Robert Stolarik: The Baltimore Riots

Though sparked by the Rodney King verdict, there were many other causes of the riots that erupted on the streets of Los Angeles on April 29, 1992. The Los Angeles riots in 1992 were devastating. The obvious issue portrayed through the media was black versus white. If you did not live in Los Angeles or California chances are you did not hear full coverage of the story, you heard a simple cut and dry portrayal of the events in South Central. If you heard one thing about the riots, it was that there was a man named Rodney King and he was a black male beaten with excessive force by four white Los Angeles police officers on Los Angeles concrete. The media portrayed the riots as black rage on the streets due to the

Baltimore city had a strong economy, and it was among the top prosperous cities in the United States (U.S)leadingin wages, jobs, and industries up until the 1950s. Since the 1960s, however, the city has seen a decline in its economy as a result of systematic governance failures. Recently, Baltimore has been experiencing an increase in homicide unlike prior years, and in fact, by the end of 2015, various law enforcement organizations predict the city will break its homicide record. As a citizen, Baltimore’s murder rate is a crucial issue to tackle than police brutality because it is symptom indicative of larger issues that need to be addressed and solved in the black community. Three major issues often talked about in Baltimore

One point of view that can be taken is that the photographer didn’t stop to think about the mother and the family who lost a daughter. The speaker is upset that the photographer used the picture from the fire. The photographer stood by while the firemen tried to save this little girl. Even though he knew the girl didn’t survive the accident, he still used the photo in a contest. There was no way for the photographer to know that his picture would win a prize and receive such fame. He was just doing what he loves. Another point of view that can be taken is that the photographer was simply capturing a moment. He was showing how hard these firemen work to save lives. Even though he wasn’t trying to save the girl as the firemen were, he wasn’t purposefully being selfish and using this tragedy for his own gain. Maybe he

Anti-Semitism has been prevalent throughout the world since the establishment of the Jewish religion and unfortunately, traces of it can still be found to this day in the United States. What exactly is anti-Semitism? It is the intense dislike for and prejudice against the Jews; it can range anywhere from simple opposition to the Jews to vicious hatred displayed through physical torment. Some examples of the more publicized cases of violence against the Jews include the attack of Irish workers and police on the funeral procession of Rabbi Jacob Joseph in New York City in 1902, the lynching of Leo Frank in 1915, the assassination of Alan Berg in 1984, as well as the Crown Heights riots of 1991. I have

Urban Blacks were also encounter with extreme racial violence in neighborhoods and at work. Different ethnic groups of new immigrants obtained power and used conflict as a strategy of diminishing urban Blacks power level. They began blocking Urban Black workers going to work throughout new immigrant’s neighborhoods. Race riots have played a crucial role in the social establishment of race, prejudice, and discrimination across the United States. Race riots uncovered fundamental tensions in societies experiencing swift technological and economic changes. In 1920, there were many race riots and other violence in many places, such as Red Summer Race Riots of 1919 and the St. Louis Riot of 1917 that took place during the segregation in the South and the Black urban migration to the North. These race riots were response to the reality that Urban Blacks were carrying on a powerful struggle against White supremacy. During race riots, Urban Blacks lived through a renewed flow of riots, massacres, and racial terrorism.

Social and economic disparities are plaguing the city of Baltimore. There are numerous issues that the city of Baltimore is facing, many of which did not come to light until the case of Freddie Gray. On April 2015, a 25-year-old black man by the name of Freddie Gray fell victim to police brutality. After the discovery of his death and the unreasonable way he was treated, Baltimoreans began to protest. The anger and frustration began to escalate due to other social and economic problems the city faces regularly.

“April 26th, 1992, there was a riot on the streets, tell me where were you!? You were sittin' home watchin' your TV, while I was paticipatin' in some anarchy,” these are the lyrics Sublime uses in their song ‘April 26, 1992’ to describe what happened during the Los Angeles Riots of 1992. “First spot we hit it was my liquor store. I finally got all that alcohol I can't afford. With red lights flashin' time to retire, And then we turned that liquor store into a structure fire,” people ,running through the streets, had no pity when demolishing small businesses and taking what ever they may want from them. The streets, neighborhoods, businesses were destroyed by angry protesters. Their reasons were clear, all they wanted was some

This paper will cover the events that took place within the first five days in south central Los Angeles after the Rodney King verdict .

The Detroit riots occurred in the summer of 1967. The riot initially started because of race when poor African Americans got kicked out of their houses. They started living on 12th street in Detroit. The riot started there because African Americans were fed up with the way that they were being treated. Many years prior to the riot there were already racial issues. The government made it hard for African Americans to buy houses in the 1950s. During that time, white people were resisting African Americans from moving into Detroit. They were gathering outside of houses owned by African Americans until they would leave. According to Stanford, “I was blissfully unaware of the pervasive racism and resentment that was simmering in my city” (28).

There appears to be a somber tone to the photo, and almost an aspect of disbelief, to witness half a man’s body covered by flames but remaining motionless. The photo was taken in black-and-white to emphasize a critical message and what it stood for. The role of color has no importance in this image because the addition of color would not change what the photo represents in any way. Rather, by opting to not use color, there is a serious tone to this picture, allowing the action of the shot to speak for itself. The Burning Monk was published in the United States during the 1960’s.

This black and white picture was taken in 1932 in New York City, United States of America, during the construction of the RCA Building at 30 Rockefeller Center in Manhattan. Nevertheless, it was only a few years ago that Charles C. Ebbets was credited as the photographer; during many years the picture was attributed to “unknown” author. Bettman Archive currently owns the image, but it was first published in the supplement of the New York Herald Tribune. The shot was taken in order to promote the new skyscraper that was being erected. This image could evoke alternative reactions and feelings depending on the scope of the analysis, but it mainly represents community, progress and power.

Anderson, Thomas Leroy. A Critical Analysis of American Street Murals, 1967-1982. N.p.: n.p., 1983. Print.

For more than a decade I have called this city home, a combustible mixture of crime, hopelessness, and poverty, against a rich history. People see it in many different ways, I say its two Baltimore’s, but the two have never been reconciled before. Those who don’t live their see it as the Inner Harbor a great place to go, the Ravens, the Orioles. I see that as well, but I also see the struggle of those who live just outside the Harbor, the area that tourist continue to be completely uneducated about. You see the attractions with money, I see the family of six that don’t have a place to lay their head at night so they have to sleep in abandon houses with boarded up doors and windows. This image does not completely define what it means to be from

The community may be in two minds about street art. While it’s nice to have street art on usually grimy, uninteresting walls, some pieces if art have attracted controversy. An instance of a project that attracted controversy is the Riot Cop by Aaron Molden. The Illustration of a cop in riot gear attracted several complaints of it being “offensive” and “in bad taste”. Police officers were particularly outraged when they heard that the piece was sanctioned by the city.19 The Riot Cop, is now covered up.7

Throughout the history of our country, injustice can be seen through many areas of life. During the twentieth century African-Americans pushed for equality, but had to endure the resistance by those who viewed them as inferior. The black community were subjected to many difficulties including economic, social, and educational discrimination. Gordon Parks is able to show the discontentment with their lives and the adversity that African-Americans must face through his photography. With his work we are able to see the effects of oppression in the daily life of an African-American. Gordon Parks captures the plight of African-Americans by focusing on the surroundings that show the severity and hardships that plagued them throughout the twentieth century. Parks’s two images, the “American Gothic” and “Religious Objects in the Bedroom of the Charwoman” help illustrate a need for reform as the surroundings give insight to the pain felt the black community during this time of oppression.