The Rodney King case is widely known across the United States and even some parts outside of the U.S.. This incident occurred in the year 1991 in Los Angeles. King resisted arrest and got physical with the officers. This caused him to be shot with a Taser gun knocking him to the floor. The electricity takes over the central nervous system, leaving him incapacitated (Sergo) . Yet even after being completely helpless the officers repeatedly beat King with a baton and kicked him. Three officers were left free of charge and the jury never reached a verdict for the fourth. This decision led to the Los Angeles riots that concluded with two officers being charged guilty.…
In 1991 March 3rd, Rodney Glen King lead police on a high speed chase through the city of Los Angeles. It all started when California highway patrol officer noticed King speeding in the freeway. King was intoxicated and also on probation, for this reason he did not pull over when the officer turn on his siren. Rodney was under the influence of PCP but was never prosecuted for it, because of the way the arrest occurred. Instead, this simple traffic violation lead to a high speed chase on the freeway. As the chase continued, King “exited the freeway near the Hansen Dam Recreation Center and the pursuit continued through residential surface streets, at speeds ranging from 55 to 80 miles per hour (89 to 129 km/h)”(Stevenson, 1991). This is a dangerous…
Rodney Glen King lll was an American taxi driver in Los Angeles, California. Tragically, he became nationally known after being identified as the victim, beaten by Los Angeles Police Department (L.A.P.D) officers following a high- speed car chase. Due to the incident, it caused riots all over the nation. California in particular, was the initial place the riots started. Early Sunday morning around 12:30 on March 3, 1991, Rodney King, along with two additional passengers, Bryant Allen and Freddie Helms, were driving on Interstate 210 when officers Tim and Melanie Singer, husband-and-wife members of the California Highway Patrol, noticed King's car speeding on the freeway.…
So, when taking that role, they must control the slaves because the “negro race is inferior…
One of the biggest contributors to the Rodney King incident was an attitude had by a large number of LAPD officers, “who repetitively used excessive force against the public and persistently ignored the written guidelines of the Department regarding force” (Cronkhite, 2013, p. 94). This attitude, also seen as us against them, was ignored by administrators for many years and was the cause of several lawsuits. These officers knew they did not have much to worry about becauseit was very hard department wide to make a complaint and there was no open system with a civilian oversight committee (Cronkhite, 2013). The socio-economic conditions did not help with the above attitude as the area was crime ridden with mostly African-American residents…
Although it is often ignored by those around it, discrimination is an impending problem in our towns. In the essay “Black Men and Public Space” written by Brent Staples, Staples responds to the racism he faces in various social situations. He reveals how he has “become thoroughly familiar with the language of fear” (1). As a large black man, people seem to fear Staples without a valid reason to. They do not see his character, but rather only his appearance. This reveals how people are fast to stereotype a person that they see, and not give them the opportunity to show their personalities. They are afraid of what, or who, they are afraid of, resulting in their own anxiety being created. By personifying the emotion of fear, Staples relays…
Imagine an African American teenage boy walking through an affluent, mostly white neighborhood and a man begins to chase him. Naturally, the boy begins to run and ask why he is being followed. Without an answer as to why he is being followed, he is then tackled, shot, and killed. This story reflects the true life account that took place in 2012 between Trayvon Martin, the African American boy, and George Zimmerman, the neighborhood watch patrol. Zimmerman’s reasoning for following Martin, and eventually killing him, was that he looked “suspicious” and seemed dangerous (“Trayvon Martin Shooting,” 2015). The story of Trayvon Martin is one of thousands that take place everyday and is an example of racial profiling.…
The 90’s was a stepping stone to the 21st century. It was a decade filled with many events centered around politics and social issues that have contributed to America’s life today in a variety of ways. One of the most well known political or social events from this decade that still has relevance today is the Rodney King case from 1991. This particular case opened doors to many milestones still affecting society today.…
Adrian Cronauer once said that “Martin Luther King, Jr. didn't carry just a piece of cloth to symbolize his belief in racial equality; he carried the American flag.” Martin Luther King Jr. knew that racism was more than one person or one group; he knew it was an issue that required the entire United States of America to solve. He carried the American flag to represent unity in America, but that still to this day isn’t solved. Trayvon Martin is just one of countless accounts of racism presented in America today.…
The LA riots were so sad on so many levels first of all the reality is Rodney King wasn't on the straight and narrow by any means, but didn't deserve the brutal beating the police gave him that night in a lot of ways the events that followed weren't justified, but somewhat understandable as no one deserves that type of treatment no matter what they've done.…
It's been 24 years since the Rodney King riots of 1992. The same riot that claimed many cars, houses, buildings and stores that people hold dear to them that were turned into ash and ruble. All caused by one police beating of Rodney G. King that was caught on camera that sparked racial injustices throughout the African American community that increases their anger and resentment more. However, on April 29, 1992 when the two cops that were responsible for the beating were placed as not guilty for what they did, it sparked chaos two hour later. The first violent act that was made at Florence and Normandie when people were throwing beer cans and bottles at moving cars out of anger, but they backed off. Although they backed off, a few hour after…
The race has a lot to do in the police mishaps that have been happening. Mnay groups that are minority have a higher chance to be a victim to unfair police treatment. A representation of police brytality would be Rodney King. "But they didn't have to beat me this bad. I dont know what i did to be beat up." Rodney King, March 3, 1991. Excceding the speed limit of 100mph, the california highway patrol saw Rodney's car speeding. According to Rodney's statement he had refused to pullover because a DUI charge could've violated his patrol. After getting off of the highway, LAPD stopped him and immeditley struck with 2 darts each 50,000 volts from a taser gunWithin two minues of getting pulled over, Rodney had already recieved 56 baton hits along…
PB’s American Experience has impacted the view of racism towards blacks immensely. This event was a very prominent turning point in American history. The Scottsboro boys case has been one of the largest cases involving a black man (men) and a white women in the case of rape. This event has affected how people are judged now including taking age into consideration, not getting the facts correct, and the fact that black’s used to be very unfairly treated just because of the color of their skin. Laws, punishments, and law enforcement have changed very much since the 1930’s. Much of the racism has gone down, but it has also turned into other types of racism. Truly, the Scottsboro boys case has impacted American History in a very large way. Many…
George Clooney, Stephen King, and Jerry Seinfeld, all famous personalities in the public spotlight. Most people make it to the public’s spotlight by their achievements, by what they have done, others make it by what has been done to them. Rodney King a man thrust into the public spotlight not by his achievements, rather due to being brutally beaten by law enforcement. It is accurate to say that the Rodney King case is a famous American trial that provoked to an uproar of violence within this great state of California. The date was April 29th, 1992 a date remembered in the United States but most significantly in the city of Los Angeles. Following the acquittal of four white LAPD officers, the city of Los Angeles erupted in violence. The Los…
Racial connections between African-Americans and Asian-Americans have experienced both instances of solidarity and mistrust throughout histories of their encounters. Solidarity movements between the two groups existed, in an effort to combat U.S. discriminatory policies in the 20th century, as well as instances of racial tensions, such as African-American boycotts of Korean businesses in an effort to stand against racial discrimination. In an effort to secure resources and power, African-Americans and Asian-Americans have drifted apart in a racial divide. Asian and African-Americans, in their demand for resources and power, often collided in their interests. In the prospects of moving up the racial hierarchy, African-Americans and Asian-Americans…