Disrupting American societys harmful tendencies to portray Black girls as more mature than other children their ageto deny them of their childhoodsis key for experimental documentary filmmaker and photographer Sophia Nahli Allison, whose work aims to portray young Black girls as just that: young girls. These are people that I knew in high school when I lost my dad, and now their children are a part of this story. Now 30 years later, a mural honoring the South-Central L.A. teenagers life has surfaced at the Algin Sutton Recreation Center in Los Angeles. Jasmine M. Ellis: What inspired you to make A Love Song for Latasha? How do I challenge traditional rules of documentary so that Latasha can live in her fullness, and show evidence that she existed?. So after that, I'm at the free-throw line, and our cousin T ran into the gym screaming. A year later, residents of Harlins neighborhood took to the streets in outrage. More , December 10, 2019 After a short scuffle, Du grabbed a 0.38-caliber handgun and shot Harlins in the back of her head. Please try again. Left Ken Browar and Deborah Ory; Right John Paul Caponigro, Sundance Institutes New Frontier Lab Programs. Harlins threw the juice bottle back on the counter and turned to leave the store when Du pulled a .38-caliber handgun and shot 15-year-old Harlins in the back of the head. Sixteen-year-old Bryant was shot and killed by a police officer in Columbus, Ohio, on April 20, 2021. Racial tensions were high, especially between local Korean store-owners and their impoverished black patrons. She said Harlins and Du called each other bitch.. Only four years after the family settled into their L.A. apartment, Harlins mother, Crystal, was fatally shot in an L.A. nightclub. It is a fictionalized account of the killing of Latasha Harlins and the effects on both her family and the family of the shooter. Latasha Harlins became a victim of these racial tensions on the morning of Saturday, March 16, 1991. In cross-examining Combs and her brother, Lloyd pointed out discrepancies among statements they gave to police the day of the shooting, to the grand jury that indicted Du, and to the jury Monday. It took years before Los Angeles was rebuilt and many who live there say little has changed, with huge economic divides still existing in the city. And so it just became this collective moment of everyone wanting to remember Latasha together, of all these different moments in time connecting for us to share this story. We [talked to] real girls, and I never wanted the image of any of the girls in the film to feel like something that was curated or feel like it was of an actor, but for other Black girls to just see themselves reflected. I dont believe in the term reform. Du's husband, Billy Heung Ki Du, heard the gunshot and rushed into the store. [31] The distrust ran possibly even further, because in the same editorial the writer exclaims, "The real question is, why was my brother's brains blown out fighting for those Koreans?" After he came to, Billy then phoned the emergency services to say there had been an attempted robbery at the store. Latasha Harlins was remembered Wednesday by a fervent crowd of about 50, including her grandmother, siblings and aunt, at a vigil in South Los Angeles in the place where she was shot. However, the officers involved in Rodney King's arrest were re-tried. A police officer testified later that injuries Du received may not have all come from the fight with Harlins. Feder-Haugabook, A. 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. Operation Hammer took off in 1987, an LAPD initiative that sent police officers into poor neighborhoods to conduct massive roundups of suspected gang members. dr hsu goals plastic surgery; lorraine moore yukon dead [37] Recent years have seen improved relations between the two communities, as a younger generation of Korean-American LA residents showed up in great numbersin some cases even organizing proteststo support the Black Lives Matter movement during the summer of 2020. But Judge Joyce Karlin gave Du probation instead. 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. [1] She originally pitched it to a documentary organization she worked for, given the approaching 25th anniversary of Latasha Harlins' 1991 death and the 1992 uprising it fueled. Now that you about the tragic and senseless murder of Latasha Harlins, check out these 20 moving Civil Right protest photos. 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. Riots. The area was recovering from the recent Watts Riots and Koreans began buying businesses because they were inexpensive and there wasnt much competition. After the four police officers that senselessly beat Rodney King that night in 1991 were exonerated by a mostly white jury, the people of South Central finally had enough. In 1998, the California State Assembly named April 29 as Latasha Harlins Day. Hannah McKennett is a Dublin-based freelance writer that is dedicated to traveling the world while writing about it. And theres no protection for Black girls when we have to rely on a system that is deeply rooted in white supremacy. . The film captures the essence and showcases the fullness of Harlins, something that reports on her death always failed to do. But what is justice