Slow Burn: The L.A. Riots | Episode 2: No Justice

Host: Joel Anderson
Date: November 10, 2021

Main Theme or Purpose

This episode examines the killing of Latasha Harlins in 1991 by Soon Ja Du, a Korean store owner in South Central Los Angeles, and the profound failure of the justice system that followed. Through personal testimonies and expert commentary, it explores the intersection of race, community tensions, and the justice system in pre-riots Los Angeles. The story of Latasha Harlins is positioned both as a personal tragedy and a catalyst for the collective outrage that would explode during the L.A. Riots.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Latasha Harlins’ Background and Family Struggles

• Latasha, whose mother was killed when she was nine, was raised by her grandmother Ruth Harlins in South Central LA.
• The family had fled violence in East St. Louis but found themselves facing similar dangers and systemic injustice in LA.
• Ruth provided stability on a modest income, emphasizing family, hard work, and routine. Latasha was precocious and ambitious, aspiring to be an attorney to protect her family from the system that had failed them.
  • “The most important thing to me... is that my family is always protected by a shield so that they won't be harmed by dangerous, ruthless, uncaring people.” (Latasha’s essay, 05:07)

2. Community and Racial Tensions between Black and Korean Residents

• The Dus, Korean immigrants, purchased Empire Liquor Market, situated in a predominantly Black neighborhood.
• Many Black residents saw Korean store owners as outsiders insinuated into their neighborhoods, while Korean merchants often viewed Black customers with suspicion and vice versa.
  • “You do have a potentially explosive situation where this foreigner seems to have come into the community and is able to buy the place whether anybody else wanted it or not.” (Elaine Kim, 12:54)
• Mutual misunderstanding was exacerbated by language, cultural differences, and economic inequality.
• Efforts toward dialogue, such as the Black Korean Alliance, met limited success due to lack of support and deeper structural issues.
  • “It was a hollow attempt... the alliance was all based on helping them [Koreans] do business better in the Black community. But never a conversation about helping us in theirs.” (Danny Bakewell, 15:21)

3. Incident at the Empire Liquor Market: March 16, 1991

• Video evidence: Latasha Harlins, 15, enters to buy orange juice. Soon Ja Du accuses her of stealing, despite Latasha holding the money.
• A confrontation escalates: Du grabs Latasha, who fights back. Du throws a stool at Latasha, then retrieves a gun and shoots Latasha in the back of the head as she attempted to leave.
  • “As Latasha begins to walk away. Soon Ja Du pulls the trigger. Just like that, Latasha collapses out of sight of the camera.” (Joel Anderson, 22:09)

4. Aftermath: Justice System Failure and Public Reaction

• Du was charged with murder; trial venue moved to Downtown LA due to supposed concerns about Compton’s security for witnesses and staff (27:55).
• Surveillance video, shown in court for the first time, contradicted Du's claims of self-defense.
  • “It looked like she was executing her. That’s what it looked like to me.” (Elaine Kim, 29:14)
• Jury convicts Du of voluntary manslaughter (not murder). Judge Joyce Carlin gives Du probation and a $500 fine, no jail time.
  • “She has killed my 15-year-old granddaughter and she'll get away with five years probation... This is an injustice.” (Ruth Harlins, 34:25)
  • “If it was the other way around... she'd probably be in prison to this day today, you know, because she a typical Black girl in the ghetto...” (Shanice Harlins Kilgore, 34:40)
• Outrage sparks protests and boycotts of Korean stores.
  • “This is not a game. This is our lives. This is our community. This is our children. And you have to be more responsive and respectful or we are going to have a problem with each other.” (Danny Bakewell, 27:40)
• Even Korean American commentators criticized the light sentence as unjust.
  • “Just probation for taking away a person's life. It's just unacceptable.” (Edward Chang, 36:06)
• Judge Carlin would later deny racism played any role in her decision, expressing frustration at the scrutiny.
  • “I think we have to stop focusing on racism so much. I really do.” (Joyce Carlin, 37:03)

5. Long-term Impact and Grieving

• Latasha’s family, particularly her grandmother and aunt, struggle with irreparable loss.
• Her aunt Denise Harlins led a failed campaign to recall Judge Carlin, making it her life’s mission.
  • “This was her life to make sure Judge Carlin wouldn't sleep comfortable knowing she let a murderer off.” (Shanice, 39:34)
• The store, repeatedly targeted during the riots, was preserved by neighbors as a memorial to Latasha, preventing the Du family from collecting insurance.
• The episode closes by reflecting on the continuing trauma and the impossibility of true justice or closure for the Harlins family.
  • “Why don't I have my grandchild? Where is my grandchild?” (Ruth Harlins, 40:43, via Itabari Njeri)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• Latasha’s Aspirations:
  • “The most important thing to me is that my family is always protected by a shield so that they won't be harmed by dangerous, ruthless, uncaring people.” (Latasha, 05:07)
• On Growing Up Black in LA:
  • “Another black girl? Yeah, just another black girl not not knowing where she came from or who she is. So of course it's a lot of stereotype going on.” (Shanice Harlins Kilgore, 06:33)
• On Tensions and Ownership:
  • “Why don’t you open a market that we can use for our families?” (Community member, 13:25)
  • “It was a hollow attempt to do something that really wasn’t beneficial for black people…” (Danny Bakewell, 15:21)
• The Killing (Surveillance Footage):
  • “As Latasha begins to walk away, Soon Ja Du pulls the trigger. Just like that, Latasha collapses out of sight of the camera.” (Joel Anderson, 22:09)
  • “It looked like she was executing her.” (Elaine Kim, 29:14)
• After Sentencing:
  • “This lady has killed my 15-year-old granddaughter and she’ll get away with five years probation. This is an injustice… justice has not been served.” (Ruth Harlins, 34:25)
  • “If it was the other way around, if Latasha would have killed Soon Ja Du, she'd probably be in prison to this day today…” (Shanice, 34:40)
  • “Just probation for taking away a person’s life. It’s just unacceptable.” (Edward Chang, 36:06)
• Judge Carlin’s View:
  • “I think we have to stop focusing on racism so much. I really do.” (Joyce Carlin, 37:03)

Important Segments & Timestamps

• Latasha Harlins’ childhood and family background – 00:33 to 07:46
• Korean immigrant experience and business tensions – 09:24 to 18:46
• Incident at the Empire Liquor Market – 19:58 to 22:09
• Aftermath and legal proceedings – 23:26 to 34:25
• Sentencing and community backlash – 34:25 to 38:24
• Reflection and long-term impact – 39:34 to end (42:43)

Tone

The episode is somber, direct, and deeply personal—with anguish carried in the testimonies of Harlin’s family, and a sense of systemic injustice articulated by scholars, activists, and the host. The language is candid, voicing the raw pain, outrage, and exhaustion of those failed by the justice system.

Conclusion

This episode of Slow Burn captures the heartbreak and legacy of Latasha Harlins’ killing and the miscarriage of justice that followed—not simply as an isolated case, but as a flashpoint in Los Angeles’ of racial wounds and systemic inequality. It places Latasha’s story within a larger context of neglected grievances, bureaucratic indifference, and generational trauma—laying bare the tensions that would later erupt during the 1992 Los Angeles Riots.