Carol & the Los Angeles Uprising: Part 1

Carol Kwang Park was 12 years old, working as a cashier at her family's gas station in Compton, California, when the 1992 L.A. Uprising forever changed her life. Her mom was at the gas station that day and Carol was unsure if she'd even make it home. At the time, she didn't understand why tensions came to a head in Los Angeles, following the acquittal of the officers who beat Rodney King. She also never understood why her mother insisted on keeping the business going, especially after the Uprising. As an adult, a personal crisis prompts Carol to finally start processing that event and her place in history.

Content Warning: This episode contains racial slurs and discusses police brutality. If you want to learn more about any of the historical moments we talk about on our show, visit our website: LAist.com/Inheriting

We have a variety of resources for you, as well as lesson plans from the Asian American Education Project.

Lesson 5.2 (Grades 5-12): The 1992 L.A. Civil Unrest https://asianamericanedu.org/1992-la-civil-unrest-systemic-racism.html

Lesson 5.3 (Grades 7-12): Building Community Consciousness and Coalitions https://asianamericanedu.org/building-community-consciousness-and-coalitions.html

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy