movies. They were allowed to vote and could use public facilities without discrimination. The opportunity to succeed was probably unequaled in any other major American City.”(Fogelson 3) Even with all these rights on one summer night