Forego a bottle of soda and donate its cost to us for the information you just learned, and feel good about helping to make it available to everyone. When they rejected her pitch, she says, I knew I had to quit and do this story on my own. Allison had trained as a photojournalist, worked at a newspaper and attended the Eddie Adams Workshop. But I think there are so many ways to dismantle the system. WebAllison chose not to include the footage of Harlinss death taken by the stores camera, which was shown on national news and was later used in the trial of the woman who shot her. One of the businesses targeted was Du's store, Empire Liquor, which was burned to the ground and has never re-opened. Thereafter, Shakur made frequent mention of Harlins in his songs, including in tracks like "Something 2 Die 4 (Interlude)" ("Latasha Harlins, remember that name 'Cause a bottle of juice is not something to die for"), "Thugz Mansion" ("Little Latasha, sho' grown/Tell the lady in the liquor store that she's forgiven/So come home"), "I Wonder If Heaven Got a Ghetto" ("Tell me what's a black life worth/A bottle of juice is no excuse, the truth hurts/And even when you take the shit/Move counties get a lawyer, you can shake the shit/Ask Rodney, Latasha, and many more"), "White Mans World" ("Rest in Peace to Latasha, Little Yummy, and Kato"), "Hellrazor" ("Dear Lord if ya hear me, tell me why/Little girl like Latasha, had to die")[47][48] and "N.I.G.G.A." A brother and sister remember Latasha Harlins, a 15-year-old girl who was shot and killed in 1991 by a store clerk in South Central Los Angeles the same month Rodney King was beaten. These are people that I knew in high school when I lost my dad, and now their children are a part of this story. The store owner, Soon Ja Du, grabbed her, they tussled, and after Harlins threw the carton on the counter and walked toward the door, Du shot her in the back of the head. In March 1991, when Harlins was 15, a store owner accused her of stealing a $1.79 carton of orange juice, though she had approached the cash register with $2 in her hand. "Thank everyone for coming out, supporting my sister Latasha Harlins. A year later, residents of Harlins neighborhood took to the streets in After Harlins backed away, Du angrily threw a stool at her. Diversity, I think, is a really watered down word just for visibility. She died instantly. "I have been honored to spend the last 20 years serving the public but now I want to devote time to my family," Karlin wrote. VESTER ACOFF: One of the favorite memories we had was when we used to be in the living room dancing and lip-syncing over music like a talent show. This is not the movies. And so for me, dismantling means making people uncomfortable and building something completely new. She insisted that Latasha was attempting to steal a $1.79 bottle of orange juice. By the summer of 2017, Allison had edited the first two minutes of the video, which helped her establish the films visual style. Lastasha and her siblings were taken in by their grandmother, Ruth Harlins, but the youngster was understandably devastated by what had happened to Crystal. In 1982, when Latasha was six years old, her father took a job in a steel foundry while her mother worked as a waitress in a local tavern. By the late 1980s, racial tensions were high in South Los Angeles, and especially between Korean storeowners and African American residents of the city. WebLATASHA HARLINS CCTV FOOTAGE. Its been 30 years since the death of Latasha Harlins, and through the efforts of her family and a new documentary, South Central Los Angeles is embracing her legacy in a new way. All rights reserved. ROGERS: I remember we were at the park, and that's where the ice cream truck used to come. Riots. [19] Karlin resigned from the bench in 1997. WebA Love Song for Latasha, reimagines the life of Latasha Harlins, a Black girl shot by a convenience store owner in Los Angeles 1991, fueling the 1992 uprising. Sophia Nahli Allisons short film A Love Song for Latasha describes the friendship between three girls who grew up together in South Central Los Angeles: Latasha Harlins, her cousin Shinese Harlins and her best friend, Tybie Ty OBard. So often we hear from elders, adults, or community activists, and Im always really curious as to how our children process this moment. She will die in front of your eyes. The graphic images of the killing of 15-year-old Harlins, captured by a security camera inside the Empire Liquor WebAP. How did the young Black girls, the young boys that knew Latashahow were they affected by this? So understanding this idea of how loss can deeply affect and disrupt Black girl childhood, I thought it was