Asian Life in Los Angeles | Asian American Poll

ASIAN LIFE IN LOS ANGELES
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WHAT YOU SAY

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GeoffDB02

"I do, however, respect African-Americans who boycot storeowners who only views them as a dollarbill that they'd much rather earn in a fair-skinned white neighborhood and thus treat blacks poorly simply because you're a "black face" who walks in their store and they begin contemplating all the negative stereotypes that they'll probably experience from you."

I think most people here would also agree with you that a boycott is a generally respectable form of protest. I believe that racism and disrespect demonstrated by shopkeepers should have economic and social consequences. In poorer neighborhoods, I suppose it is hard to actualize this kind of community power given the limited alternatives (i.e. the A&P is a hell of a long walk away).
"However, poor social conditions affect the social structure of our
communities and, in reality, tend to drive people to get emotional instead of intelligently discussing differences on a rational basis."

Our common humanity. The image of a middle-aged shopkeeper and a teenage kid pausing to have a discussion about socio-economic inequity, redlining, and local market economics is kind of funny. And while I would love to see it happen, I recognize that it is somewhat unlikely. It's really up to community leaders to take the time now, when there is relative peace and quiet, to address these issues before another timebomb goes off and raises the passion/anger meters again. I'm glad you are here to present these kind of viewpoints and get some intelligent discussion going.

****************************************

Despite my earlier bashing on the LA Times, I thought the following article on Black-Korean relations in the aftermath of the riots was pretty decent.

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-042702races.story

This editorial is good to, it probably expresses a bit of the frustration and disappointment I imagine that a lot of the Korean merchants felt.

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-050102lopez.column

Man of Lha-sa(mancha) Monday, May 06, 2002 at 08:38:45 (PDT)

ABC married to Korean who understands,

Not only do your comments show that you are dumb beyond belief, but your husband is an idiot also since he actually married you.

JJ Sunday, May 05, 2002 at 23:06:31 (PDT)

To ABC Married to Korean:

Your comments show a complete lack of intelligence and credibility. Get a clue..if you're going to attack Koreans verbally, at least be smart enough to provide some credible support for your arguments. Oh, I see you can't you ignorant and clueless ditz.

KA male who would never put up with a moron of a wife like you Sunday, May 05, 2002 at 22:52:33 (PDT)

Actually,

I think Asian-Black relations are improving steadily, at least here in southern California.

All blacks I have come across have more prejudice towards Latinos, because they live in the same neighborhoods and often compete for the same types of jobs.
Larry Sunday, May 05, 2002 at 22:31:28 (PDT)

I am Chinese-American, and my grandfather once owned a store in those run-down black neighborhoods. He treated the folks there with kindness, compassion, respect.

He closed down way before the riots.

The blacks were OK, but occasionally you would find some gangbangers and trouble makers come in.

I saw this and it was terrifying.

I remember when I was only 7 years and it was summer vacation. I spent a day at the store with grandpa, as my parents were working and nobody else babysat me at home.

We were watching the Andy Griffith show that day, when I remember this black guy dressed in Crips gear came in with sunglasses on.

He started taking things in his hands and then he walked out. I asked my grandfather why he did that for? My grandfather didn't say anything and just told me to watch TV. He said the "lo-mok" ("black cockroach" in Cantonese) was a "gwei" (ghost). Then, later, the black guy came in again and took one more Hersheys candy bar. He mockingly asked my grandfather: "How mucheeeecheeee?" Then, he was laughing and made some mocking Bruce Lee screams.

I was upset and scared at the same time. My grandfather held me tight and said it was OK, and not to say or do anything. The black guy hopped out of the store and went across the street with other young black men talking, laughing and drinking all day. Those guys drank all day with no shirts on, just gang attire roaming up and down the streets. That was how the ghetto was and I am sure it is still like that today.

That day was the last day my grandfather opened shop. The next day he decided he had enough and sold out to a Korean family.

My grandfather saw with pain many times when those black gangsters would come in and just take things without asking or paying.

He wouldn't confront them, let alone shoot them.

You tell me who is the victim here?

It is easy to blame someone when there is no other convenient or alternative way.

I want people like the Reverend Cecil "Chip" Murray, Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, Louis Farrakhan to own a mom-and-pop store for themselves to see the realities!!!!
Never ending story Sunday, May 05, 2002 at 22:20:58 (PDT)

ABC married to Korean who understands,

It's got nothing to do with Confucianism. Korean mentality is macho and it is affected by their history of always being subjugated by either China (includes Han, Tang, Mongol, Manchu invaders) or Japan. They are very much like the Irish.

Blacks are also a macho and often subjugated people. Now, when these 2 cultures collide, it ends in violence.

Mexican Burrito,

I agree with you. Comparing Latinos from El Salvador to Mexicans is just like comparing Vietnamese to Cantonese. They may be hard to differentiate, but their temperaments and outlooks are different.

All Chicanos I have met from the eastside of L.A. are more mellow than El Salvadoreans. Maybe it is because of the civil wars in Central America? And, the Spanish influence is stronger among northern Mexicans while the indigenous blood is higher among Central Americans.
peace Sunday, May 05, 2002 at 22:04:29 (PDT)

I really appreciate the open dialogue this discussion seems to have created. Geoff's responses to his posts, for example, and also HoHo Looter (I'm glad that was a joke by the way). Also because it finally got those damn Bay Area posters off this board!

My friend's father (Korean-American) owned three stores: in Crenshaw, Mid-City and Inglewood. Two of the stores were pretty much untouched, the Mid-City store was destroyed. His father sold the remaining stores in the mid 90's. He is very poignant about that time period, and realizes he was very, very lucky, that many of his fellow store owners lost everything, and never received federal funding or even an official apology. And I have seen the Du/Harlans video, on the news (I'm glad that it was brought up because when I wrote about it I blanked on both of their names!). I have no opinion on it, since I don't know the history of their relationship. I mentioned it because it is seen as a very important factor in the symbolic relationship between the African-American and Korean shop-owner community.

To "It's you people" I have worked in South Central only a year, but prior to that, worked in the Lennox/Hawthorne area for three years. I am there every day. Calling me a liberal doesn't insult me - in fact, I wear the liberal badge proudly. I'm sorry that you seem to have had such bad experiences that you have such hatred against an entire group of people. I wouldn't survive in my job if I had that attitude, so calling me a "rainbow coalition" member doesn't hurt me. I am very proud of the fact that I have relationships with different types of people, and hope maybe I have caused the people I encounter to maybe think differently about Asians and Asian-Americans. Maybe it is wishful thinking, I don't know.

And the poster who asked if I thought I've had an easier time in South Central, even being Asian, simply because I'm female. I would probably guess I have. But that doesn't change the fact that I can't and won't demonize an entire race or ethnicity - I have friends and co-workers who are Black and Latino, and when I read negative, racist statements, I'm insulted for them, the same way I am when I hear insults against Asians.

All I was trying to say is that we all (the other Asian posters here) know the rage and fear and resentment we feel when words are thrown at us. Don't do that to someone else.
L.A. Chica Sunday, May 05, 2002 at 20:31:12 (PDT)

I agree with some of your arugments. Let me add some of mine. Koreans, like any other group, they truly take pride and respect for each other, as well as their culture. When they come to this country, much of them or almost all have a little or nor education, and their English is or is not that excellent. They want a better life here. Koreans send their children off to school, and get a h.s. diploma and a b.s. and/or master's degree in college, even have good jobs while their parents work in a hell hole such as stores earning some money. Don't you agree? Don't take it the wrong way. Koreans, not all, tend to act this way. If you show respect to them, they will respect you back well. If you disrespect them, they will do a bad thing back to you. I also think that it happens to almost every group. But, for Koreans, they seriously SHOUld not be into seclusion a lot, and always communicate with their own kind. They just have to open up a little bit toward others.

chinalova Sunday, May 05, 2002 at 16:29:19 (PDT)

I can't tell you how terribly frustrated and angry it makes me to hear someone say things like:

"you demand respect from the grocers in your neighborhood, then demand that you, the customers GIVE respect. Don't rob, steal, threaten, show guns or deny that you placed the juice in the backpack!"

Can some reasonable person out there please tell me how law-abiding African-Americans are supposed to be held accountable for unlawful criminals who victimize Asian storeowners in predominately African-American communities? Trust me, whenever I hear crime reports of black-on-black or black-on-Asian crimes, it pisses me off too. It's not fair to make excuses for criminals, so I don't. I see it as a criminal justice issue. I do support pro-acive police work. However, it is not fair for law enforcement or Asians to stereotype most African-Americans. Am I to be denied a job or a promotion because "most" black people are lazy and show up for work whenever they want to? Should I consider "most" Asian-Americans disloyal to American interests whenever we have a conflict with China?

Most black people in well-to-do, middle class and low income neighborhoods do obey the law. African-Americans in low income communities are socio-economically depressed and emotionally challenged. As such, you're going to have high crime rates and hoodlums who disregard the law and prey on innocent people - black and Asian alike.

