The Los Angeles Riots which is referred to be Sa-I-Gu, meaning 4-2-9, is a very sensitive racial issue among all Americans in Los Angeles despite what racial background they have. The very beginning of the riot was from the Rodney King incident. The incident involved four police officers brutally beating and murdering an African American motorist and found innocent for their act. Within same year, there was another incident involving African American girl and a Korean shop-owner. Young African American was shot by Korean owner for shop-lifting. This has light the fire amongst African American society to express their anger towards Korean Americans in Los Angeles.
The documentary Sa-I-Gu was made to show what Korean American in Koreatown went through during the riots because there were not many media or places where they can speak to about the riot. During the time, the media was only focusing on leading the incident into racial conflict between Koreans and African Americans. Through this documentary, Korean American women who experienced harsh time in their life could speak up and share their feelings and thoughts about the experience and how their life has fallen apart.
Most of Korean American at the time were first generation immigrants who were trying to just survive in their new home looking for their “American Dream”. However, due to their language barrier, there weren’t that many ways to live other than having their own business. They were known to be rude to many customers however, many people including the customers did not realize it was unintentional and only a result from language barriers. Even during the riot it was hard for most of Korean American to express what they are going through or communicate with rioters, the media, or the government. It was believed that the riot was started by the discrimination, however, the result was that the riot was involving two discriminated race instead of the government. Korean American and African American were both treated unfair during the riot. Obviously, innocent lives were taken away in African American society and the government just watched the Koreatown burn as they were only protecting the suburban area for Caucasians to prevent the riot to expand.
Both Korean and African American are not the reason to be blamed for the riot. Instead, it was a result of lack of understanding between cultures. During the time, Korean American did not try to understand what African American was going through and vice versa. Racial conflict towards African American has been one of the America’s most important issue in history. It always has been very sensitive issue throughout the history. While history of Korean immigration is not very long and most of Korean immigrants not understanding the America’s very sensitive matter deeply enough. These things are to be learnt through the experience rather than just a simple education. It is hard to sympathize only through words and books. Not only that, African American did not try to understand the Korean immigrant and how they are only trying to survive each day by working hard. Instead, they accused Korean to be stooge for white Americans.
It is really good to know that there are well educated and warm hearted Korean American women out there to express their feelings of very sensible matter through this video rather than just expressing the anger towards each other.