today is justice always. She decided to use animation to depict Harlinss death, rather than relying solely on the surveillance video. [17] The Los Angeles Police Department ballistics report also found that the handgun Du used was altered in such a way that it required much less pressure on the trigger to fire than an ordinary handgun. Because we're going to need it," Denise Harlins, her aunt said. Fueling the tension of the neighborhood was a never-ending onslaught of city-sponsored surveillance violence. I remember when I watched Eves Bayou and when I watched Just Another Girl on the I.R.T. But I think there are so many ways to dismantle the system. We encountered an issue signing you up. You always have dreams.. I think that we must unanimously reject such demands What's politically correct today may not be politically correct tomorrow or the next day. 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. In the documentary, you juxtapose the voices of Latashas loved ones reminiscing about her life with images of her community today, 30 years later. Did you feel it was essential to the film to center it around those who were close to Latasha? [32], In 1984, seven years before Harlins was shot, an editorial was posted in a black community newspaper urging a boycott of Korean stores, saying that any black person who went to their stores was a 'traitor'. Du observed Harlins putting a $1.79 bottle of orange juice in her backpack. Get the latest headlines, releases and insider-gossip direct to your inbox with our Binge-worthy newsletter. [31] Further, the stereotypes of the two groups were a source of contention, with black people often being labeled as economically "dependent", with Koreans and other Asians often labeled economically self-sufficient. Killing of an African-American teenager by a Korean-American store owner in 1991, Academy Award for Best Documentary Short Subject, "Column: The killing of Latasha Harlins was 30 years ago. I think theres a difference between inclusivity and agency. WebLATASHA HARLINS CCTV FOOTAGE. [4] The killing of Harlins came 13 days after the videotaped beating of Rodney King. And we knew Latasha would get them all right. There was no audio on the tape, but the prosecutions first two witnesses--9-year-old Ismail Ali and his 13-year-old sister Lakeshia Combs--testified that there was a sharp exchange and name-calling by Du and Harlins. 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. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Before and after photos from space show storms effect on California reservoirs, 19 cafes that make L.A. a world-class coffee destination, Before and after photos from space show epic snow blanketing SoCal mountains, Shocking, impossible gas bills push restaurants to the brink of closures, The chance of a lifetime: Five friends ski the tallest mountain in Los Angeles, Review: A reimagined Secret Garden fails to flower anew at the Ahmanson Theatre, Long Beach residents stymie plan for shelter; they say it wasnt about the homeless people, Linda Kasabian, Charles Manson follower who helped send him to prison, dies at 73, L.A. County agrees to $28.85-million settlement with Bryant family over crash photos, L.A. County moves to require quake retrofits as Turkey-Syria death toll exceeds 50,000, Column: As help pours in for World War II vet, 102, with huge bill, SoCalGas wants a rate hike. Kirk McKoy/Los Angeles Times/Getty ImagesProtesters leave a message that says LOOK WHAT YOU CREATE on day two of the L.A. Latasha Harlins was warned by her grandmother not to enter Empire Liquor unless she was planning on making a purchase. After six days of violence, the California National Guard, military and other law enforcement agencies were called in, while the city was placed under curfew. A state appeals court later unanimously upheld Judge Karlin's sentencing decision, 30, on April 21, 1992, about a week before the LA riots. Everyone knew about the disrespect shown to black customers by the Korean owners, and they tried to avoid it as much as possible. Diversity, I think, is a really watered down word just for visibility. It was 25 years ago that a 15-year-old girl lost her life over a bottle of orange juice. Tasha died. Harlins hit Du four times and one of the blows caused Dus eye to swell, Combs said. Allison showed the cut to Duncan, and asked her to be the projects creative producer. Not enough has changed Filmmaker Shannon Dion, left, places a portrait of Latasha Harlins as friends and community members She edited the footage herself every night after she shot, to make sure the puzzle pieces she was gathering fit together. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information. [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]. At just 15 Latasha Harlins had known more than her fair share of tragedy. Sophia Nahli Allison: There were so many intersecting reasons that I wanted to pursue this story. On a Saturday morning in 1991, 15-year-old Latasha Harlins walked to a market five minutes from her home in South-Central Los Angeles to buy a bottle of orange juice. [8], The film premiered at the Tribecca Film Festival and screened at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival. A security camera tape showed the entire heart-wrenching event on fuzzy, silent film. 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. (Los because of the force he was using.. Harlins was 15-years-old in 1991 when she died instantly after being shot at the time by 51-year-old, Soon Ja Du, who accused her of attempting to steal the juice. 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. People Cant Stop Fighting Over the Politics of the, The Quarterback Conundrum at the Very Top of the NFL Draft. It made it so much easier working with young girls, not actors, to not have a big bulky camera in their face, Allison says. And it still hurts," Ruth Harlins, her grandmother, said. [19] Karlin resigned from the bench in 1997. The youngsters, who were at the store to buy hair gel for their mother, said Du had falsely accused Harlins of trying to steal a $1.79 bottle of orange juice, then after a scuffle threw a stool at Harlins and shot her as the teen-ager walked away. The sister firmly denied Lloyds repeated suggestion that Harlins had threatened to kill Du. Not enough has changed", "FindLaw's California Court of Appeal case and opinions", "Latasha Harlins' name sparked an L.A. movement. 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. A small donation would help us keep this available to all. 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. Riots: 20 Years Later Where they are now", "Demystifying Americanness: The Model Minority Myth and The Black-Korean Relationship", "Korean Businesses in Black and Hispanic Neighborhoods: A Study of Intergroup Relations", "(Mis)interpretations and (In)justice: The 1992 Los Angeles "Riots" and "Black-Korean Conflict", "Culture within and culture about crime: The case of the "Rodney King Riots" Google Search", "Conflicts, Riots, and Korean Americans in Los Angeles, 19651992", "Use and Abuse of Race and Culture: Black-Korean Tension in America", "L.A. activists recall lessons of 1992 uprising in new efforts on Asian-Black relations", "Unusual Threat for a Judge in a Bitter Slaying Trial", "Judge Who Gave Probation in '91 Killing Quits", "The Conquest of Hate: By Turning Conflict Inside Out, a New Breed of Mediators Finds a Way of Bringing Peace to the City", "The Last Plantation Color, Conflict, and Identity: Reflections of a New World Black (chapter 1)", "Commissioner Jones, Former Judge Karlin Draw Administrative Bar Suspensions", "2Pac (Ft. Jadakiss) N.I.G.G.A. Harlins' death came 13 days after the videotaped beating of Rodney King. WebLatasha Harlins was killed just a few years after her mother was shot dead in a South-Central L.A. nightclub. Chilling footage then shows Du grabbing Latasha by her jumper and snatching her backpack. Absolutely. In many ways, the shooting death of 15-year-old Latasha Harlins on March 16, 1991 by convenience store clerk Soon The shopkeeper, Soon Ja Du, accused Harlins of trying to steal the juice before a scuffle broke out between the two. [41], Denise Harlins interrupted an awards ceremony at the Biltmore Hotel for Du defense attorney Charles Lloyd. They called her name as they set fire to hundreds of Korean-owned businesses. But those dreams would soon be crushed. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kiw6Q9-lfXc&has_verified=1. The reaction to Harlins killing was quick and bitter. Here's her grandmother, Ruth, who the kids call Madea (ph), remembering the day she sent Latasha to the store. By 1990, 65% of South Central businesses were Korean-owned and a 1992 survey of these storeowners revealed considerable racial prejudice against black customers and black people in general. The family moved from Illinois to South Central Los Angeles in 1981 when Latasha was six years old. From 1986 to 1990, 83 lawsuits against the LAPD for excessive force resulted in a settlement of at least $15,000. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. When interesting scenes happened in front of them, we felt Latashas spirit with us, she says. I think thats why movements like #MeToo and #SayHerName have to exist, because people still refuse to think theres a problem. During the riots, 63 people were killed with 2,383 hurt and more than 12,000 arrested. 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. On November 27, 1985, Crystal was brutally shot dead outside a Los Angeles nightclub by Cora Mae Anderson, Acoff's new girlfriend, leaving Latasha and her younger siblings in the care of their maternal grandmother, Ruth Harlins. Rather than shooting crisp, clear frames that offered a literal recreation of what youre hearing, she wanted to combine the voiceover with fleeting images that suggest visual memories. And so I think thats when the nation has to really acknowledge how many of the folks here have been complicit in watching and witnessing young Black girls be stripped of their lives. Directed by Sophia Nahli Allison, it was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Short Subject at the 93rd Academy Awards in 2021. By the late 1980s, racial tensions were high in South Los Angeles, and especially between Korean storeowners and African American residents of the city. Residents shouted Latasha Harlins name as they torched Korean-owned businesses including Soon Ja Dus own Empire Liquor. . 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