A Call for Ethnic Unity

In reading “It’s Not Just Talk as Valley Prepares For The Verdict,” (Times Valley Edition March 28), I could not help but feel sorrow for the residents of the Valley who fear an uprising from the “underclass,” and for the city of Los Angeles in general.

As an eight-year resident of Los Angeles, and as a black male, having grown up in Seattle, a considerably less racially divided and confused city, let me share my thoughts regarding the upcoming verdicts.

Although most Angelenos would never admit it, Los Angeles is a city truly divided on racial lines. To generalize, blacks live in South-Central, whites in the Valley and Latinos in East Los Angeles. Not until an issue such as the Rodney King incident, which affects the entire city, do you find out just how far apart, ideologically and geographically, the various ethnic communities of Los Angeles are.

Some will argue that the Rodney King incident was not racially motivated. This may or may not be true. But I ask them to recall an incident of this severity happening to a white male--I cannot think of any.

The majority of black people, and particularly young black men, believe that the incident was racially motivated. For many young African-Americans, it conjured up memories of the video footage of our parents being beaten with batons, and having dogs and fire hoses turned on them during their struggles for civil rights.

Will there be more riots following the second round of verdicts? It is in all of our best interest to try to prevent them.

Taking the “Hands Across the Valley” concept one step further, I urge residents of Sherman Oaks, Encino, etc., to put down their cellular telephones, come down from their rooftops, pick a day just to visit with the residents of South-Central Los Angeles. Conduct a “citywide rally for unity,” involving all of the communities of Los Angeles, at the corner of Florence and Normandie.

We can all recall the very positive feelings of seeing everyone pitch in to help clean up after the riots last year. Maybe this time around, those same positive feelings can prevent an outbreak.

If the people of the Valley were to meet the people of South-Central, they would find that they are very similar--everyone wants good jobs, a good education for their children, low crime and respect. I am sure this is true for the Korean and Latino communities as well.

I would like to see city government and community leaders do more to connect the different communities of Los Angeles. In Seattle there is an annual event, Seafair, which is a celebration of the unity of the various ethnic communities of Seattle. It provides some of my fondest memories.

TRACY R. HILL

Sherman Oaks