Framing Los Angeles 1992 in the Context of 1965, 1943, and 1871 (and 1789 and 1492)
1. During the Rodney King trial, the defense did a freeze frame examination of each of the 56 baton blows that King received. How can we or should we frame the beating of Rodney King to understand its significance and the response to it? How can 1965, 1843, 1871, 1789 (and the Constitution's legal sanction given to slavery), and 1492 (as a moment of collision of cultures) be used to frame the 1992 riot in LA?
2. Is it helpful to frame the beating up of Korean-American community during 1992 riot in relation to (1) Ice-Cube's 1991 song "Black Korea," and (b) the Latasha Harlins shooting and killing, or (3) Emmanuel Moody, a former USC football player who had an African American father and a Korean American mother.
3. How do we frame anti-Chinese rioting of 1871: Should we focus on the 12 year Chinese kid that was murdered or by the actions of Emil Harris and Robert Widney who tried to come to the rescue of Chinese during the riot and who sought to prosecute rioters for their crimes. Compare and contrast to who did the beating of Rodney King and Reginald Denny and who came to the aid of Reginald Denny during hisbeating at the intersection of Florence and Normandie.
4. Consider how 1992, 1965, 1943, 1871, 1789 and 1492 give us scenes of encounter where one people or "race" is seeing itself as superior to another or beating another down.