BLACK LIVES DID NOT MATTER: LATASHA HARLINS

Latasha Harlins, a 15 year old girl, was shot and killed on March 16, 1991.  She was murdered 13 days after the videotape of the Rodney King beating was released.

The owner of the store (Soon Ja Du) saw Harlins place a bottle of orange juice in her backpack. Du believed that Latasha was attempting to steal the juice, but didn't see the money that Latasha had in her hand to pay for the juice. 

A struggle ensued between Du and Latasha which ended with Latasha throwing the dropped juice bottle on the counter as she began to leave the store.  Du then took out her gun and shot Latasha in the back of the head, killing her instantly.

In November, Du was found guilty of voluntary manslaughter and was recommended by the jury to spend 16 years in prison.  Unfortunately, Judge Joyce  Karlin ignored the recommendation and in a true travesty of justice sentenced Du to 5 years probation, 400 hours of community service, and a $500.00 fine.  This injustice in tandem with the Rodney King beating (the result of longstanding systemic racism, classism, racial profiling and police brutality, etc.) is often cited as a major catalyst of the 1992 Los Angeles "Riots".

Frederick Douglass on U.S. History

Many historians choose to tell the "Story of America" as a positive story of freedom, equality, and progress.  Frederick Douglass (several quotes to follow) insisted that an accurate representation of our nation must focus on truth.

"The rich inheritance of Justice, Liberty, Prosperity, and Independence, bequeathed by your fathers, is shared by you, not by me.  The sunlight that brought light and healing to you, has brought stripes and death to me.  This Fourth of July is yours, not mine, you may rejoice, I must mourn."

"I make no pretension to patriotism...I will hold up America to the lightning scorn of moral indignation.  In doing this, I shall feel myself discharging the duty of a true patriot; for he is a lover of his country who rebukes and does not excuse its sins."  

The History of the United States "involves the necessity of plain speaking of the wrongs and outrages endured, and of rights withheld, and withheld in flagrant contradiction to boasted American Republican liberty and civilization."


How can we continue to peddle comfortable lies and whitewashed history to our students...no wonder they fall asleep in class...they know many of us are liars too!