AAS 680

Eric Mar – 9/23/02 Week

LA Uprisings – Riots Unit

· Edward Chang article – previous Omatsu article

· CPA, KAPA, Bay Area Asian Am group statements

· 2 film excerpts –

mil cho/ellen somekawa

Edward chang and others in Frontline: the LA riots

Goals -

Increase group process and dialogue within the class

Problem posing & problem solving; ID’g root causes of social problems

AA’s and Racial violence and scapegoating; Interethnic conflict

Reemphasize community, power and social change concepts

Racism – institutionalized & internalized

Ideology of the model minority myth/construction

Discussion Questions:

Omatsu and Edward Chang –

· What is De-Industrialization? Impact on LA? Impact on SF Bay Area?

· Root Causes for the LA unrest?

ERES readings – CPA, KAPA, Bay Area Asian Am groups:

· [short exercise – individually write down 1 point from each statement that points to a root cause/1 point about solutions]

· Differences in their analysis/assessments? What do the 3 statements say about root causes and solutions?

· What are the implications for immigrant rights and relations between African Americans and immigrant communities?

· How were Latinos impacted by the LA unrest?

Roots of conflict -

· What were the economic and social conditions that led to/created the climate for the civil unrest in LA?

· What political forces were involved? Who had the power to influence these forces?

Racialization of conflict –

· How did race become a defining factor in how different groups experienced/viewed the LA riots/uprisings?

· Compare the 1991 Latsha Harlins killing with the 1982 killing of Vincent Chin. How has the legal system played a role in racializing victims and perpetrators?

· Why were Korean Americans, particularly merchants, targeted by violence?

· What racializing role did the mainstream media play in the reducing or intensifying the conflict? The alternative or community media?

Solutions? Problem Solving –

· How did community organizations and leaders build community [reduce police violence, revitalize neighborhoods, bridge racialized conflict, etc.] after the riots/uprisings?

· How effective do you think these efforts have been in LA? Here in the Bay Area?

FUTURE: UNITY to rebuild LA

· Challenges/barriers

· Opportunities?

· Political leadership-vision?

· Public Policies?

· Mainstream media?

Friday 9/27

Read Mil Cho article

Group exercise –

· Visualize the issues [groups brainstorming/prioritizing/presenting]

· Map out/draw a representation of your solutions [like 92/93 bloods and the crips unity gatherings re solutions]

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