important for us to talk to the women who were then young girls [when Latasha died, in 1991,] about who Latasha was to rebuild the story, to engage in this process of collective memory and rebirth and archive. WebThe only video that exists of her is the grainy surveillance footage that captured the last minutes of her life. In July, two months after the end of the riots, her grieving family were awarded a $300,000 settlement for her death. A year later, residents of Harlins neighborhood took to the streets in outrage. Latasha Harlins, whose short life came to a violent end in the midst of racial tensions in Los Angeles, California, became a major spark for the 1992 Los Angeles Riots. WebA 15-year-old girl formed a cult that murdered up to 35 people as human sacrifices to become immortal. All Rights Reserved. So what will it take for Black girls to just exist on and off screen? "Latasha was defenseless. Support one another, all nationalities. 20072023 Blackpast.org. NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. [29] In the eyes of many in the black community, it was tragic that Soon Ja Du did not receive any jail time for her crime. She started to rebel and their relationship turned sour. [4] Alice Walker and Saidiya Hartman were influences in Allison's approach to creating a missing archive in the absence of home videos or other archival footage of Harlins. In August 1991, a small fire broke out just before the trial kicked off. "[3] Instead she worked closely with Harlins' friends, developing a depiction of their childhoods and South Central Los Angeles. What are you hoping that people take away from your documentary about both Latasha Harlins story and the larger concept of Black girlhood? The Harlins shooting is one of several confrontations between Korean grocers in South-Central and their customers. And I want Black girls to see themselves and understand how beautiful and special and just deeply full of grace they are, and how they can be imperfect, unapologetic, and dont have to shift or mold themselves for anyone. In the years following Harlins killing, rapper Tupac Shakur provided her with a little hint of justice by ensuring that her name would never be completely forgotten. Thousands of people took to the streets when the verdict was announced and looting and arson was widespread. And we are the ones that are understanding how important it is that art is a representation of our current times, that we are forced to confront and be uncomfortable. It is a fictionalized account of the killing of Latasha Harlins and the effects on both her family and the family of the shooter. Thats why the image of Latasha is always changing in the film. [1] Allison wanted to create a piece restoring the memory of Harlins' life and death to their significance in those events, which are often described only as the Rodney King riots. They remembered being young when Latasha was killed. And I want people to know that Latasha was an honor roll student. But there was another case, not as widely known, that helped set off the unrest. For help with production, she turned to her childhood friend Fam Udeorji, who has worked as creative producer on the Childish Gambino video This is America, written for the TV show Atlanta, and was the music supervisor for Creed II. She stated, "Did Mrs. Du react inappropriately? More , December 6, 2019 Please try again. Security-camera footage which showed Harlins attempt to pay for the juice and the subsequent scuffle between the two women convinced a jury to find Du guilty of voluntary manslaughter and call for the maximum 16-year jail sentence. Latasha Harlins was a 15-year-old African-American girl who was fatally shot by Soon Ja Du, a 51-year-old Korean-born female convenience store owner. [29] Despite intervention from leaders of both communities, the time after the death of Latasha Harlins was characterized by boycotts, tense debate, bitterness, Molotov cocktails, and more convenience store murders. All contents 2023 The Slate Group LLC. They called her name as they set fire to hundreds of Korean-owned businesses. [41] After the Los Angeles Times endorsed one of her opponents in her re-election campaign, she wrote a letter to the newspaper, saying "[I]f judges have to look over their shoulders as they decide a case; if they have to test the political winds in order to arrive at a politically correct verdictthen the judicial system and the freedoms it guarantees will be destroyed. [22] In July 1992, Latasha's brother and sister received a $300,000 settlement from a civil suit brought against Soon Ja Du, which was paid by the store's insurance policy. Though Allison also grew up in South Central, she