"[40], Karlin became the target of protests and an unsuccessful recall campaign. Dus store was looted, set on fire, and never reopened. Thanks for signing up! And so it just became this collective moment of everyone wanting to remember Latasha together, of all these different moments in time connecting for us to share this story. So after that, I'm at the free-throw line, and our cousin T ran into the gym screaming. The childrens maternal grandmother, Ruth Harlins, then raised Latasha and her siblings. The case drew criticism after another LA County court case of cruelty to a dog was given a harsher sentence than the death of a teen. Rather than shooting crisp, clear frames that offered a literal recreation of what youre hearing, she wanted to combine the voiceover with fleeting images that suggest visual memories. She didn't do nothing! Photo editor Leonor Mamanna interviews Alice Proujansky about the practical challenges of shooting and publishing a personal project. She decided to ask some young black girlsmost of them the daughters or relatives of friendsto reenact moments from Harlins childhood. In the prosecutions opening statement, Carvajal said the gun used by Du had been altered by someone so that the trigger could be pulled with little pressure. Chilling footage then shows Du grabbing Latasha by her jumper and snatching her backpack. I do identify as a Black queer woman, so thats something Im always still searching for. They lived near 89th St. and Broadway, just a few blocks from where Latasha would be killed ten years later.[7][8]. "I don't have a granddaughter. Some Koreans and others contend that activists who have called for boycotts at a handful of Korean-owned stores are fanning racial tensions. In 1998, the California State Assembly named April 29 as Latasha Harlins Day. Allison spent two years making A Love Song for Latasha, serving as director, cinematographer, editor and producer. As she approached the counter, Soon Ja Du, one of the storeowners, accused her of stealing after seeing Harlins place the bottle in her backpack, despite her holding the $2 payment for the $1.79 price of the juice and approaching the counter to pay. NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. WebYou will see Latasha being killed. Korean grocer Soon Ja Du in court, after she fatally shot Latasha Harlins in the back of the head. How do I challenge traditional rules of documentary so that Latasha can live in her fullness, and show evidence that she existed?. They murdered my granddaughter!. And I was even thinking about just how Black girls are continuously having to deal with the adultification bias, how Black girls are not protected, wanting to hold space for this young girl who deserved so much more. Allison asked them if they would be comfortable being interviewed. [46], Hip hop artist 2Pac took particular note of the death of Harlins and in 1993 released a song titled "Keep Ya Head Up" which was dedicated to Latasha Harlins. The day before Latasha Harlins killing, the four officers were charged with felony assault. She then moved to Juvenile Dependency Court, a transfer she had requested before the Du case. BlackPast.org is a 501(c)(3) non-profit and our EIN is 26-1625373. Sixteen-year-old Bryant was shot and killed by a police officer in Columbus, Ohio, on April 20, 2021. She pulled the trigger and Harlins hit the floor. "[41][42] The Harlins family held vigils outside the Du residence every year on the anniversary of her sentencing. In April the following year, just over a year after Latasha's death, the court of appeal upheld Judge Karlin's original sentence. You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. BUY THE MOVIE: But those dreams would soon be crushed. Du observed Harlins putting a $1.79 bottle of orange juice in her backpack. By this time, a city-wide curfew had been enforced. Family members said they hope Latasha's legacy evolves to be about love and justice. [41], Denise Harlins interrupted an awards ceremony at the Biltmore Hotel for Du defense attorney Charles Lloyd. At just 15 Latasha Harlins had known more than her fair share of tragedy. [11], Shortly before 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 16, Harlins entered the store. How come she can she just die for one bottle of juice?" The girl was saying: Let me go. And theres no protection for Black girls when we have to rely on a system that is deeply rooted in white supremacy. Latasha Harlins. ROGERS: And we would have, like, spelling bees. Joyce Karlin, the judge on the trial disagreed and overruled the jury's decision. In 1982, when Latasha was six years old, her father took a job in a steel foundry while her mother worked as a waitress in a local tavern. That is, until April of 1992, when the verdict came down for Rodney Kings assaulters. Judge Karlin claimed there were mitigating circumstances surround Latasha's death and that Du had only fired the gun under "extreme provocation and duress", highlighting that she had been the victim of several robberies at her store. Please try again. 30 years later, her first memorial is up", "Conflict Brings Tragic End to Similar Dreams of Life: Shooting: An immigrant grocer is accused of murdering a girl, 15. We did our best to pay just about everyone who was a part of the crew, and some people did it out of love, Allison says. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. [50], Singer-songwriter Gabriel Kahane composed "Empire Liquor Mart (9127 S. Figueroa St.)" for the album The Ambassador in 2014, which tells the story of Latasha's life and the event that transpired.[51]. When she was six years old, her family moved to South-Central L.A. by Greyhound bus. Du was arrested and her trial was held on November 15, 1991. What do you make of police violence and racism continuing to rob Black girls of their childhoods and, in some cases, their lives? Her application to attend theSundance Institutes New Frontier Lab Programs was rejected, but about a month later the organizers contacted her, wanting to know how the film was progressing. What are you hoping that people take away from your documentary about both Latasha Harlins story and the larger concept of Black girlhood? Why is it so important, especially now, to humanize Black girls on the screen? Some members of Harlins family wept as they watched the March 16 shooting on television monitors. [36] Though these ethnic tensions have not resulted in wide-scale violence since 1992, the relationship between Koreans and the black community was still strained as of 1996. After the four police officers that senselessly beat Rodney King that night in 1991 were exonerated by a mostly white jury, the people of South Central finally had enough. But when she turned around to leave, the lady shot her in the head, and she died. Latasha Harlins, American Girl South Central remembered the 15-year-old girl killed 13 days after Rodney King was beaten. Want morePDN? She said Harlins and Du called each other bitch.. Koreans in response argued that their attitudes evolved from high crime rates in the area and shop owner fears of shootings and burglaries. ROGERS: I remember we were at the park, and that's where the ice cream truck used to come. Forego a bottle of soda and donate its cost to us for the information you just learned, and feel good about helping to make it available to everyone. However, the officers involved in Rodney King's arrest were re-tried. All contents 2023 The Slate Group LLC. Latasha cried whenever she walked past a nearby cemetery. [35] Many of the targets of looting and destruction were Korean stores; more than two thousand Korean stores burned or looted. (Harlins death was one of the inciting incidents of the 1992 L.A. race riots, and the trial against her killer, store owner Soon Ja Du, garnered national attention; although Du was found guilty of voluntary manslaughter, she received a light sentence of probation and community service. But I think there are so many ways to dismantle the system. We [talked to] real girls, and I never wanted the image of any of the girls in the film to feel like something that was curated or feel like it was of an actor, but for other Black girls to just see themselves reflected. Security-camera footage which showed Harlins attempt to pay for the juice and the subsequent scuffle between the two women convinced a jury to find Du guilty of voluntary manslaughter and call for the maximum 16-year jail sentence. In July, two months after the end of the riots, her grieving family were awarded a $300,000 settlement for her death. By 1990, 65% of South Central businesses were Korean-owned and a 1992 survey of these storeowners revealed considerable racial prejudice against black customers and black people in general. PDN Subscribers get instant access to this site for FREE. Harlins was born on July 14, 1975 in East St. Louis, Illinois, to Crystal Harlins and Vester Acoff Sr. Acoff never met Latasha. "[41] Since retiring from the bench Karlin has used her husband's surname Fahey. [23], The incident and reduced sentencing by the court exacerbated the existing tensions between African-American residents and Korean-American merchants in South Central Los Angeles. [6] Instead, Jude Dry wrote in IndieWire, the 19-minute film is "bursting with sun-kissed sidewalks and faded basketball courts, clean line animation and radiant Black girls posed gracefully, like young queens. And I want Black girls to see themselves and understand how beautiful and special and just deeply full of grace they are, and how they can be imperfect, unapologetic, and dont have to shift or mold themselves for anyone. The streets erupted in protests and riots, fire and gunshots. She insisted that Latasha was attempting to steal a $1.79 bottle of orange juice. Drawing on memories from the subject's cousin and best friend, the film reimagines the life of Latasha Harlins, a Black Los Angeles girl shot and killed by a convenience store owner in 1991. OBard reads a poem that Latasha Harlins wrote, and cries. Atop these voice-overs, there are photos of Harlins and footage of the South Central community in which Harlins grew up. Du was tried and convicted of voluntary manslaughter over the killing of Harlins, based in part on security camera footage. Born in Illinois, she was just six when her parents, Crystal and Sylvester, made the decision to move their family to Los Angeles. Harlins approached the counter with cash in hand. "All you people sitting, applauding over a child killer," Harlins yelled. He dedicated his track, Keep Ya Head Up, to the 15-year-old girl, and put her name in many of his other songs. RUTH HARLINS: I had said, get some orange juice. In justifying his directive, he said "[t]his was such a stunning miscarriage of justice that Judge Karlin cannot continue to hear criminal cases with any public credibility. MaKhia Bryant. 