In the last 20 years, technology and opportunity have evolved, but can we say race relations and racial profiling have done the same?
Sunday marked two decades since the Los Angeles riots, which arose after four police officers were acquitted in a trial involving a videotaped beating of drunk driver Rodney King. The riots spread to other cities and left more than 50 dead, with thousands injured and businesses everywhere destroyed.
To many across the country, this incident clearly displayed civil unrest and strained race relations being more than something discussed. The recent shooting of Trayvon Martin in Florida can serve as an evaluation for whether we’ve learned anything from our past.
In both stories, the victims were subjected to unnecessary violence in racially charged incidents.
Being born in the same year as the Rodney King riots, I shamefully admit to never making the effort to fully educate myself on the details to such an important incident until recently. And as someone who chose not to take sides in the Trayvon Martin shooting, it was scary to see history repeat itself while noticing how we as a people have and haven’t evolved in the last 20 years.
Racial injustice is a key factor in both cases along with mass-followed behavior and a great lack of logical thinking.
After King’s trial where justice was not served immediately in court, riots erupted and took over the inner cities of Los Angeles. Billions of dollars were needed to repair the damages that resulted from the disastrous form of protest. King was provided with a settlement, two of the officers were later found guilty and the world eventually calmed down.
Almost 20 years later, Trayvon Martin was murdered and the case was not immediately heard, leaving Americans across the country full of emotions similar to those during Rodney King incident. Yet instead of harming innocent people and businesses, peaceful protests and social media blew up in response.
Making the responsible choice to march instead of riot is evidence that race relations have improved.
On the other hand, protesting for Trayvon began before the whole case was even disclosed, making it seem as though some were looking too quickly to whip out the race card – as though absolutely no other cases of racial injustice have taken place within the 20-year span of the two incidents.
In more ways than one, it’s because of the Trayvon Martin incident that we aren’t allowed to forget about King.
We live in a society where we notice the people not wearing the latest basketball shoes, not wearing a purse made by the real designer or not owning a touch-screen mobile phone made this year. Noticing skin color differences will always take place, despite what anybody claims.
We have a long way before the day of perfection when everyone is colored gray and stereotypes don’t exist. In the meantime, we must learn from the mistakes we’ve made in our past and choose to make better judgment calls in the future.
I’m just glad we’re past a point of torching buildings and hurting others because of an incident that didn’t result in what we expected.
Marie-Therese Yokum is a 19-year-old mass communication and finance sophomore from Lafayette. Follow her on Twitter @mtyokum_TDR.
 
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Contact Marie-Therese Yokum at [email protected]