Crash Course Black American History – Los Angeles Uprising & Related Context

Vocabulary flashcards covering central people, events, and concepts from the lecture on the 1992 Los Angeles uprising, its origins, and broader racial dynamics in the United States.

Black Lives Matter Movement

Contemporary, decentralized campaign against police brutality and systemic racism, inspiring nationwide protests in cities like Ferguson and Minneapolis.

Police Brutality

Excessive and often lethal force used by law-enforcement officers, frequently cited as the spark for modern uprisings in Black communities.

White Supremacy

Social, political, and economic system that privileges white people and disadvantages communities of color through discriminatory policies and practices.

Los Angeles Uprising (1992)

Six-day rebellion after the Rodney King verdict that left 63 dead, 2,000+ injured, and 8,000 arrested, exposing deep racial and economic tensions.

Uprising vs. Riot (Language Choice)

Using “uprising” or “rebellion” centers political grievances and agency, while “riot” frames events as chaotic or senseless violence.

Watts Rebellion (1965)

Six-day revolt in South L.A. triggered by the arrest and beating of Marquette Frye, resulting in 34 deaths and $40 million in damage.

Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965

Law that removed national-origin quotas, encouraging immigration from Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean and reshaping U.S. urban demographics.

Manufactured Scarcity

Condition in which public policy decisions deprive communities of resources, creating competition and tension among marginalized groups.

Kye (Rotating Credit System)

Community-based lending pool used by Korean immigrants to collectively fund business purchases, aiding entry into South L.A. retail markets.

Korean-Owned Businesses in South Central

By 1990, an estimated 65–80 % of neighborhood stores, often perceived as profiting from but not investing in Black communities.

Natasha Harlins

15-year-old Black girl fatally shot by shop owner Soon Ja Du in 1991 over a $1.79 orange juice, deepening Black–Korean tensions.

Soon Ja Du

Korean American store owner convicted of involuntary manslaughter in Harlins’s death but sentenced only to probation, community service, and a fine.

Rodney King

Black motorist whose 1991 videotaped beating by LAPD officers and their 1992 acquittal ignited the Los Angeles uprising.

LAPD (Los Angeles Police Department)

Law-enforcement agency long criticized for racism and excessive force, central to the Watts and 1992 uprisings.

Global Conservatism (1980s–1990s)

Political shift emphasizing deregulation, policing, and austerity, often opposed by Black activists through culture and protest.

Artistic Renaissance (Hip-Hop & Rap)

Creative surge in the 1980s–1990s where Black artists used music to critique racism and mobilize political action.

Civil-Rights Violation Sentencing

Federal conviction of two LAPD officers in 1993 for infringing Rodney King’s rights; both received 30-month prison terms.

Community Divestment

Long-term withdrawal of investment, quality housing, and public services from Black neighborhoods, fueling economic despair and anger.