Q&A: Brenda Stevenson on Latasha Harlins

November 15, 2013 By 1 Comment


Dr. Brenda Stevenson, writer of "The Contested Murder of Latasha Harlins"

Dr. Brenda Stevenson, writer of “The Contested Murder of Latasha Harlins” | Skylar Endsley Myers

Brenda Stevenson is a UCLA history professor whose research and writings focus primarily on the 18th and 19th century American South. Recently, however, she has turned her attention to contemporary Los Angeles. Stevenson’s new book, “The Contested Murder of Latasha Harlins,” discusses the 1992 Los Angeles riots  by analyzing the murder of Latasha Harlins.

Harlins was 15-years-old when she was killed by Korean grocer Soon Ja Du, who assumed Harlins was stealing. Although not as widely known as the Rodney King beating and trial, the incident is considered just as important a trigger for the 1992 rebellion. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Community, Featured Story, Neighborhoods, South Central LA Tagged With: , ,

My neighborhood: Central Alameda

November 11, 2013 By Leave a Comment


Participants in Reporter Corps, a USC Annenberg program to train young adults from South LA to report on their own communities, created audiovisual introductions to their neighborhoods this summer. Miguel Molina’s  project focuses on areas for community gathering, drugs, and graffiti.

Miguel Molina, 19, Big Picture Film and Theater Arts Charter School, East Los Angeles College student, speaks Spanish

My family emigrated from Guerrero, Mexico when I was 2 years old. I lived in South Los Angeles for most of my life. My grandparents taught my father to make tamales and they sold them for 16 years in South Los Angeles. Growing up, my mom didn’t like for me to go outside and play because she thought the neighborhood was too dangerous. Although I did witness a shooting once, I never saw South Los Angeles through my mom’s eyes. For me, my neighborhood wasn’t bad. For me it was filled with families and people that liked to go outside and play in the park and enjoy themselves. I want to explore afterschool programs in South L.A., because I didn’t see many growing up, nor did it seem to be an issue people were aware of. I am passionate about writing, helping my community, and immigration reform. Through Reporter Corps I hope to be able to inspire my community involved in trying to pass immigration reform this year. I also want to engage my community in education and youth issues. I believe that writing can empower my community and bring positive changes.

Filed Under: Community, Reporter Corps, South Central LA, Your Story

Suspect named in South LA 99 Cent store clerk murder

November 8, 2013 By Leave a Comment


The Los Angeles Police Department’s 77th Street Homicide Division has named 31-year-old Eric Atkinson as the suspect in the robbery and murder of discount store clerk  Martha Sanchez, according to a press release issued by Ninth District Councilman Curren Price’s office.

Sanchez was working as a store clerk at a local Happy Bargain 99 Cents Store on the 7400 block of South Broadway around at 8:50 p.m. on Sept.17 when the robbery and shooting happened. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Crime, South Central LA, Vernon-Central Tagged With: , , , , , ,

South LA neighborhood in the aftermath of the Martha Sanchez shooting

November 8, 2013 By Leave a Comment


Photo courtesy: Sinduja Rangarajan

Photo Credit: Sinduja Rangarajan

Brenda Ramirez and her husband had finished work and were driving home when they saw police and a crowd gathered around a South Los Angeles discount store a block away from their upholstery shop.

Enrique Espino, a high school student, was sitting on his couch watching TV when he heard his neighbors run out of their homes. Eva Alvarez, who was working in her bail bond store, saw an ambulance on her store’s surveillance camera and sprinted towards the shop across the street.

Their neighbor, Martha Sanchez, had been shot. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Crime, Criminal Justice, Featured Story, Florence-Firestone, Neighborhood, Public Safety, South Central LA Tagged With: , , ,

StoryCorps records South LA’s diverse stories

October 25, 2013 By Leave a Comment


StoryCorps kicked off its national mobile tour on Oct. 23 with mariachis, celebrities, and public officials at South L.A.’s California African American Museum. From now until Nov. 16, the StoryCorps mobile booth will be set up in front of the museum waiting to record and share the many stories upon which the vitality of South L.A. is built.

Actors Cheech Marin & Art Evans were in attendance

Actors Cheech Marin & Art Evans were in attendance

StoryCorps is no stranger to South L.A. This is its seventh year visiting greater Los Angeles, and its third time at the California African American Museum. It is also partnering with Pasadena-based radio station KPCC to broadcast some of the stories collected.

“We really love the partnership with CAAM and also KPCC,” Mobile Tour Manager Dina Zempsky said. “These organizations embrace our mission to retain diverse stories. We are back over and over again.” [Read more…]

Filed Under: Community, Expo Park, Neighborhoods, South Central LA, University Park, Your Story Tagged With: , , ,

My neighborhood: Manchester Square

October 21, 2013 By 1 Comment


Participants in Reporter Corps, a USC Annenberg program to train young adults from South LA to report on their own communities, created audiovisual introductions to their neighborhoods this summer. Skylar E Myers project focuses on history, poverty, and love. 

