Imagine a city erupting after a verdict that feels like a slap in the face— that's Los Angeles in spring 1992. The not-guilty ruling for officers who beat Rodney King unleashed hell: over a thousand fires, billions in damage, neighborhoods turning into war zones with gunfire between protesters and storeowners. More than 60 lives lost, 2,400 injured, and 12,000 arrested. But Rising from the Ashes doesn't just recount the headlines; it digs into the human cost through intimate stories.
At the book's core are Rodney King, whose video-recorded beating became a national symbol; Latasha Harlins, the 15-year-old Black girl shot by a Korean American storeowner, igniting Black-Korean tensions; and Edward Jae Song Lee, a Korean American killed amid the unrest. Paula Yoo, drawing from her Korean American roots, weaves these tragedies with a minute-by-minute timeline of the five-day uprising.
It's not just history—it's alive with recollections from police officers dodging bullets, firefighters battling blazes in abandoned areas, journalists capturing the frenzy, business owners defending their livelihoods, and activists pushing for change. Black-and-white photos add gritty texture, pulling you into the smoke-filled streets.
Explore the roots: economically starved neighborhoods gripped by drugs and gangs, simmering racism between Black and Korean communities. Yoo shows how these forces collided, and how LA rose—imperfectly—from the ashes. It's a comprehensive look at what led up to, exploded during, and lingered after those fateful days.
Whether you're a history buff, studying urban sociology, or just curious about events that shaped today's LA, this hardcover delivers perspective with heart. Read it to grasp why tensions persist and how stories of loss can spark healing. Around 400 pages of unflinching, eye-opening narrative.