didnt learn about Harlins until 2016. When I was reading about her, I was disturbed to find that all that existed of her online was the retelling of her final trauma, she recalls. Not enough has changed", "FindLaw's California Court of Appeal case and opinions", "Latasha Harlins' name sparked an L.A. movement. The film captures the essence and showcases the fullness of Harlins, something that reports on her death always failed to do. I just knew that I was blessed to have an older sibling that looked after me, that loved me. A Love Song for Latasha was nominated for an Oscar. I remember when I watched Eves Bayou and when I watched Just Another Girl on the I.R.T. The DSLR was inconspicuous when she was shooting on location in schoolyards and streets in South Central. cultfacts 1.6K 31 dethb0y 3 days ago NSFW 4 dead including 3 teens in murder-suicide khou 1.5K 148 AmethystOrator 7 days ago NSFW The funding allowed her to travel between North Carolina, where she had returned to graduate school, and South Central to keep filming. However, two eyewitnesses who were in the shop at the same time denied the conversation and instead claimed Du had called 15-year-old Latasha a "witch" and accused her of trying to shoplift. The Oriental lady started pulling on her sweater saying: Thats my orange juice, the boy testified under cross-examination by Dus lawyer. I think about when I was a young girl and the films that really inspired me. Harlins turned to walk away when Du took out a gun and fired. In justifying his directive, he said "[t]his was such a stunning miscarriage of justice that Judge Karlin cannot continue to hear criminal cases with any public credibility. Latasha Harlins was a 15-year-old girl who was shot and killed on March 16, 1991 by Soon Ja Du, a 51-year-old Korean store owner. Last fall, she filmed the films final scenes: Ty OBard walks on the beach, her favorite place, talking about how much more she might have accomplished if her old friend had been around to push her forward. Photography equipment news and reviews, business and technical advice from top pros, industry news and much more, delivered to your inbox each week. In the L.A. courtroom during the trial months later, the Harlins family sat in the front row, praying for justice. But she didn't belong [on the bench] anyway. When we look at Latasha Harlins, even Judge Joyce Karlin [who presided over the trial following her death] understands why Soon Ja Du reacted the way she did. Karlin added, "this is not a time for revenge and no matter what sentence this court imposes Mrs. Du will be punished every day for the rest of her life." Atop these voice-overs, there are photos of Harlins and footage of the South Central community in which Harlins grew up. White Judge Joyce Karlin, however, gave Du probation, 400 hours of community service, and a $500 fine. Harlins hit Du four times and one of the blows caused Dus eye to swell, Combs said. WebIt was a major reason why Korean-Americans believed they were targeted during the 1992 unrest the death of 15-year-old Latasha Harlins at the hands of a Korean-American in The decision fanned the flames of racial unrest, which led to the LA riots. If you are a current subscriber and have not activated your pdnonline.com access, please provide the following information. When interesting scenes happened in front of them, we felt Latashas spirit with us, she says. They rented a place near 89th Street and Broadway, just a few blocks from where Latasha would later be murdered. We could make the most beautiful films, and there are still people that would not understand what the conversation is, would not understand why its important. Du was released. Shocked, Latasha can be seen hitting Du twice, which knocked her to the ground, before she started to back away, after dropping the orange juice in the fracas. The girl was saying: Let me go. "[7] The day of the shooting is depicted in animation, intercut with VHS tape static, to heighten the sense of memory despite the lack of any home movies of Harlins. Latasha Harlins, however, saw no such justice. They came to StoryCorps to remember her. Du was tried and convicted of Latashas mother, Crystal, who worked as a waitress in a local tavern, was found brutally shot on November 27, 1985, in a Los Angeles nightclub. Latasha King was just 15 when she was shot dead by a shop owner one Saturday morning - her death is widely thought to be one of the contributing factors to the 1992 LA Riots and Netflix series, A Love Song for Latasha, tells her tragic story. And I had a basketball game. Two were found guilty, Officer Laurence Powell and Sergeant Stacey Koon, while two were acquitted. Du reached under