The history of the modern city of Los Angeles can be traced back to the mid 18th century when a Spanish explorer named Gaspar de Portol, together with a Franciscan missionary, Juan Cresp, arrived at this location and noted that it could be developed for habitation. This early settlement would later grow in leaps and bounds to become a town of significance. This history has been preserved through the historic area of Los Angeles Pueblo Plaza (Estrada 43) as well as Olvera Street. In addition, there are several landmarks in Los Angeles that are attractions to visitors. These include among many others the world famous Hollywood sign and the Walt Disney concert hall. Los Angeles is today a multi-ethnic city that has enjoyed its share of benefits as well as faced the challenges that come with such demographics. The 1992 Los Angeles riots were the culmination of the racial tensions triggered by the Rodney King controversy. In the later decades of the 20th century, the city also saw a proliferation of gang activities, such as violent crime and drug deals.
This brief description of the vast city does not reflect the full picture of Los Angles. One would need to live in it to truly appreciate the city. I came to this conclusion after conducting several interviews with the residents of Los Angeles. What I got from the interviews totally embarrassed me. I did not know it was possible to have such a diverse set of emotions and views concerning one and the same thing, even if it is a city. The opinions are as diverse as the city residents themselves.
Interviews
1. Anthony Michael
Anthony Michael works as a housekeeper in the campus. We met one evening while he took a break from his work and I was unsuccessfully racking my brain on how I was going to get someone to speak to me about the 1992 Rodney King riots.
ME It is very kind of you to grant me a moment of your attention for this interview. Please share with me your view of Los Angeles
Anthony Michaels (AM) This is my home. My family has lived here for the past one hundred and twenty years. I love the sounds of LA and would not want to exchange them for any other city. LA has a soul that can not be found in any other city.
ME What do you remember of the 1992 LA riots and do you think anything was learned as a result of the riots
AM You see, for me the LA riots were very personal. Rodney King is actually my first cousin. Not many people know this since our families do not talk much anymore. On the day the riots broke out I knew something was going to happen. You see, there is no way they were going to find the cops guilty. It is just the way it is in America when it comes to us blacks. You also need to understand, this was not about Rodney King but more about Latasha Harlins. When a black man kills, they lock him up and throw away the keys, when a white man kills, he gets a smack on the back. Since when do you get probation for murder
ME Does this mean you agree with what happened during the riots the attack on Reginald Danny the white truck driver and Fidel Lopez the self employed immigrant construction worker
AM Understand this, I do not condone violence nor support hooliganism. However, when people feel that there is one law for them and another for the rest, you have to appreciate the frustration. I am a graduate who works as junior house keeper. I have a family to take care of. Tell me which white boy graduate works as a junior house keeper It was wrong to beat up those two men but understand unless the employment situation improves what happened will definitely happen again. In black communities, we need to be given an opportunity to succeed. Social facilities must be easily available in the black community. If you bother to check history, there is always a major riot in LA every ten years and nothing ever changes. Mark my words, another riot will come and this time it will be worse than all others combined. Remember the population of Hispanic and blacks is rising faster than all other group and similarly unemployment is rising in the same rate. Any how, I would love to sit and chat but I must go back to work. See you around.
ME Thanks and sure, see you around.
2. Philip Jackson
Philip Jackson is an LAPD officer at the 77th Street Community Station. He has lived and worked in South Central all his life and claims that to him there is no better place to work than among his own. He leads the local initiative to make a difference in the society through mentorship and coaching of children.
ME Being a police officer you have had an opportunity to see a lot of Los Angeles than most people would see. What is your most favorite place
Philip Jackson (PJ) My most favorite place is Los Angels Southwest College. It is not only because I am an alumnus of the college, but also for the important role it is playing in giving young men and women a chance at success in life. For a long time South Central LA did not have learning institutions that would offer blacks an escape route out of drugs and violence until the College was started back in 1965 in the aftermath of the Watts riots. Unfortunately, the powers that be do not seem to appreciate its contribution to society. Its budget allocation is so minimal considering the impact it has on society.
