No Crystal Stair: African-Americans in the City of Angels
by Lynell George

When Los Angeles burned for three days in spring 1992 in the wake of the Rodney King verdict, the sparks ignited more than buildings and cars. Combat-style reporting gave way to national debate as officials deplored ‘senseless violence’ and pundits saw the unraveling of civilization or deplored the shame of the cities. But why was the crisis of South Central Los Angeles visible only when backlit by flames?

Amid all the sensationalized accounts of fragmented, chaotic communities, efforts of valor are seldom reported. Neither helpless nor without hope, Black Angelenos go about their lives, bolstering their communities from within. Far from giving up or giving in, they persist, using anger, faith, and the cold logic of experience to deal with drugs, gangs, and unemployment; build churches, schools, and community centers; weave together new music, films, and stories.