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JunFinal Essay
I would describe South Central as very diverse. There are many different people from different places. That way there is less discrimination between us. We live with each other and interact with each other everyday like normal people. There are negative things going on but there are also many positive things going on. There have been many events that have had big impacts on the community. I am tired of hearing the bad things but it is important to know what happened before to see how it is affecting us now and see if we can change it. The three most important events that have had the greatest impact on making South Central LA what it is today are the Riots, Crack Epidemic, and Gang History.
The first events that have made South Central what it is today are the Riots. The Watts Riots started on August 11, 1965 after Marquette Frye, his brother and mother were arrested after Marquette was driving drunk and recklessly. It lasted 3 days. 34 people died, 118 were injured, and there was $40 million in damages. Locke High School was built as a result of Watts Riots and other places, too. Southwest Community College and King Drew Hospital were built. Those places wouldn’t have been built if it wasn’t for the people’s frustration that had finally erupted. The LA Riots started after the verdict for Rodney King was “not guilty” on April 29, 1992. The LA Riots caused over $1 billion in damages and 53 people died. The Watts Riots caused many white people to leave South Central, “White Flight” and after the LA Riots many Black people left. As some people left others immigrated to South Central. The effects of these Riots can be seen today in some of the vacant lots and the diversity of the people.
The second event that has made South Central what it is today is the Crack Epidemic. The Crack Epidemic was an addiction that hurt mostly the Black and Brown communities. The U.S. wanted control over Nicaragua but the Sandinistas fought against them. The U.S. payed some Nicaraguans to fight the Sandinistas. They gained money by selling crack in the ghettos, Ronald Reagans plan. The CIA sold drugs to drug dealers like Freeway Ricky Ross and sent the money to the Nicaraguans for weapons to keep fighting their civil war. The effect was the Crack Epidemic which had awful effects in South Central that can still be felt today for some families that were broken apart by the addiction. The addictions led to a very high crime rate as people stole and probably killed so that they could keep buying the thing that was destroying their lives. Bars and fences were put around houses as a result, something that most houses still have today.The War on drugs were laws that led to a high incarceration rate which mstly affected young Black and Brown males. The Crack Epidemic was a result of the governments actions and the effects can still be felt today.
Gang History is also something that has made South Central what it is today. Gangs were first started by whites who terrorized the Blacks and Latinos. The Black and Latino people then formed their own gangs to protect themselves. After the Watts Riots(“White Flight”) the Black and Latino gangs didn’t have to protect themselves so they started fighting with themselves. The 1960’s were also the times of the Civil Rights Movement. During this time, gangs were almost completely gone since they joined organizations like the Black Panther Party and the Brown Berets. They were organizations that wanted the community to take control over their own communities. They helped against police brutality and racism. Organizations like these took control and the gangs completely stopped since they now had a motive. The police was concerned though, and they killed, spied on, and imprisoned community leaders through COINTELPRO. After the Black Panther Party and Brown Berets were gone, gangs emerged again. There were high crime rates. Gangs aren’t very present now but they still damaged the community. The government’s actions once again had negative effects on the community of South Central by destroying the positive thing that held them together for a short time. What started out positive ended in a negative way.
The Riots were events that were the cause of the frustration over police brutality and racism. It wasn’t really possible to write about only one of them without thinking of the other one. The Crack Epidemic was a disease that spread out and took over many people’s lives. Gangs were a result of racism and their positive beginning didn’t last. If the Black Panthers and Brown Berets wouldn’t have been broken up, then gangs probably wouldn’t have escalated. I think that South Central will be a better place if no one stops all the good things that are happening now, like all the learning at our schools. The young people who are working towards succeeding is a good thing and hopefully we all work together to improve our communities for the better for a long time.
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24
JunThis is a mural on the corner of the street where I live. It has been there ever since I remember. It has people painted like MLK.
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28
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21
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6
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27
AprGood Websites
A good website has to be different from others. It is better if it has color and different links. A bad website has links that don’t go anywhere or it has way too many links. When I make my own website I will try to put enough links but not too many. I will also try to put color, pictures, and maybe some videos.
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23
AprQuarter Reflection
I did good this quarter. I didn’t miss any assignments but I did turn in some late because I was absent for about two days of the quarter. I did do my best at all times. I am doing well in all of my classes. The lowest grade I have is a B but it isn’t bad, still passing Spanish. I’m not having trouble for any of my classes. The only reason that I miss assignments is if I am absent but I try to make them up the next class. I am going to continue paying attention in all of my classes and doing all of my work.
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22
Apr[Flash 10 is required to watch video]My Community Movie
Books
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15
Apr
The movie is called “Read”. My group’s topic is books and reading. This is something positive in the community because reading can help you in school and it can help keep kids occupied so they stay out of trouble. It is also a good way to escape reality and get a bigger imagination. My group members Regina and Manuel are also in the movie. It is coming out on April 22, 2010, the due date.
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26
Mar
RIZE movie poster
