In Herbert Singleton’s wood carving, “Ain’t Goin Back” (1990s), a timeline of the short Civil Rights movement appears to be depicted. At the top of the painting is a bus of passengers, with the only black passenger isolated to the back of the bus, symbolic of the de facto racial segregation that existed in America. The middle of the carving is the image of presumably Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the iconic figure of the 1950s civil rights movement. At the bottom of the carving, a scene of potential police brutality is portrayed. What looks to be like the protest sign of a black man is on the ground, as he is captured by a white police officer.
Although the exact date of this carving is unknown, it can be speculated that the image of the police beating is symbolic of the beating of Rodney King. In March 1991, in Los Angeles, Rodney King was pursued in a high speed chase that ended in the brutal beating of Rokdey King by the LAPD, which was caught on tape. The officers were charged, but later acquitted, which led to an uproar that led to four days of violence in southern California including arson, looting, and shooting. 54 people died and more than 2,300 were hurt in those four days between April 29-May 2. It became known as the “deadliest civil disturbance in the U.S. since the Civil War” (George). A timeline of the incidnt can be found below:
http://timelines.latimes.com/los-angeles-riots/
This painting and incident highlight a persistent problem with police brutality and racial practices within the justice system. For blacks and Latinos, the prison sentences and treatments received typically differ from whites with the same offenses. The incident also shows the power of a growing prison industrial complex that is filled largely with men and women of color.
Works Cited
http://www.caamuseum.org/web_pages/current_exhibitions_soul_stirring.htm
Hodak, George. "King verdict ignites LA riots: April 29, 1992." ABA Journal Apr. 2010: 72. LegalTrac. Web. 15 Apr. 2014
Perry, Regina. “Herbert Singtleton.” KnowLa Encyclopedia of Louisiana. Ed. David Johnson. Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities, 13 Sept. 2012. Web. 15 Apr. 2014. http://www.knowla.org/entry/1388/
LA Times http://timelines.latimes.com/los-angeles-riots/
Although the exact date of this carving is unknown, it can be speculated that the image of the police beating is symbolic of the beating of Rodney King. In March 1991, in Los Angeles, Rodney King was pursued in a high speed chase that ended in the brutal beating of Rokdey King by the LAPD, which was caught on tape. The officers were charged, but later acquitted, which led to an uproar that led to four days of violence in southern California including arson, looting, and shooting. 54 people died and more than 2,300 were hurt in those four days between April 29-May 2. It became known as the “deadliest civil disturbance in the U.S. since the Civil War” (George). A timeline of the incidnt can be found below:
http://timelines.latimes.com/los-angeles-riots/
This painting and incident highlight a persistent problem with police brutality and racial practices within the justice system. For blacks and Latinos, the prison sentences and treatments received typically differ from whites with the same offenses. The incident also shows the power of a growing prison industrial complex that is filled largely with men and women of color.
Works Cited
http://www.caamuseum.org/web_pages/current_exhibitions_soul_stirring.htm
Hodak, George. "King verdict ignites LA riots: April 29, 1992." ABA Journal Apr. 2010: 72. LegalTrac. Web. 15 Apr. 2014
Perry, Regina. “Herbert Singtleton.” KnowLa Encyclopedia of Louisiana. Ed. David Johnson. Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities, 13 Sept. 2012. Web. 15 Apr. 2014. http://www.knowla.org/entry/1388/
LA Times http://timelines.latimes.com/los-angeles-riots/