Riots

Lived in LA for awhile, heard stories did research and contemplated about a screenplay on the subject. So this is kind of a vent from the things I learned there versus what I was taught in VA.

 

I’m getting tired of a common misconception

Made by ignorant a*s peeps

That the LA Riots were about Rodney King

When he was only a pawn,

A small piece of the puzzle,

Of a larger picture that’s so hard to imagine

For the suburban blind race

 

Eyes

Closed

Shut

To what was really happening,

Ignorance,

Ignorance,

Oh the ignorance

Spread throughout the land.

 

We stood,

We watched,

But we had no idea,

What was happening

 

The fuel had been silently awaiting

For the fire that would soon be burning

The fire that burned throughout South Central

As the explosion erupted

 

They sat and watched

Their community change.

Ever so slowly the tension began to build.

Koreans taking over their jobs,

Living in their homes,

Or so that’s how some felt.

 

As I said before ignorance existed.

Ignorance that would eventually spread

Throughout the land

 

The cops kept beating and beating

The black man down

The Korean store owner kept watching and watching

The black man shop

Suspicious that he might steal somethin’

 

Fewer jobs made the tensions higher,

Other people working their jobs made the tension higher.

 

But it wasn’t just the Koreans that were taking over.

It was the Hispanics crossing into the land

Taking jobs from the black man,

Taking housing from the black man,

Or so some black men thought.

 

Tensions rose and rose.

Three races were ready to explode.

But they kept their cool

Occasionally fighting over turf in silly gang wars,

Life is a struggle to make ends meet in the hood,

You take that from them who knows what’ll happen

 

But the fire still had not been set.

A little girl would start the flame.

Her death that had no justice

Killed by a woman for trying to buy some OJ

A Korean woman

 

The sentencing for this is what started the fire

The woman that did the killing

400 hours community service.

The fire was started

The fuel was burning

But there was still to be an explosion

For a short while the black community was united

The crips and the bloods joined forces to fight the oppression

Of the white dominated police force action.

The Rodney King verdict was released.

The explosion began

 

My only question is,

Why did it stop?

Reviews

[Lady V]

Wow........... I must say that this piece is amazing. There are still many fighting this same fight, just not in the same area of the world. When the fights are stopped in one area they arise in another. Your research was right on. It is rare that one incident starts something of such magnitude. People, no matter the race or ethnicity, have agression building in there hearts and its only some time befor that same incident happens again. Some where else this time.

Great piece

Live, Love and Learn


Lady V

[Twilight]

You seem to have genuine insight into some of the problems in LA, Sarah! In particular, some of the background behind those terrible riots.

"But there was still to be an explosion". This represents, the "explosion" of either the court verdict (regarding Rodney King,) or the great debates and arguments which followed? Only the writer, knows for certain.

"The fire was started". Another line which can be understood to have special meaning. This line could be a way of saying, simply that a "fire" of violence, social upheaval and changes in society were about to follow. On the otherhand, just like violence, a fire can be intense, raging and spread out of control. Indeed, as history has shown us, this is what happened. Sparked by the terrible injustice of that infamous court verdict, as Sarah makes clear in her poem! But, she also reminds readers, that the situation was far more complicated than that. This is because, a variety of issues were also causing tension, and contributing to the violent outcome - of riots in Los Angeles!

Now, any weaknesses? Well, as with this writer's previous submission, there is litle structure or flow to this piece. Not really a true poem, by any means. There is no consistency to the number of lines, in any of these verses. On the otherhand, perhaps this randomness, represents the chaotic state of those notorious events in LA? I am aware that the writer, may not have intended to achieve such an effect.

Lastly, thankyou kindly for submitting this in my Contest, "FIGHTING FOR FREEDOM"! You are a valued member of my Group, Sarah, "Twilight's Disciples"! Who will be next, to join or submit some writing?

[Sean Allen]

What is important about events like this is that they are never forgotten.
What you have done with this poem is keep the memory alive.
Unfortunately the answer to Mr. Kimgs question is still no.