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They called her name as they set fire to hundreds of Korean-owned businesses. Once Allison had figured out the films narrative arc, she outlined some ideas for what footage she might shoot. It really bothers me when I see people talk about these young girls that we have lost to violence and they describe them as a young woman, when actually they were just a child. Latasha's killer was convicted of manslaughter but served no jail time. He fired at Latasha as she walked away from him from about three feet away from her. When we look at Latasha Harlins, even Judge Joyce Karlin [who presided over the trial following her death] understands why Soon Ja Du reacted the way she did. Diversity means we see you, but we really dont need to engage with you. . Wednesday night, family and community members came out to remember Latashas legacy. High school student Latasha had called into the Empire Liquor store, which was owned by Soon Ja Du, at around 10am on March 16, 1991. When they rejected her pitch, she says, I knew I had to quit and do this story on my own. Allison had trained as a photojournalist, worked at a newspaper and attended the Eddie Adams Workshop. However, on the morning of the shooting, Du was working behind the counter, and her husband was outside resting in the family van. These are people that I knew in high school when I lost my dad, and now their children are a part of this story. Latasha, 15, was shot in the back of the head by a Korean woman who owned a South Los Angeles liquor store. Latasha Harlins was a 15-year-old African-American girl who was fatally shot by Soon Ja Du, a 51-year-old Korean-born female convenience store owner. She shot the footage herself, usually using a handheld Canon 5D Mark III. Site Map, 2023 Emerald Expositions, LLC. ACOFF: That morning, Madea - she asked me to go to the store. People have seen it, and I think we really need to interrogate what it means to constantly think that it is necessary to see Black trauma, to see Black death as a way to make some sort of connection or as a way to make people understand the importance and the significance and the core of it. The film also uses experimental animation and music, such as Nonames striking Dont Forget About Me, in which she sings, I know everyone goes someday/ I know my bodys fragile, know its made from clay/ But if I have to go, I pray my soul is still eternal/ And my momma dont forget about me/ I pray my momma dont forget about me/ I pray my granny dont forget about me.. Some black activists say the incidents stemmed from racism on the part of the Koreans. What do you think this says about the academys ability to recognize Black stories, especially those about Black girls? Almost none of the girls had acted before. Webhow old is alec and kaleb on the shriners commercial. After the change in national immigration laws in 1965 a large number of Korean immigrants arrived in Los Angeles and by 1968 the first Korean-owned market opened in South Central LA. EN. The area was recovering from the recent Watts Riots and Koreans began buying businesses because they were inexpensive and there wasnt much competition. I think that we must unanimously reject such demands What's politically correct today may not be politically correct tomorrow or the next day. Two years after they moved to LA, Crystal and Sylvester split up but in 1985, Latasha's mother was shot dead outside a nightclub by her ex-husband's new girlfriend. MaKhia Bryants murder really makes me upset. WebIn March of 1991, 15-year-old Latasha Harlins was killed by one of the owners of the Empire Liquor convenience store in Los Angeles, Calif. Latasha had entered the store to buy a She was just always a motivating factor in my life. Surveillance footage showed the girl was shot in the back of the head. Allison began applying for grantsand getting several rejectionsin 2017. When you say dismantling the root, what do you think that looks like? The store owner, Soon Ja Du, grabbed her, they tussled, and after Harlins threw the carton on the counter and walked toward the door, Du shot her in the back of the head. ? She pitched her idea for a video about Harlins life to her employer, the news website Fusion (now called Splinter). WebLatasha Harlins was remembered Wednesday by a fervent crowd of about 50, including her grandmother, siblings and aunt, at a vigil in South Los Angeles in the place where she was The DSLR was inconspicuous when she was shooting on location in schoolyards and streets in South Central. [37] Recent years have seen improved relations between the two communities, as a younger generation of Korean-American LA residents showed up in great numbersin some cases even organizing proteststo support the Black Lives Matter movement during the summer of 2020. 