Racial Tension And Civil Unrest - 1685 Words

As diverse as the city of Los Angeles is, it has a history of racial tension and civil unrest. From 1910, the start of the Mexican Revolution and World War I when President Theodore Roosevelt instituted the â€Å"brown scare† (Coerver, 2001), to 1913, when the California Alien Land Act prohibited Japanese immigrants and citizens of Japanese descent from owning land in California, to 1934, when 3000 Chinese immigrants were displaced to make way for Union Station, to 1942, when 110,000 Japanese Americans were forced into internment camps, Los Angeles has historically been the center of racial controversy and tension (â€Å"Year by Year,† 1999). In 1943, Los Angeles was also full of young African Americans and Mexican Americans trying to protest the racism in the American culture by expressing themselves with their own music, clothing, culture, and style (Cosgrove, 1985). By the time of the Sleepy Lagoon murder in 1942, the stage had been set for the Zoot Suit Riots that o ccurred in June 1943. Although the riots only lasted ten days, the ramifications ranged from cultural repression on the part of many Mexican American families, to political activism on the part of others, and the beginning of reform within the Los Angeles Police Department. In 1910, Mexico entered into a revolution; shortly thereafter the United States entered World War I. About this time President Theodore Roosevelt started talking about a â€Å"brown scare†; profiling Mexican Americans as possible â€Å"trouble makers†Show MoreRelatedRacial Tensions And Racial Conflicts2189 Words   |  9 Pagescivilian-officer tensions are, unfortunately, unavoidable. Worse still, it would seem that these tensions are a result of racial conflicts. For at least the past decade, incidents of racial tensions have surfaced between the civilian and law enforcement communities (Ross as cited in Lowery, Leonnig, Berman, 2014). Residents of the Ferguson area describe a long standing issue regarding profiling and targeting, in particular when it comes to traffic stops, even noting the rarity of any civil communicationRead MoreThe Song Glory, By Music Artists Common And John Legend1653 Words   |  7 PagesMartin Luther King Jr(MLK) was leading the civil rig hts movement. The song Glory itself won the oscar for the best song in a motion picture and truly was an important part of the movie because not only did it chronicle the civil rights marches of 1965 led by MLK but it also incorporated events that occurred in the 21st century. It was this combination that made the song a true inspiration for all human beings because it shed a light on the struggle for racial equality that African Americans have beenRead MoreReview Of Anna Deavere Smith s Twilight Essay2407 Words   |  10 PagesIn May of 1992, actress and playwright Anna Deavere Smith was commissioned to write a one-woman performance piece about the experiences, feelings, and tensions that contributed to and were exacerbated by the 1992 Los Angeles riots.[1] For her work, Smith interviewed over 200 residents of Los Angeles during the time of the riot. Her script consists entirely of the actual words of members of the Los Angeles community as they reflect on their experiences surr ounding the Los Angeles riots. As Smith describedRead MoreDo The Right Thing - Movie Analysis1689 Words   |  7 PagesSpike Lee’s movie â€Å"Do the Right Thing† portrays a time in American history when the post-civil rights movement was still fresh in everyone’s mind. It is 1989, and Martin Luther King Jr and Malcolm X have placed their stamp on the country. While MLK preached for peace, Malcom X wanted the people to fight back in self-defense. This movie portrays these two views side by side through several different scenes. The movie is set in the black community of Bedford-Stuyevesant on the hottest day of theRead MoreThe War Of The Vietnam War1532 Words   |  7 PagesThe Vietnam War came at a time of great social and political unrest in America. It was right in the middle of the Cold War, a fierce worldwide battle between Eastern communism and Western democracy. There was already division going on in America at the time, with events like the red scare in Washington creating a growing fear of worldwide communism. The U.S. involvement in Vietnam began with Harry Truman aiding the French in an imperial war from 1946-1954, which the French eventually lost to theRead More The Civil Rights Movement in 1955 Essay1725 Words   |  7 PagesThe Civil Rights Movement refers to the political, social, and economical struggle of African Americans to gain full citizenship and racial equality. Although African Americans began to fight for equal rights as early as during the days of slavery, the quest for equality continues today. Historians generally agree that Civil Rights Movement began with the Montgomery bus boycott in 1955 and ended with the passing of the Voting Rights Act in 1965. Despite the 14th and 15th constitutional amendmentsRead MoreMany May Wonder About The Connection Between The Cold War1251 Words   |  6 Pagesmay wonder about the connection between the Cold War and the Civil Rights Movement and how the war has an effect on African-American civil rights. The effect may not be as perspicuous since these conflicts are two very strange juxtapositions. The two wars shared the same time and place in history yet they were never associated with each other. Although the Cold War may seem as if it went on for forever, from 1947 until 1991, the Civil Rights Movement went on from 1954 to 1968. However, the mass protestRead MoreWe All Get Along?1825 Words   |  8 PagesAs Los Angeles burned 20 years ago, the man whose savage beating by the Los Angeles Police Officers sparked the flames of civil unrest repsonded not with bitterness or even the satisfaction of seing revange carried out on his name. Instead, shaken rodney king offered a simple phrase: â€Å"Can we all get along?† King made the remark at a news conference as local, state and national officials tried to quell the lawless looting and violence that tore appart the city after a Simi Valley jury on April 29Read MoreThe Nadir Of The American Century : The Vietnam Disaster1565 Words   |  7 PagesThe Nadir of the American Century: The Vietnam Disaster The Vietnam War commenced during a time of great social and political unrest in America. It came during the middle of the Cold War, a fierce worldwide battle between Eastern communism and Western democracy. There was already division going on in America at the time, with events like the â€Å"Red Scare† in Washington creating a growing fear of worldwide communism. The U.S. involvement in Vietnam began with Harry Truman aiding the French in an imperialRead MoreLong-term Effects of European Colonization on Africa Essay1265 Words   |  6 PagesEuropean nations such as Britain, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Germany and Belgium scrambled for territories. Countries wanted land so they could harvest the resources, increase trade, and gain power. The European colonization of Africa brought racism, civil unrest, and insatiable greed; all of which have had lasting impacts on Africa. Along with the power of owning vast amounts of land, white explorers brought an air of supremacy with them. They encountered indigenous people and felt superior over them