Talk from people like "Neither Black no Korean" and AC Dropout remind me of the same talk I hear from liberal and conservative white people who discuss all their negative impressions of black people while I'm conveniently in the same room with them. I guess since I'm the token black guy within ear-shot this becomes an opportunity to vent their confusion about and animosity towards African-Americans in general.

There must be proportionality to any disucssion. Some of the discussions that I read here woefully lack proportionality.

No doubt your life is colored by myriad experiences in your life. Accordingly, if you grew up with tough black kids in your community, then you'll have negative impressions of black people, until you grow up and travel and meet different types of black people in various social and professional settings. There are MANY African-Americans who accept Asians and truly want to embrace Asian-Americans and different Asian cultures.

If I were to summarize all the positive and negative experiences that I've had with Asians and try to draw a conclusion about Asian-Americans, in general, I can tell you right now I'd have an overall constructive and positive dialogue. This is due mainly to my dealings with a great deal of people of different ethnicities.

It's not fair to say to African-Americans to "get your house in order". We didn't screw up race relations in this country by ourselves. There are complex social and political reasons why black people don't do as well as other races in certain categories. Asians do better in America because you have better social/community networks in place, more structured family thread, better education opportunities, parents and relatives who start and nurture small businesses, and because white people don't view you negatively in economic terms. Educated Asians are viewed as assets; people who can fit in - even if they're here on work visas. Educated, qualified black people are viewed as liabilities who probably wouldn't fit in and who probably would cause problems - even though our qualifications and education are neatly spelled out on a resume.

Do you ever wonder why in American society it's perfectly acceptable for minorities to "compete" against each other and blame each other? It should cause one to pause and to contemplate any socio-political and/or socio-economic advantages to this type of thinking! Who gets to blame whom? Who gains? Who wins? Who gets to stand by and watch and laugh?

I'm just asking that you keep your disucssions fair.
Geoff DB GeoffDB02@aol.com Sunday, May 05, 2002 at 16:09:58 (PDT)

Why would someone write a diabolical post such as the one "ABC married to Korean who undersands.(ABConfu)" wrote except for the sole purpose of dividing the Coreans and Chinese, dividing Corean men and Chinese women? The LA riots was a horrible reminder of all the social ills in American society. What better way to anger Coreans by making a joke out of it? I hope Coreans don't take this poster's handle literally.

Coreans are the most admirable, intelligent, and hard-working people I've ever met. They suffered tremendously from the LA riots and what did it accomplish other than to punish people who embody incredible personal sacrifice, and 24 hr/day work and toil? Precious lives lost, severe financial lost, anguish etc. not to mention the scant national press coverage looking at the riots from the Corean side. It angers me to no end how the Corean grocers were treated...by the press and the government. Coreans should NEVER doubt the deep empathy and sorrow other Asians have towards the suffering the Corean grocers endured.

P.S. Look at the spelling. Most people by now know that the spelling is with a "C" not a "K". A non-Asian poster most likely.

People should think hard before they react and read posts from ALL POLL BOARDS. You will get a better picture of what these flamers are trying to do.
AMs are #1 Sunday, May 05, 2002 at 12:41:06 (PDT)

Geoff DB,

For about 10 years of my youth I grew up in a poor black neighborhood. I think I have a pretty good understanding of that part of black culture, when compared to some African American study professors in college.

If you feel that my arguments are too emotionally charged it is only because I have only learned only to well how to harness anger derived from racial discrimination, as my friends from my youth taught me so well.

Could you state the father having his son work the counter was a better business practice to increasing his sales. For he was obviously aware that he was unable to manage his perception among you kids that he was "cool".
AC dropout Sunday, May 05, 2002 at 11:15:50 (PDT)

To ABC married to a Korean who sees only your point of view:

my advice to Korean store owners is a Confucius proverb. "One who cannot smile, should never open a shop".

Should they continue smiling after they've been robbed a couple times by the same group of people? Should they continue to smile after little teenage boys knock down all her shelves because she is complying with the law in refusing to sell them cigarettes? And last of all, I suppose you think they she should definitely be smiling after a shoplifter punches her in the fact a few times.

who are you--dr. laura? taking one quote and twisting it to fit your idea of what's right...

My advice is to live your life more like other Asians,where tradition is not the rule but common sense and "Whatever" is the norm.

this attitude is the reason why many asians work triple shifts for less than minimum wage even though the law requires that they are paid more. this is the reason why, in america, the stereotype of asians being 'passive' is perpetuated.
penelope Sunday, May 05, 2002 at 10:30:52 (PDT)

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