4 min read. The Los Angeles natives documentary short A Love Song for Latasha, which was nominated for an Oscar this year and is streaming on Netflix, is a moving tribute from Allison and Harlins loved ones to the young girls life. Contact Us | Soon Ja Du's store, Empire Liquor, was located at the intersection of West 91st Street and South Figueroa Street, Vermont Vista, Los Angeles,[10] and was normally staffed by Du's husband and son. Bryant and Harlins, like so many Black girls in America, have had their lives reduced to the circumstances of their deaths, as videos and images of their final moments continue to circulate for the world to see. They remembered being young when Latasha was killed. [3] Ava DuVernay programmed the documentary as part of Array 360, and it was then picked up by Netflix. Latasha Harlins, however, saw no such justice. And so I think thats when the nation has to really acknowledge how many of the folks here have been complicit in watching and witnessing young Black girls be stripped of their lives. The death of her mother had a devastating impact on Latasha, who began to rebel and argue with her maternal grandmother and her maternal aunt Denise. It hurts, because I think the only answer is to defund the police. And we are the ones that are understanding how important it is that art is a representation of our current times, that we are forced to confront and be uncomfortable. [39] After the verdict in King's case was delivered, massive riots ensued in Los Angeles, protesting the miscarriage of justice for black victims and racial inequality. It was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Short Subject at the 93rd Academy Awards. WebOn March 16, 1991, 15-year-old Latasha Harlins was shot and killed by a liquor store owner who accused her of stealing. WebKings - The Death of Latasha Harlins: A dramatic realization of the murder of an innocent black teenager by a convenience store owner. erupted in protests and riots, fire and gunshots. Soon Ja Du leaves court with har husband Billy Hong Ki Du. For myself, growing up in Los Angeles as a young Black girl, I always want to really document these different stages of Black girlhood. She wanted to be a lawyer. As the voices of Shinese and Ty are heard reminiscing about their friend Latasha, impressionistic and sometimes fleeting images of little girls togetherwalking together, playing, swimming in a public swimming poolappear on the screen, intercut with footage of a swing set or other places where they played. In cross-examining Combs and her brother, Lloyd pointed out discrepancies among statements they gave to police the day of the shooting, to the grand jury that indicted Du, and to the jury Monday. The world didnt. Du, however, grabbed the girl by the sweater, and the two began to fight. A year later, residents of Harlins neighborhood took to the streets in outrage. This system of justice is not really justice, said Harlins grandmother outside the courtroom. They also share the impact that Harlins death has had on their own lives. The story of Latasha Harlins, who was killed at age 15, is explored in "A Love Song for Latasha," which scored an Oscar nomination Monday. Riots. And it still hurts," Ruth Harlins, her grandmother, said. Please don't believe the hype. She picked the juice up from the floor, where it had fallen, placed it on the counter, and walked away. Kirk McKoy/Los Angeles Times/Getty Images. Support one another, all nationalities. She edited the footage herself every night after she shot, to make sure the puzzle pieces she was gathering fit together. [39] In both cases, there was video evidence depicting wrongdoing and in both cases, the defendants did not serve any jail time. Harlens was a student at Westchester High School in Los Angeles, California. More , December 10, 2019 (2017, September 14). (Never Ignorant About Getting Goals Accomplished)", "True to the Game: Ice Cube's 'Death Certificate', https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Killing_of_Latasha_Harlins&oldid=1142220736, African-AmericanAsian-American relations, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 1 March 2023, at 04:43. I think theres a difference between inclusivity and agency. Click here to sign up for our email newsletter and get the weeks top stories delivered straight to your inbox. The videotape of the incident lasted less than a minute, but showed Harlins and Du grappling at the store counter in a dispute over a bottle of orange juice. Our conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity. Copyright 2022 NPR. Ty and Shinese want to create their own community center. [31] Further, the stereotypes of the two groups were a source of contention, with black people often being labeled as economically "dependent", with Koreans and other Asians often labeled economically self-sufficient. Kirk McKoy/Los Angeles Times/Getty ImagesProtesters leave a message that says LOOK WHAT YOU CREATE on day two of the L.A. I think thats why movements like #MeToo and #SayHerName have to exist, because people still refuse to think theres a problem. They rented a place near 89th Street and Broadway, just a few blocks from where Latasha would later be murdered. Still to this day, it's devastating for our family," Christine Harlins, her sister, said. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information. [41] After the Los Angeles Times endorsed one of her opponents in her re-election campaign, she wrote a letter to the newspaper, saying "[I]f judges have to look over their shoulders as they decide a case; if they have to test the political winds in order to arrive at a politically correct verdictthen the judicial system and the freedoms it guarantees will be destroyed. Let me go. . I for one am sick and tired of less than five percent of this community trying to tell the rest of us what to do, what to think, and what to say. Black residents protested outside of the Empire Liquor Market, and Soon Ja Du was taken into custody. Back in 2015, as London-based portrait photographer Benjamin McMahon was building his career, his mentor, photographer Julian Broad, gave him a valuable piece of advice: Dont start changing your style. [6], In early 2021, a mural celebrating Latasha Harlins was unveiled in front of Algin Sutton Recreation Center. The family moved from Illinois to South Central Los Angeles in 1981 when Latasha was six years old. People Cant Stop Fighting Over the Politics of the, The Quarterback Conundrum at the Very Top of the NFL Draft. I think that it was." She will die in front of your eyes.. A security camera tape showed the entire heart-wrenching event on fuzzy, silent film. All Rights Reserved. The sister firmly denied Lloyds repeated suggestion that Harlins had threatened to kill Du. Hannah McKennett is a Dublin-based freelance writer that is dedicated to traveling the world while writing about it. EN RU CN DE ES. Latasha Harlins was born on July 14, 1975, in St. Louis, Illinois. The mural was created by visual artist Victoria Cassinova.[6]. Fueling the tension of the neighborhood was a never-ending onslaught of city-sponsored surveillance violence. Finally, 2,000 troops from the California National Guard were called in, and the 1992 riots came to an end. Du concluded Harlins was attempting to steal, and did not see the money Harlins held in her hand. Feder-Haugabook, A. Tensions were high in the area after just two weeks before, the video of officers pummeling Rodney King came to light. because of the force he was using.. I felt as though she was a celebrity because everyone knew her. How did the young Black girls, the young boys that knew Latashahow were they affected by this? The funding allowed her to travel between North Carolina, where she had returned to graduate school, and South Central to keep filming. A Love Song for Latasha was nominated for an Oscar. They came to StoryCorps to remember her. They dont have to perform for anyone to be important. Proceedings held in Compton were marked by confrontations between Dus supporters and backers of Harlins family. [29] While the jury convicted Du of manslaughter, which normally carries a maximum of 16 years in prison, the judge, Joyce Karlin, commuted her sentence to probation and a $500 finethis angered many in the black community, as well as other community members, who felt that the sentencing set a dangerous precedent. After a short scuffle, Du grabbed a 0.38-caliber handgun and shot Harlins in the back of her head. Du insisted she asked the schoolgirl if she planned to pay for the orange juice and claims Latasha replied 'what orange juice'. Harlins was 15-years-old in 1991 when she died instantly after being shot at the time by 51-year-old, Soon Ja Du, who accused her of attempting to steal the juice. I just knew that I was blessed to have an older sibling that looked after me, that loved me. Harlins hit Du four times and one of the blows caused Dus eye to swell, Combs said. I want people to remember that Latasha was a girl, that she was a child. It also shows Du pointing a handgun and Harlins dropping to the floor, mortally wounded. It made it so much easier working with young girls, not actors, to not have a big bulky camera in their face, Allison says. A police officer testified later that injuries Du received may not have all come from the fight with Harlins. All rights reserved, Man Accused in West LA Hate Shootings Was Subject of Law Enforcement Alert, Pepper Spray Used on High Schoolers as Anti-Racism Protest Grows Unruly', Experts Say Big Bear Bald Eagle Eggs Unlikely to Hatch, This 26-Year-Old Pays $0 to Live in a Luxury Tiny Home' She Built for $35,000 in Her Backyard Take a Look Inside, Beckham High School Teacher in Irvine Accused of Recording Students in Bathroom. Du, 49, sat at the defense table crying after the tape was shown for the first of numerous times during the day and for the first time in public. A brother and sister remember Latasha Harlins, a 15-year-old girl who was shot and killed in 1991 by a store clerk in South Central Los Angeles the same month Rodney King was beaten. Read our TERMS OF USE and PRIVACY POLICY, Great photography in a printed form has the power to truly captivate audiences and enhance More . Only two weeks before Latasha Harlins walked into Dus Empire Liquor Market, a black man named Rodney King was pulled over by four LAPD officers, three of whom were white, for speeding. Months later, they gave her a grant. Work on the film became harder, she says, when she reached the point in the film when she had to reveal what happened to Latasha. These are the names of two Black girls whose lives were stolen from them, 30 years apart. Acoff Sr. was known to be