the counter, retrieved a revolver, and fired at Harlins from behind at a distance of about three feet (one meter). And something that was really important to me is, what does it mean to speak to people like her cousin, Shinese Harlins, and her best friends, like Tybie OBard, who were the same age as Latasha? He dedicated his track, Keep Ya Head Up, to the 15-year-old girl, and put her name in many of his other songs. RUTH HARLINS: I had said, get some orange juice. . Sixteen-year-old Bryant was shot and killed by a police officer in Columbus, Her death happened thirteen days after the videotape of the Rodney King beating was released. The world didnt. [49], Rapper Ice Cube composed a song about the incident for his album Death Certificate titled "Black Korea". Get up to speed with our Essential California newsletter, sent six days a week. 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Her application to attend theSundance Institutes New Frontier Lab Programs was rejected, but about a month later the organizers contacted her, wanting to know how the film was progressing. How come she can she just die for one bottle of juice?" MaKhia Bryants murder really makes me upset. Meron Menghistab on shooting "A Day in the Life of Trevor Noah" for Vice.com, and his strategy for staying busy. Still to this day, it's devastating for our family," Christine Harlins, her sister, said. [3] Ava DuVernay programmed the documentary as part of Array 360, and it was then picked up by Netflix. Then read about Mickey Cohen, one of Los Angeles most notorious gang leaders. They dont have to perform for anyone to be important. Kirk McKoy/Los Angeles Times/Getty Images. WebLatasha Harlins. [39] The sentencing of Soon Ja Du reflected that of the police officers who beat Rodney King. [I had these] young girls who represented the future, Ty and Shinese who represented the past, myself, us representing the presentjust all these different understandings of time and conversations with each other. For myself, growing up in Los Angeles as a young Black girl, I always want to really document these different stages of Black girlhood. "[40], Karlin became the target of protests and an unsuccessful recall campaign. After they had scouted a church they wanted to film, they returned just as the deacons wife was walking in with her two young daughters. Judge Karlin claimed there were mitigating circumstances surround Latasha's death and that Du had only fired the gun under "extreme provocation and duress", highlighting that she had been the victim of several robberies at her store. On the morning of March 16, 1991, though, Harlins did plan to make a purchase. Latasha Harlins was born on July 14, 1975, in St. Louis, Illinois. [2] The sentencing was widely regarded as an extremely light sentence, and a failed appeal[3] contributed to the 1992 Los Angeles riots, especially the targeting of Koreatown, Los Angeles, California. The jury found Du guilty of voluntary manslaughter and recommended the maximum prison sentence of 16 years. [4] The killing of Harlins came 13 days after the videotaped beating of Rodney King. But what is justice today is justice always. The best of movies, TV, books, music, and more, delivered to your inbox. [50], Singer-songwriter Gabriel Kahane composed "Empire Liquor Mart (9127 S. Figueroa St.)" for the album The Ambassador in 2014, which tells the story of Latasha's life and the event that transpired.[51]. In her book American Dream, Sapphire wrote the poem Strange Juice (or the murder of Latasha Harlins) giving voice to the murdered girl. Fueling the tension of the neighborhood was a never-ending onslaught of city-sponsored surveillance violence. Du was arrested and when her case came to trial she told the court that she had shot Latasha on self-defence and that she believed her life was in danger. Koreans in response argued that their attitudes evolved from high crime rates in the area and shop owner fears of shootings and burglaries. Black customers were continuously frustrated by what they saw as rudeness and price-gouging on that part of Korean store clerks, as well as store owners refusal to hire any black employees. Riots. I think we have to first acknowledge that theres an issue. I really want to interrogate what it means to not take the time, care, and intentionality to speak to those who were directly affected by this moment in history. When she was six years old, her family moved to South-Central L.A. by Greyhound bus. "[41][43] After Denise Harlins was removed from the ballroom, Karlin gave a speech, stating "There are those in the community who demand that we define justice by what is politically correct. As the Harlins back was