The L.A. Riots

December 6, 2019

|In Black History in Two Minutes (or so), Season 1

Be Woke Presents Black History in Two Minutes (or so)

Despite footage of police officers beating the late Rodney King in 1991, justice, for many in South Central Los Angeles, was not served. The acquittal of four white Los Angeles Police Department officers would be the catalyst of the the Los Angeles Riots of 1992.

With decades of racial tension between African-Americans and the LAPD, the Rodney King trial amplified black people’s sentiments. On April 29, 1992, protestors rallied at the local LAPD precinct. Over the next two days, looting, fires, and utter destruction would strike South Central Los Angeles in response to the continued poor treatment of African-Americans in the community. At its core, the L.A. Riots were a social comment on the continued fight against racism, inequality, and criminal justice.

Hosted by Henry Louis Gates Jr., and with additional commentary from Vincent Brown and Ava DuVernay, we look at how one Los Angeles community’s attempts to bring about social change led to devastation unlike any other.

Black History in Two Minutes (or so) is a 4x Webby Award winning series.

If you haven’t already, please review us on Apple Podcasts! It’s a helpful way to for new listeners to discover what we are doing here: Podcast.Apple.com/Black-History-in-Two-Minutes/

Archival Materials Courtesy of:
Alamy Images
Associated Press
Getty Images
Shutterstock

Additional Archival by:
CBS Los Angeles
KCOP-TV

Executive Producers:
Robert F. Smith
Henry Louis Gates Jr.
Dyllan McGee
Deon Taylor

Produced by:
William Ventura
Romilla Karnick

Music By:
Oovra Music

Follow Black History in Two Minutes on Facebook

Follow Black History in Two Minutes on Instagram

Subscribe to Black History in Two Minutes Youtube Channel

‘Black History in Two Minutes’ is also available on Apple and Google podcasts.