Event
Title:
“The LA Riots and other Korean American Experiences for Korea’s Understanding of America”
Date:
10/15/2009
Time:
05:00 PM - 06:30 PM
Location:
Mershon Center (1501 Neil Ave.)
Description:
The Los Angeles riots of 1992, the worst civil disturbance in America, exposed the deepening racial and class divisions in the U.S. The divisions between the haves and have-nots, minority and majority, immigrants and natives, and even among the heterogeneous “minority” populations exacerbated distrust, fear, and hopelessness. Because racial and ethnic groups perceive that they are vying against each other to grab shrinking piece of pie, racial and ethnic conflicts in Los Angeles have proliferated in the aftermath of the riots. In addition, Asian American, African American, White and Latino riot victims shared frustration and anger with the government for not providing adequate compensation for their losses.
For Korean Americans, the Los Angeles riots of 1992 fundamentally altered their course of life in America. The riots had a profound economic, psychological and ideological impact that it is often referred to as a "turning point," "wake-up call," and a "defining moment" for 100 year history of Korean immigration to the United States. When the smoke cleared, Korean Americans were among those suffering the heaviest losses: 2,280 Korean American-owned stores had been looted, burned or damaged, amounting to about $400 million in losses. The riots also profoundly impacted Korean American family relations and stability. In retrospect, however, Korean Americans have gained much from the painful, tragic and traumatic experience of the riots; in particular, they have learned many valuable lessons regarding what it means to be a minority group in America.
Edward T. Chang is professor of Ethnic Studies and a former director of the Center for Asian Pacific America (CAPA) at the University of California at Riverside. He earned his B.A. (1982) in Sociology and Ph.D. (1990) in Ethnic Studies at UC Berkeley and M.A. (1984) in Asian American Studies at UCLA.
Professor Chang is considered as one of the foremost interpreters of the Los Angeles civil unrest and race relations. Professor Chang lectured on the topics of Korean-African American Relations and the Los Angeles civil unrest and its impact on the Korean American community at many universities around the country. He served as a field reporter and consultant for LA is Burning: Five Reports from a Divided City, a PBS Frontline special program on the unrest.
For more information: Andrew Hong at (614) 247-2546
Andrew Hong
Korean Studies Initiative
For Korean Americans, the Los Angeles riots of 1992 fundamentally altered their course of life in America. The riots had a profound economic, psychological and ideological impact that it is often referred to as a "turning point," "wake-up call," and a "defining moment" for 100 year history of Korean immigration to the United States. When the smoke cleared, Korean Americans were among those suffering the heaviest losses: 2,280 Korean American-owned stores had been looted, burned or damaged, amounting to about $400 million in losses. The riots also profoundly impacted Korean American family relations and stability. In retrospect, however, Korean Americans have gained much from the painful, tragic and traumatic experience of the riots; in particular, they have learned many valuable lessons regarding what it means to be a minority group in America.
Edward T. Chang is professor of Ethnic Studies and a former director of the Center for Asian Pacific America (CAPA) at the University of California at Riverside. He earned his B.A. (1982) in Sociology and Ph.D. (1990) in Ethnic Studies at UC Berkeley and M.A. (1984) in Asian American Studies at UCLA.
Professor Chang is considered as one of the foremost interpreters of the Los Angeles civil unrest and race relations. Professor Chang lectured on the topics of Korean-African American Relations and the Los Angeles civil unrest and its impact on the Korean American community at many universities around the country. He served as a field reporter and consultant for LA is Burning: Five Reports from a Divided City, a PBS Frontline special program on the unrest.
For more information: Andrew Hong at (614) 247-2546
Andrew Hong
Korean Studies Initiative
Contact:
