Slow Burn, Season 6, Episode 8: "Damages"

Published: December 29, 2021 | Host: Joel Anderson | Podcast: Slate’s Slow Burn

Episode Overview

The final episode of Slow Burn’s season on the L.A. Riots, “Damages,” examines the aftermath of the 1992 Los Angeles riots by following three intertwined narratives: the ambitious but ultimately flawed attempt to rebuild Los Angeles’ devastated neighborhoods, the political shifts triggered by the unrest, and the personal impact on Rodney King. The episode highlights the formidable legacy of Mayor Tom Bradley, the promise and pitfalls of the Rebuild L.A. initiative, the rise and limits of police reform, and how King’s life was changed forever by the public violence done to him.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Hopeful Blueprint: Olympics to Rebuild L.A.

• Tom Bradley’s Legacy (01:15–06:30)
  • In 1984, Mayor Tom Bradley’s orchestrating of the profitable and harmonious Olympics became the apex of his career.
  • Bradley’s skill in coalition-building and attracting private sector support cemented his reputation.
  • Quote – Rafe Sonnenschein (04:44):
    “It was amazing. It was cosmopolitan. It was global … Politically, this was the high point of everything Tom Bradley had ever done.”
• The Birth of Rebuild L.A. (06:50–13:10)
  • In the 1992 aftermath, Bradley sought to replicate Olympic success by convening corporate power via Peter Ueberroth, assigning him to lead “Rebuild L.A.”
  • Public and private sector leaders rallied in the hope of transforming riot-ravaged neighborhoods.
  • Quote – Bradley (10:49):
    "We have to begin to think beyond the end of this incident and what we can do to rebuild."

2. Corporate Promises vs. Realities on the Ground

• Initial Optimism & Leadership Team (13:20–17:55)
  • Peter Ueberroth and Bernard Kinsey assembled a star-studded, powerful board including Hollywood and business leaders.
  • Early pledges and commitments signaled a turning point for neglected communities.
  • Quote – Bernard Kinsey (16:45):
    "Peter Ueberroth probably had one of the biggest black books I've ever seen… extraordinary reach.”
• Dissipating Hope and Media Scrutiny (17:55–24:30)
  • Promises turned to skepticism as media outlets discovered many companies listed as donors had no firm plans for investment.
  • Accusations of overblown figures and empty pledges eroded trust in Rebuild L.A.
  • Quote – Rafe Sonnenschein (21:45):
    "If you complained about Rebuild LA, they would add you to the committee."
  • The recession deepened, compounding the struggle for meaningful investment.
• Shortfall and Resignation (24:30–27:45)
  • With mounting criticism and few tangible results, Ueberroth and Kinsey resigned within two years.
  • The episode underscores the inadequacy of a purely private-sector approach.

3. Police Reform and City Politics After the Riots

• Demanding Accountability: The Christopher Commission and Charter Amendment F (28:00–33:00)
  • The Christopher Commission’s recommendations led to Charter Amendment F, stripping the LAPD chief of civil service protections and increasing oversight.
  • The reforms were a direct reaction to the gross injustice of the Rodney King verdict.
  • Quote – Rafe Sonnenschein (31:12):
    “This is huge stuff. This is a fundamental revolution.”
• End of an Era: Mayor Bradley and the Rise of ‘Law and Order’
  • The successful reforms marked the end of Daryl Gates’ tenure as police chief.
  • Bradley’s long coalition fractured as Richard Riordan won the mayor’s office on a law-and-order platform.
  • Growing racial tensions, economic instability, and a conservative swing limited the reforms’ reach.
  • Quote – Derek Mims (36:02):
    "Measure F on the street meant nothing to folks... Only thing I care about is who's driving in that police car and when they get out, how are they going to talk to me?"

4. National Response and Bill Clinton’s Politics

• Political Opportunism and ‘Sister Soulja Moment’ (41:20–44:50)
  • Bill Clinton distanced himself from Black activism with the famous Sister Soulja speech, signaling a centrist, “tough on crime” message.
  • Clinton capitalized on the moment to win over white voters without losing Black support, and his administration mirrored this in the 1994 Crime Bill.
  • Quote – Joel Anderson (43:25):
    “If the LA riots were a protest or a cry for help, then this was the response from the new mayor ... and the next President of the United States: more prisons, more punishment, more police.”
  • Community demand was never for lawlessness, but for policing without brutality or injustice.
  • Quote – Derek Mims (44:38):
    “What they don't believe in is injustice and brutality. We are just like you… The inhumanity, that's what we get.”

5. Rodney King’s Journey: Trauma, Justice, and Fallout

• King’s Federal Trial & Partial Vindication (47:00–53:10)
  • Rodney King testifies for the first time in a federal civil rights trial against the officers.
  • Two officers were convicted and sentenced to 30 months in federal prison, but King saw this as only partial justice.
  • Quote – King's writing (52:56):
    "I felt that justice was half served, but I was at peace after the verdict."
• Civil Lawsuit & Legal Turmoil (53:12–59:50)
  • King’s legal battle for damages included switching attorneys and contentious lawsuits over fees.
  • He ultimately received $3.8 million—far less than initial claims.
  • Bitter infighting among attorneys and friends left King financially and emotionally drained.
  • Quote – Antracia Averett (57:49):
    "They all put their hands in the cookie jar and took more than what they should have, every last one of them. And it created a lot of stress."
• Struggles With Fame & Addiction (59:50–1:04:40)
  • King’s life spiraled with repeated run-ins with the law, addiction, and failed business ventures.
  • Reality TV appearances offered little catharsis.
  • Quote – Rodney King on Celebrity Rehab (1:02:43):
    "I know who I am, but since the world knows me like that ... every day I wake up to let me know who I really am in this world."

6. Final Years and Enduring Legacy

• King’s Public Reckoning and Death (1:06:00–1:13:40)
  • Despite efforts at personal redemption and public forgiveness, King continued to struggle.
  • He was found drowned in his pool in June 2012, at age 47.
  • Quote – Joel Anderson (1:13:39):
    “Rodney King didn't die on March 3, 1991, but he didn't survive that night either.”
  • The episode closes reflecting on King’s symbolic meaning and the unresolved tensions that shaped his life and Los Angeles.

Memorable Quotes

| Speaker | Quote | Timestamp | |----------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------| | Rafe Sonnenschein | “It was cosmopolitan, it was global. ... High point of everything Tom Bradley had ever done.” | 04:44 | | Tom Bradley | “We have to begin to think beyond the end of this incident and what we can do to rebuild.” | 10:49 | | Bernard Kinsey | “Peter Ueberroth probably had one of the biggest black books I've ever seen...” | 16:45 | | Rafe Sonnenschein | “If you complained about Rebuild LA, they would add you to the committee.” | 21:45 | | Rafe Sonnenschein | “This is huge stuff. This is a fundamental revolution.” | 31:12 | | Derek Mims | “Measure F on the street meant nothing to folks... Only thing I care about is who's driving in that police car...” | 36:02 | | Joel Anderson | “If the LA riots were a protest or a cry for help, then this was the response from the new mayor ... more prisons, more police.” | 43:25 | | Derek Mims | “What they don't believe in is injustice and brutality. ... The inhumanity, that's what we get.” | 44:38 | | Rodney King (writing)| "I felt that justice was half served, but I was at peace after the verdict." | 52:56 | | Antracia Averett | "They all put their hands in the cookie jar and took more than what they should have, every last one of them." | 57:49 | | Rodney King | “I know who I am, but since the world knows me like that ... every day I wake up to let me know who I really am in this world.”| 1:02:43 | | Joel Anderson | “Rodney King didn’t die on March 3, 1991, but he didn’t survive that night either.” | 1:13:39 |

Timeline of Segments & Major Topics

| Time | Topic/Segment | |-----------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:00–05:45 | 1984 Olympics, Tom Bradley’s high point, corporate/civic optimism | | 06:00–13:10 | 1992 riots, devastation, Bradley and Ueberroth announce Rebuild L.A. | | 13:12–20:19 | Building Rebuild L.A.'s coalition, promises of revitalization, corporate involvement | | 20:20–27:45 | Criticism mounts, the pledges fall apart, resignations of Ueberroth and Kinsey | | 27:50–33:00 | LAPD reforms, Charter Amendment F, Daryl Gates exits, beginnings of police accountability | | 33:01–41:19 | Political fallout, shifting coalitions, Richard Riordan’s election, realities for L.A.’s communities | | 41:20–46:00 | National stage: Clinton’s tough-on-crime pivot, the Sister Soulja moment, 1994 Crime Bill | | 47:00–53:10 | Rodney King’s federal trial testimony and verdict | | 53:13–59:50 | King’s civil suit, legal maneuvering, and attorney conflicts | | 59:50–1:06:00 | King’s post-trial life: substance abuse, reality TV, ongoing struggles | | 1:06:01–1:13:40 | King’s final attempts at reconciliation, death, and retrospective |

Conclusion

“Damages” closes the season with a sobering assessment: While the riots demanded dialogue around justice and opportunity, attempts at transformation fell short—through incomplete corporate investment, faltering reform, and the personal toll on Rodney King. The episode’s narrative balances the ambition and limitations of the era’s leaders, the inadequacies of top-down change, and the enduring pain and symbolism found in King’s life and death.