Skylar Endsley Myers, 23, Saint Bernard Catholic High School graduate, University of California San Diego graduate 

My family has lived in South Los Angeles for nearly three generations. My grandparents remember the treachery of the Watts Riots of 1965 just as vividly as they can recall their first time witnessing the genre-bending genius of George Clinton & the Funkadelics at a house party in Compton. And let me tell you their words are unlike anything you’d read in a history book. In the midst of gang wars, riots, and disparity my grandparents would tell me these stories and they’ve worked to instill me with pride, hope, and dignity throughout my life. I always assumed they told me these stories as a reminder that we’ve been here before and we’ve made it through and we have the power to get through it again. For this reason I feel storytelling is important, especially for the improvement of the community. Stories are records of what has happened in the past to form both who you are and how you’ll behave in the future. Through Reporters Corps South LA, I hope to bring light and voice to the overshadowed stories of the streets, the people, and the schools in hopes of instilling all South Central Angelinos with the same pride, hope, dignity and attachment I feel for this city.

To read about Skylar’s experiences growing up in South Central click here.

Filed Under: Community, Homelessness, Inglewood, Neighborhood, Reporter Corps, South Central LA Tagged With: , , ,

‘Hey Obama…where you at?’ 600 days and still no justice for Trayvon Martin

October 17, 2013 By 1 Comment


On October 16, the grassroots civil rights campaign, Fight for Soul of the Cities, led a rally featuring drums, spoken word, and song in Leimert Park, seeking justice for Trayvon Martin, a 17-year old boy who, 600 days ago, was killed by neighborhood watch captain George Zimmerman in Florida.

Youth from Boyle Heights sharing their appreciation for the events of the day.

Youth from Boyle Heights sharing their appreciation for the events of the day.

“Is it my hoodie or my skin that’s probable cause/ For my people being slain by these racist laws?” youth from as far as Boyle Heights chanted at the community speak out, demanding the Obama administration do a full civil rights investigation and indictment of Zimmerman and the Sanford Police Department.  A jury acquitted Zimmerman of second-degree murder charges in July 2013.

“The administration has not yet brought civil rights charges against either Zimmerman or Sanford, Florida Police Department, the indictment of the police being essential to confront this institutional form of racism,” said chair of the Labor/Community Strategy Center, Sunyoung Yang. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Community, Culture, Leimert Park, Neighborhoods, Politics, South Central LA Tagged With: , ,

Growing up queer in Watts: What happens when school is still not a safe place

October 13, 2013 By Leave a Comment


 

Watts Towers | Photo taken by Xochil Frausto

Watts Towers | Photo taken by Xochil Frausto

Discovering my sexual orientation in a violent, poverty-stricken environment was not easy. I remember the first time someone called me a “dyke” at Markham Middle School.  At that time I was a punk rocker, wearing ripped jeans and men’s shirts. I didn’t yet consider myself queer — or even really know what that meant — but I was already aware of homophobia. Not until junior year of high school did I begin to explore my identity. Jordan High was reflective of the area that I lived: It was dangerous. Race riots broke out between Latinos and Black students, and students were not welcoming of gays. I did not feel that teachers, administrators or counselors could support me. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Community, Featured Story, Neighborhood, Reporter Corps, South Central LA, Watts Tagged With: , , , , ,

My Neighborhood: Watts

October 13, 2013 By Leave a Comment


Participants in Reporter Corps, a USC Annenberg program to train young adults from South LA to report on their own communities, created audiovisual introductions to their neighborhoods this summer. Xochil Frausto and Shanice Joseph take us on a trip through Watts and speak with residents about safety, pride, and history. 

Xochil Frausto, 23, Jordan High School graduate

My parents emigrated from Baja, Mexico to Watts in the mid-1970s to realize the “American Dream.” But Watts was not how they had imagined America. Growing up I saw the cyclical reality of poverty, drug abuse and gang warfare. Walking to school I would see bodies, blood and altars. Although these circumstances brought many hardships in my life, I also feel fortunate to have grown up in a place that is so unique — from its historical role in the Black power movement, to the arts, to the cultural mixture of Blacks and Latinos. But Watts is too often voiceless. I want to share the stories of my neighborhood and bring forward a renewed perspective of South Los Angeles — issues that pertain to the immigrant community, gentrification, foreclosures and the Black community, and LGBT issues. I actively try to contribute to Watts whether through community organizing or through sharing my story of growing up in South L.A. I am also working to earn my degree in photography, and I write fiction and poetry about growing up Chicana.

Read about Xochil’s experience growing up Queer in Watts here.

 

Filed Under: Community, Culture, Neighborhoods, Reporter Corps, South Central LA, Watts
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