The black community's reactions to the 1992 los angeles riot

This article is based on field (street) interviews with a sample of 227 black community members living and/or working in South Central Los Angeles at the time of the 1992 riot. The interview instrument comprises 20 questions designed to (1) ascertain the reactions and feelings of black community members to the riot; and (2) compare a sample of black participants in the riot with nonparticipants. The participant group was found to be more frequently younger males with less education and lower income, and they were more likely to have arrest records prior to the riot than nonparticipants. Though reactions and feelings were mixed and contradictory, both groups reported an overall acceptance of the disorders. Differentials in reactions were in degree rather than in kind. Most objected to the riot in principle but concluded that collective violence “pays off.” The preriot structural facilitators (poverty, relative deprivation, unemployment, police brutality, racial discrimination, and negative police‐community relations) were similar to those found in the riot literature. Whatever the participants’ reasons and justifications for rioting might be, they present themselves as worthy protesters and freedom fighters. Unless their message is heeded and acted upon by ameliorating their adverse social, economic, and political conditions, similar riots are likely to occur.