It was 25 years ago that a 15-year-old girl lost her life over a bottle of orange juice. The neighborhood had its own host of problems during this time. I hate the word reform. The world didnt. Diversity, I think, is a really watered down word just for visibility. As she approached the counter, Soon Ja Du, one of the storeowners, accused her of stealing after seeing Harlins place the bottle in her backpack, despite her holding the $2 payment for the $1.79 price of the juice and approaching the counter to pay. This may have been the last known photo taken of Latasha Harlins. The judges decision exacerbated racial tensions between African Americans and Korean immigrants. ? You always have dreams.. So understanding this idea of how loss can deeply affect and disrupt Black girl childhood, I thought it was important for us to talk to the women who were then young girls [when Latasha died, in 1991,] about who Latasha was to rebuild the story, to engage in this process of collective memory and rebirth and archive. Du, 49, sat at the defense table crying after the tape was shown for the first of numerous times during the day and for the first time in public. One, as an L.A. native, this is a story that was important, one that had not been discussed in the fullness of who Latasha was. [39] After the verdict in King's case was delivered, massive riots ensued in Los Angeles, protesting the miscarriage of justice for black victims and racial inequality. Du was tried and convicted of voluntary manslaughter over the killing of Harlins, based in part on security camera footage. And thats the only way for us to really begin to engage with inclusivity. Im hoping that people really begin to engage with new ways of discussing Black trauma. Udeorji advised Allison on sound editing and music licensing, and helped her with logistics, locations and casting during the two years she was shooting the film., At a gathering of filmmakers, Allison met Janice Duncan, who had worked as a director and producer on fictional features. Thanks for signing up! WebAllison chose not to include the footage of Harlinss death taken by the stores camera, which was shown on national news and was later used in the trial of the woman who shot her. Residents shouted Latasha Harlins name as they torched Korean-owned businesses including Soon Ja Dus own Empire Liquor. WebIn March of 1991, 15-year-old Latasha Harlins was killed by one of the owners of the Empire Liquor convenience store in Los Angeles, Calif. Latasha had entered the store to buy a A brother and sister remember Latasha Harlins, a 15-year-old girl who was shot and killed in 1991 by a store clerk in South Central Los Angeles the same month Rodney King was beaten. The Los Angeles natives documentary short A Love Song for Latasha, which was nominated for an Oscar this year and is streaming on Netflix, is a moving tribute from Allison and Harlins loved ones to the young girls life. They lived near 89th St. and Broadway, just a few blocks from where Latasha would be killed ten years later.[7][8]. I think every single one of them deeply affected me. In 1998, the California State Assembly named April 29 as Latasha Harlins Day. 20072023 Blackpast.org. And something that was really important to me is, what does it mean to speak to people like her cousin, Shinese Harlins, and her best friends, like Tybie OBard, who were the same age as Latasha? And I want people to know that Latasha was an honor roll student. And I really believe in collaboration to inform the process, to help inspire the visuals, and I wanted to share their truth, their memories, as a way to fill in this archival gap. ACOFF: You know, she was a caretaker. High school student Latasha had called into the Empire Liquor store, which was owned by Soon Ja Du, at around 10am on March 16, 1991. Latashas younger brother, Vester Acoff Jr. was born in 1979, and her younger sister, Christina, was born in 1981. But she realized that to tell Harlins story, she needed to break free of everything Ive been taught about documentary work. The Harlins family received a $300,000 settlement from Dus insurance company. [1] She originally pitched it to a documentary organization she worked for, given the approaching 25th anniversary of Latasha Harlins' 1991 death and the 1992 uprising it fueled. In his opening statement, Dus attorney, Charles Lloyd, contended that Du pulled a handgun in self-defense and accidentally shot Harlins. Family members said they hope Latasha's legacy evolves to be about love and justice. [30] Korean immigrant shop-owners had a growing presence in black communities since before the 1970s. Disrupting American societys harmful tendencies to portray Black girls as more mature than other children their ageto deny them of their childhoodsis key for experimental documentary filmmaker and photographer Sophia Nahli Allison, whose work aims to portray young Black girls as just that: young girls. )[2] But the organization's indifference and incomprehension of the subject's significance prompted a realization for Allison that "I could no longer work within institutions that don't validate the importance of my existence. The film also uses experimental animation and music, such as Nonames striking Dont Forget About Me, in which she sings, I know everyone goes someday/ I know my bodys fragile, know its made from clay/ But if I have to go, I pray my soul is still eternal/ And my momma dont forget about me/ I pray my momma dont forget about me/ I pray my granny dont forget about me.. He suffered massive injuries, including several skull fractures, broken bones and teeth, and permanent brain damage. [7], The film reimagines narrative of Harlins through intimate memories shared by her cousin Shinese Harlins and best friend Tybie O'Bard. [10] In TheGrio, Cortney Wills described A Love Song as "a mesmerizing piece of work that takes an unconventional route to storytelling."[5]. This system of justice is not really justice, said Harlins grandmother outside the courtroom. Tensions were high in the area after just two weeks before, the video of officers pummeling Rodney King came to light. ("Korean motherfuckers was crooked/So niggas had to burn and loot 'em [] Lickin' off shots for Latasha, that's proper"). [29] However, while tensions had exponentially increased because of the killing of Harlins, they were built on existing conflict that had been present in the community. "[3] Instead she worked closely with Harlins' friends, developing a depiction of their childhoods and South Central Los Angeles. 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[39] In both cases, there was video evidence depicting wrongdoing and in both cases, the defendants did not serve any jail time. What do you think this says about the academys ability to recognize Black stories, especially those about Black girls? After Harlins backed away, Du angrily threw a stool at her. Soon Ja Du's store, Empire Liquor, was located at the intersection of West 91st Street and South Figueroa Street, Vermont Vista, Los Angeles,[10] and was normally staffed by Du's husband and son. Atop these voice-overs, there are photos of Harlins and footage of the South Central community in which Harlins grew up. MARTINEZ: Latasha's brother Vester and her sister Christina were 10 and 8 when she died. Soon Ja Du leaves court with har husband Billy Hong Ki Du. The city was left with $1 billion in damages. In July, two months after the end of the riots, her grieving family were awarded a $300,000 settlement for her death. I wanted it to feel intimate and personal and not invasive at all.. Racial tensions were high, especially between local Korean store-owners and their impoverished black patrons. All contents 2023 The Slate Group LLC. "All you people sitting, applauding over a child killer," Harlins yelled. She wanted to buy our grandmother a big old house. In her book American Dream, Sapphire wrote the poem Strange Juice (or the murder of Latasha Harlins) giving voice to the murdered girl. The sister firmly denied Lloyds repeated suggestion that Harlins had threatened to kill Du. However, the officers involved in Rodney King's arrest were re-tried. Du grabbed the bag and the two women had a violent scuffle. The riots lasted for almost a week and were, in part, triggered when four police officers were acquitted of using excessive force when they arrested Rodney King. [35] Many of the targets of looting and destruction were Korean stores; more than two thousand Korean stores burned or looted. It took years before Los Angeles was rebuilt and many who live there say little has changed, with huge economic divides still existing in the city. There is no space held for what it means when a Black girl is threatened, when a Black girl is accosted, when a Black girl does not feel safe and does not have protection. [13][14] The videotape[15] showed that Du grabbed Harlins by her sweater and snatched her backpack. We [talked to] real girls, and I never wanted the image of any of the girls in the film to feel like something that was curated or feel like it was of an actor, but for other Black girls to just see themselves reflected. But when she turned around to leave, the lady shot her in the head, and she died. [4] The killing of Harlins came 13 days after the videotaped beating of Rodney King. The store owner, Soon Ja Du, grabbed her, they tussled, and after Harlins threw the carton on the counter and walked toward the door, Du shot her in the back of the head. What are you hoping that people take away from your documentary about both Latasha Harlins story and the larger concept of Black girlhood? [46], Hip hop artist 2Pac took particular note of the death of Harlins and in 1993 released a song titled "Keep Ya Head Up" which was dedicated to Latasha Harlins. He fired at Latasha as she walked away from him from about three feet away from her. Latasha Harlins (January 1, 1976 March 16, 1991) was an African-American girl who was fatally shot at age 15 by Soon Ja Du (Korean: ), a 49-year-old Korean-American convenience store owner. Empire Liquor became a target for protests. Contact Us | She was trying to walk out the door, when she was shot, Lakeshia Combs testified. And Im someone that deeply wants to interrogate and reimagine parts of the archive that are left intentionally blank or that are erased or destroyed. I felt as though she was a celebrity because everyone knew her. She was just that smart. Footage showed him being brutally beaten. There was no audio on the tape, but the prosecutions first two witnesses--9-year-old Ismail Ali and his 13-year-old sister Lakeshia Combs--testified that there was a sharp exchange and name-calling by Du and Harlins. Los Angeles Times/GettyKorean grocer Soon Ja Du in court, after she fatally shot Latasha Harlins in the back of the head. So it was this really beautiful coming together with a community, and of me engaging with my own childhood, my own path. She adds that the film belongs in part to Ty OBard and Shinese Harlins, and she would like to use it to help them realize a memorial to their friend. [23], The incident and reduced sentencing by the court exacerbated the existing tensions between African-American residents and Korean-American merchants in South Central Los Angeles. Shes not even buried there.. It also shows Du pointing a handgun and Harlins dropping to the floor, mortally wounded. Please don't believe the hype. She was killed. Menu. VESTER ACOFF: One of the favorite memories we had was when we used to be in the living room dancing and lip-syncing over music like a talent show. In the prosecutions opening statement, Carvajal said the gun used by Du had been altered by someone so that the trigger could be pulled with little pressure. It sparked five days of riots across Los Angeles. [36] Though these ethnic tensions have not resulted in wide-scale violence since 1992, the relationship between Koreans and the black community was still strained as of 1996. Thereafter, Shakur made frequent mention of Harlins in his songs, including in tracks like "Something 2 Die 4 (Interlude)" ("Latasha Harlins, remember that name 'Cause a bottle of juice is not something to die for"), "Thugz Mansion" ("Little Latasha, sho' grown/Tell the lady in the liquor store that she's forgiven/So come home"), "I Wonder If Heaven Got a Ghetto" ("Tell me what's a black life worth/A bottle of juice is no excuse, the truth hurts/And even when you take the shit/Move counties get a lawyer, you can shake the shit/Ask Rodney, Latasha, and many more"), "White Mans World" ("Rest in Peace to Latasha, Little Yummy, and Kato"), "Hellrazor" ("Dear Lord if ya hear me, tell me why/Little girl like Latasha, had to die")[47][48] and "N.I.G.G.A." THE AFTERMATH OF LATASHAS DEATH. Black residents protested outside of the Empire Liquor Market, and Soon Ja Du was taken into custody. Only two weeks before Latasha Harlins walked into Dus Empire Liquor Market, a black man named Rodney King was pulled over by four LAPD officers, three of whom were white, for speeding. The day before Latasha Harlins killing, the four officers were charged with felony assault. Send me updates about Slate special offers. A videotape played Monday in a Los Angeles courtroom showed that Latasha Harlins had turned away from a scuffle with a Korean grocer when the black teen-ager was shot in the back of the head. After the change in national immigration laws in 1965 a large number of Korean immigrants arrived in Los Angeles and by 1968 the first Korean-owned market opened in South Central LA. We also may change the frequency you receive our emails from us in order to keep you up to date and give you the best relevant information possible. I really want to interrogate what it means to not take the time, care, and intentionality to speak to those who were directly affected by this moment in history. I ran out the back of the gym, ran home. She was just always a motivating factor in my life. WebLatasha Harlins January 1 1976 March 16 1991 was an African-American girl who was fatally shot at age 15 by Soon Ja Du Korean a 49-year-old. [5], A Love Song for Latasha, reimagines the life of Latasha Harlins, a Black girl shot by a convenience store owner in Los Angeles 1991, fueling the 1992 uprising. However, two eyewitnesses who were in the shop at the same time denied the conversation and instead claimed Du had called 15-year-old Latasha a "witch" and accused her of trying to shoplift. Latasha Harlins, however, saw no such justice. They dont have to perform for anyone to be important. I said I wanted to know more about Latasha beyond her death, and learn who she was as a person, Allison explains. The same month that King was beaten, 15-year-old Latasha Harlins was shot and killed by a store clerk in South Central Los Angeles. [2] The sentencing was widely regarded as an extremely light sentence, and a failed appeal[3] contributed to the 1992 Los Angeles riots, especially the targeting of Koreatown, Los Angeles, California. This is not the movies. Harlins then struck Du with her fist twice, knocking Du to the ground. Under cross-examination, the officer acknowledged that the blows from the husband probably were not as forceful as those attributed to Harlins. [3] Ava DuVernay programmed the documentary as part of Array 360, and it was then picked up by Netflix. Tupac dedicated his song, Keep Ya Head Up, to Latasha Harlins. Diversity means we see you, but we really dont need to engage with you. Though Allison also grew up in South Central, she didnt learn about Harlins until 2016. When I was reading about her, I was disturbed to find that all that existed of her online was the retelling of her final trauma, she recalls. So for me, its always about creating a secret language for other Black girls, so that they know they are seen, they know that their existence is important, they know that there are other people believing in them, supporting them, rooting for them. How come she can she just die for one bottle of juice?" [4] Alice Walker and Saidiya Hartman were influences in Allison's approach to creating a missing archive in the absence of home videos or other archival footage of Harlins. Forego a bottle of soda and donate its cost to us for the information you just learned, and feel good about helping to make it available to everyone. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. When I would watch Moesha or Sister, Sister, it meant so much for me to see my existence reflected. Site Map, 2023 Emerald Expositions, LLC. Du, however, grabbed the girl by the sweater, and the two began to fight. A state appeals court later unanimously upheld Judge Karlin's sentencing decision, 30, on April 21, 1992, about a week before the LA riots. In November, 1991, Du was found guilt of voluntary manslaughter, a crime that can result in a 16 year prison sentence, which the jury recommended she service. She cooked. Kirk McKoy/Los Angeles Times/Getty Images. Your donation is fully tax-deductible. When they rejected her pitch, she says, I knew I had to quit and do this story on my own. Allison had trained as a photojournalist, worked at a newspaper and attended the Eddie Adams Workshop. Once Allison had figured out the films narrative arc, she outlined some ideas for what footage she might shoot. [32], In 1984, seven years before Harlins was shot, an editorial was posted in a black community newspaper urging a boycott of Korean stores, saying that any black person who went to their stores was a 'traitor'. 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