turned, Du reached for her gun and aimed it at the back of her head. Udeorji advised Allison on sound editing and music licensing, and helped her with logistics, locations and casting during the two years she was shooting the film., At a gathering of filmmakers, Allison met Janice Duncan, who had worked as a director and producer on fictional features. Some Koreans and others contend that activists who have called for boycotts at a handful of Korean-owned stores are fanning racial tensions. What happened to the schoolgirl is now believed to have been one of the contributing factors to the LA riots, which erupted just a few weeks after the appeal courts ruling. Drawing on memories from the subject's cousin and best friend, the film reimagines the life of Latasha Harlins, a Black Los Angeles girl shot and killed by a convenience store owner in 1991. She made sure we did our chores, did our homework. Dus trial, originally scheduled to be heard in Compton, was moved to Los Angeles this month by a judge who concluded that jurors and witnesses might be intimidated in a city that has a large black population. And we knew Latasha would get them all right. [31] Since then, they had been a target of anger from both black shop-owners and black customers, with incompatible claims from either group that say Korean shop-owners "undercut prices" by the shop-owners and that they overcharged customers. Tasha died. They also share the impact that Harlins death has had on their own lives. Shes not even buried there.. Police, after speaking to the people in the store at the time and watching CCTV of the incident, agreed that the youngster had been planning to pay. BUY THE MOVIE: However, the trial judge, Joyce Karlin, sentenced Du to five years of probation, 10 years of suspended prison, 400 hours of community service, and a $500 fine.[18][19][20]. Black folks have always been doing the work, but what dismantling the system for me means is that others acknowledge how they have been a part of the problem, how they have been complicit, how they have allowed the systems to continue, and that no one is challenging or wanting to make others uncomfortable. ), Throughout the 19-minute film, Harlins cousin, Shinese Harlins, and her best friend, Tybie OBard, share their memories of Latashalike her aspirations to become a lawyer, her love of basketball, and a memorable poem that she wrote just one month before her life was tragically cut short. So it was this really beautiful coming together with a community, and of me engaging with my own childhood, my own path. So for me, its always about creating a secret language for other Black girls, so that they know they are seen, they know that their existence is important, they know that there are other people believing in them, supporting them, rooting for them. [12] After speaking with the two eyewitnesses present and viewing the videotape of the incident, recorded by a store security camera, the police concluded that Harlins intended to pay for the beverage with money in hand. WebLatasha King was just 15 when she was shot dead by a shop owner one Saturday morning - her death is widely thought to be one of the contributing factors to the 1992 LA Riots and Some black activists say the incidents stemmed from racism on the part of the Koreans. She wanted to buy our grandmother a big old house. After the change in national immigration laws in 1965 a large number of Korean immigrants arrived in Los Angeles and by 1968 the first Korean-owned market opened in South Central LA. The Los Angeles natives documentary short A Love Song for Latasha, which was nominated for an Oscar this year and is streaming on Netflix, is a moving tribute from Allison and Harlins loved ones to the young girls life. He said Du feared for her safety because her son had been beaten and forced to pay extortion at the store and she was aware of nearby merchants who had been killed during robberies. BlackPast.org is a 501(c)(3) non-profit and our EIN is 26-1625373. When you say dismantling the root, what do you think that looks like? Latasha's killer was convicted of manslaughter but served no jail time. The jury found Du guilty of voluntary manslaughter, an offense that carries a maximum prison sentence of 16 years. Latasha was shot in the back of the head and died at the scene at the Empire Liquor Market on March 16, 1991. Los Angeles Times/GettyKorean grocer Soon Ja Du in court, after she fatally shot Latasha Harlins in the back of the head. Accuracy and availability may vary. The Los Angeles mayor's office estimated that 65 percent of all businesses vandalized during the riots were Korean-owned. 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