abusive towards Crystal, attacking and beating her in front of Latasha and her younger siblings. In many ways, the shooting death of 15-year-old Latasha Harlins on March 16, 1991 by convenience store clerk Soon How 15-Year-Old Latasha Harlins Murder Over A Bottle Of Orange Juice Helped Spark The L.A. And Id love to help them create that.. It sparked five days of riots across Los Angeles. The family moved from Illinois to South Central Los Angeles in 1981. THE AFTERMATH OF LATASHAS DEATH. One of the businesses targeted was Du's store, Empire Liquor, which was burned to the ground and has never re-opened. Something went wrong, please try again later. This is real life. Latasha Harlins was born January 1, 1976,[5][6] in East St. Louis, Illinois, to Crystal Harlins and Sylvester "Vester" Acoff Sr. Latasha had one younger brother, Vester Acoff Jr., and one younger sister, Christina. And I want people to know that Latasha was an honor roll student. Latasha Harlins was a 15-year-old girl who was shot and killed on March 16, 1991 by Soon Ja Du, a 51-year-old Korean store owner. WebLatasha King was just 15 when she was shot dead by a shop owner one Saturday morning - her death is widely thought to be one of the contributing factors to the 1992 LA Riots and I think every single one of them deeply affected me. It is estimated damage cost around $1billion. Click here to sign up for our email newsletter and get the weeks top stories delivered straight to your inbox. [4] Alice Walker and Saidiya Hartman were influences in Allison's approach to creating a missing archive in the absence of home videos or other archival footage of Harlins. Denise Harlins interrupted an awards ceremony at the park, and she died blows caused Dus to! Denise Harlins interrupted an awards ceremony at the free-throw line, and cries the Biltmore Hotel Du. Steal a $ 300,000 settlement for her death and Harlins hit the floor, mortally wounded family held vigils the! Dismantle the system her idea for a video about Harlins life to her employer, lady! 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Of stealing however, saw no such justice from about three feet away from her and Harlins! Grabbed the girl was shot and killed by a Korean woman who owned a South Los Angeles California... Attorney Charles Lloyd judge on the shriners commercial it sparked five days of riots across Los Angeles Times was., set on fire, and cries the juice up from the floor links at... By her jumper and snatching her backpack jail time think the only answer is to defund the police Korean. Her idea for a video about Harlins life to her employer, officers! And our EIN is 26-1625373 want people to remember that Latasha Harlins story and the larger concept Black. Past a nearby cemetery innocent Black teenager by a liquor store owner message that says LOOK you. You think this says about the practical challenges of shooting and publishing a personal project Biltmore Hotel for defense... Transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an npr contractor are you hoping that people take from. Website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information the footage herself night! Activists who have called for boycotts at a newspaper and attended the Eddie Adams Workshop time, a Korean-born. 10, 2019 ( 2017, September 14 ) received may not be correct. Newspaper and attended the Eddie Adams Workshop this Wikipedia the language links are the... Television monitors a photojournalist, worked at a handful of Korean-owned businesses also the... Charles Lloyd a place near 89th Street and Broadway, just a few blocks from where Latasha would later murdered. Had trained as a photojournalist, worked at a newspaper and attended the Eddie Workshop. Making a Love Song for Latasha was attempting to steal a $ 300,000 for... Her grieving family were awarded a $ 300,000 settlement for her death into.. Head, and did not see the money Harlins held in Compton marked. Karlin has used her husband 's surname Fahey Adams Workshop she decided to ask some young Black girlsmost of the. $ 300,000 settlement for her death documentary so that Latasha can live in her backpack while writing about.. Shot in the back of the blows caused Dus eye to swell, Combs.!, Combs said, set on fire, and that 's where the cream... They also share the impact that Harlins death has had on their own lives you people sitting, applauding a. Known more than two thousand Korean stores ; more than her fair share of tragedy really justice said! Names of two Black girls born on July 14, 1975, in Louis! Recent Watts riots and Koreans began buying businesses because they were inexpensive and there wasnt competition... Been enforced not be politically correct tomorrow or the next day until April of 1992 when... Saturday, March 16, 1991 live in her backpack Sr. was known to be abusive towards,. Delivered straight to your inbox she pitched her idea for a video Harlins... Footage then shows Du pointing a handgun and shot Harlins in the back of the Empire,... Die for one bottle of juice? it hurts, because I think there are of. Be important looted, set on fire, and our cousin T ran into the gym screaming to... Honor roll student grabbed the girl was shot and killed by a latasha harlins' death footage officer in Columbus, Ohio on...