Past and Present: Ongoing Cycles of History

Past:

Although the complete history of racial animosity in the United States and the west in general is definitely beyond the scope of this post, one of the earliest precursors to the LA riots of 1992 could be the Haitian revolution of 1791. While on the surface these events may seem somewhat disconnected, in reality, the Haitian revolution arguably set the precedent for the countless racial revolts in centuries to come.

From around the 14th century, Haiti and a number of other caribbean countries were held as colonies by european countries (initially spanish rule and eventually french ). In Haiti specifically the social and regional stratification led to extreme racial tensions. There were roughly ten times as many people of color as whites. Eventually in 1791, self emancipated slaves led a successful anti-imperialist uprising against french colonial rule. The uprising was incredibly violent. Nearly 162,000 people died. However, following the expulsion of the french and the rise of people of color, Haiti was established as a sovereign nation and one of the first democratic states. While the Haitian revolution did take place over 200 years before the LA riots, both of these events connect to a larger historical thread of mass racial uprisings and rioting in america and around the world in response to white racist and imperialist rule/control.

Present:

Unfortunately, many of the issues that led to the LA riots of 1992 and riots of the past persist today. Economic disparities, Police violence, the prison industrial complex, all continue impact individuals and communities of color. Most recently, the deaths of Oscar Grant, Mike Brown, Trayvon martin, Sandra Bland, Philando Castille, Stephon Clark, and many others at the hands of the police officers and self affirmed vigilantes across the country have inspired numerous protests and uprisings. Organizations such as Black Lives Matter have led demonstrations in Ferguson, Charlottesville, Oakland, Baton Rouge and around the country over the past few years in response to these shootings as well as white supremacist and neo-nazi rallies.

Nonetheless, black and brown people continue to be controlled and “disappeared” by larger social, political and primarily economic structures such as the prison industrial complex and the school to prison pipeline. In fact, despite making up only 13% of the U.S. population, black people account for 40% of the U.S. prison population. Much like in the past, black people continue to be dismissed by society at large and relegated a sort second class citizenship. As a result of this racially biased targeting, black and brown people who are incarcerated are often unable to vote, obtain affordable housing, get a job, so on and so forth. Even centuries later, these complex cycles of inequality and oppression continue to repeat themselves.

-Davis O’Shea