Me If you had a chance to meet with Mayor James Hahn, what issue would your want him to urgently address
PJ The South West College is the one issue I believe the city of Los Angeles is burying its head in the sand when it comes to dealing with. Looking back at history, should the college be allowed to collapse, Los Angeles will be inviting greater problems than it would care to handle. As a result of the college, the number of black and of late Hispanic kids with a college diploma and by extension a chance at life has increased. Looking at the crime statistics at the station, violent crimes have been on the decline for the last decade. This is as a result of the campaign by the community to ensure all children have a chance at an education.
ME If you were to spend 1 billion dollars from the Getty fortune, what would you do with it
PJ Firstly, I would offer the South West Community College the facilities it so desperately requires in order for it to be competitive in offering quality education. Even a Community College needs to have cutting edge technology for its students. Secondly, I would revamp and improve the facilities available to schools in South Central LA. To me education is the only vehicle the kids have if they are to improve their lives and the escape the vicious cycle of poverty that they are born to. I would make sure all the community centers are properly equipped so that children have a reason to occupy their free time doing something constructive. You have to understand, gangs are exciting and alluring since they have money. If we can show our kids there is all they need in school and the community centers, the gangs will have a much harder time recruiting from the streets. Sorry I need to go. Duty calls. It has been a pleasure talking to you.
ME The pleasure has been mine and thank you for your time. Stay safe out there.
3. Annette Sanders
Annette Sanders is a drama school tutor and a budding actor. She moved to Los Angeles from rural Wyoming ten years ago in search of opportunities that abound in Hollywood and has had her fair share of ups and downs of Los Angeles.
ME According to you what are the problems of Los Angeles
Annette Sanders (AS) Los Angeles definitely has myriad problems. Only last month our Mayor declared LA the capital of homelessness in America. With the shrinking economy and collapse of the financial
markets, the number of homeless has astronomically increased. They will be found all over the packs, streets, in the subway and of late even at our home door steps. In the same breadth, another major problem of Los Angeles is traffic. Sure Los Angeles is made for drivers but wait until you have to do the driving, then and only then do you realize the roads are not driver friendly. The traffic is crazy. I believe this is the only city in the world where there are traffic snarl-ups even at night.
ME Is there anything good about Los Angeles or is life terrible
AS Just because I mourn about LA does not mean I would want to be anywhere else but here. This is Los Angeles the City of Brotherly Love. This is the city where you find great food, scenery, history, art and people. It is the city of stars. In Los Angeles the chance of meeting your favorite stars are very high. This is a city where people dream huge and fall hard and get up to try again. This is a city where things change so fast, you come from lunch you find life is not where you left it. Los Angeles is a city obsessed with new. It is a city that has been at the forefront of innovation since inception.
ME For a first time visitor, where would you advise them to visit to truly appreciate Los Angeles
AS Easy, Sunset Boulevard and on to the Pacific Coast highway. You see Sunset Boulevard runs through all places that make Los Angeles what it is. It captures the essence of Hollywood at the same time. By continuing through to the A1 (Pacific Coast Highway), one gets to enjoy the total and true beauty of Los Angeles and by extension California State. Sorry but I must go. This call is from my agent informing about an audition I have to attend.
ME Thank you for your time and do have a successful audition.
Conclusion
It is clear from the interviews that Los Angeles residents are very proud of their city. Irrespective of the circumstances they find themselves in, they are positive about their city and have concrete steps that if taken could lead to the improvement of the city of Los Angeles. What is most reassuring is that despite the great sense of injustice felt by the minorities in Los Angeles, optimism still boils in them.
Irrespective of the class, race or profession, one thing that is common among all residents of Los Angeles is their focus on success given the opportunities available. They also share a very deep love and commitment to their neighborhood. From the interviews and interacting with the respondent, I have learned in Los Angeles, hope springs eternal.
Despite the circumstances, all who call Los Angeles home, have a love for the city that they can not envisage being anywhere else but in LA. Similarly, it was enlightening to discover the effort being done by the residents of South Central Los Angeles to improve their society. To them this is a community effort. They have chosen not to wait for the powers that be to come to their aid. Instead they have chosen to take the bull by the horns and tackle issues head on. Even with the changing demographics in South Central Los Angeles, the commitment to make it a better place still drives all who call it home.
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