Semester 2 Final essay

Jose De La Paz

6/ 26/ 10

Period 1

            South Central hasn’t changed since it was founded. Today it is known as a bad and dangerous place. Even though there are stereotypes that make the city look bad, South Central is a good place. It is a diverse place full of hardworking people. It has gone through difficult times but it still stands a great city. South Central is a hopeful place. I consider it the hood and my home. The three most important events that have had the greatest impact on making South Central, L.A what it is today are the Watts riots, the L.A riots, and the Crack Epidemic.

            The first event that led to what South Central is today is the Watts riots. The Watts riots started in 1965 because anger and frustration had built up over the years. The people had it with the unemployment and racism that was around them. When Marquette Frye was pulled over for reckless driving, he was arrested along with his brother Ronald and their mother. The people stood outside to watch as they were being arrested. The riots lasted three days and in the end 34 people were dead. Many whites left because they were afraid, this was called “white Flight”. The Watts riots were important to South Central because it changed the cities diversity. That’s why there are not many whites in the community.

            Another event that is important to South Central is the L.A riots of 1992. The L.A riots set off because of racism and injustice. Rodney King was severely beaten by four white police officers. The officers had no motive to beat Rodney. The white cops were found not guilty. Almost immediately after the verdict was announced the riots started. They lasted 5 days and there were 53 people dead and 1 billion dollars in damages. The L.A riots had a big impact on the city and the people living here. The anger that people had against racism came out in the riots.

            The Crack Epidemic is also an event that has made South Central what it is today. The crack epidemic was when crack cocaine was spread through L.A and the ghettos in South Central.  The government needed money to support the war against communist in Nicaragua. So the government brought crack cocaine and had it sold in the ghettos of South Central. Freeway Ricky Ross was the man who spread the drugs all over California. The Crack Epidemic destroyed many lives and broke up many families. It led to poverty and despair

In summation the Watts riots, the L.A riots, and the Crack epidemic have changed South Central and has made it what it is today. The Watts riots resulted in “white Flight”, where many whites left South Central and Watts. The L.A riots blew out of control when the officers who beat Rodney King were found not guilty. The crack epidemic led to poverty and broke up many families. It also led to people becoming drug dealers and gang members. I think that South Central will change for the better in a few years. I think that the gangs and the drugs will decrease. More businesses will be built. Little by little South Central will get better and better.

Quarter Reflection

I did pretty good this quarter. I didn’t miss any assignments this quarter. I think that I did do my best at all times. I’m doing well in all my classes except spanish and math. Like I said I’m not doing good in Spanish and math because I think it’s hard and I didn’t try to do good. I could try to not be lazy in my other classes.

I would like to make a movie about music and sports in the community. I think I would because I want to show how music and sports are positive things in the community.

#12- Community walk Reflection

1. The broken theory says that when something is broken or not taken care of, more crime will happen in that area.

2. I thought a lot of places were uncared for. Like for example the auto shops, and the liquor stores. There were many places that were tagged. I think because it was messed up people thought it was ok to do more damage to it. It made the business look bad.

3. I saw that most of the houses were well kept and that when there is one tagging then later more tagging will appear there too. There were many food places in the community. there were also liquor stores and auto shops. This tells me that the community is not really that taken care of but it is not that messed up.