Author of book on race relations to speak
UCLA professor wrote about teen's '91 shooting death
Brenda E. Stevenson will discuss her 2013 book, “The Contested Murder of Latasha Harlins: Justice, Gender and the Origins of the L.A. Riots.”
(THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – Feb. 17, 2015) A UCLA history professor will discuss racial injustice and her latest award-winning book at California Lutheran University.
“A Night With the Author” featuring Brenda E. Stevenson will be held at 7 p.m. Monday, March 9, in Lundring Events Center on the Thousand Oaks campus.
Stevenson will discuss her 2013 book, “The Contested Murder of Latasha Harlins: Justice, Gender and the Origins of the L.A. Riots,” which won the 2014 James A. Rawley Prize from the Organization of American Historians for the best book dealing with the history of race relations in the U.S.
The book relates the true story of the shooting death of a 15-year-old black girl at the hands of a Korean female shopkeeper in 1991. It explores the cultural and historical contexts of race, class and gender in the lives of the people brought together by the events and charts the biographies of those involved in the case, including the presiding Jewish female judge.
Harlins entered a market in South Central Los Angeles, put a bottle of orange juice into her backpack and approached the cash register with two dollar bills. Store owner Soon Ja Du grabbed Harlins’ backpack, Harlins punched Du several times and Du shot Harlins as the teen turned to walk away. A jury convicted Du of voluntary manslaughter and she could have been sentenced to up to 16 years in prison, but the judge sentenced her to probation, community service and a $500 fine. Stevenson shows how outrage over the sentencing helped set the stage for the L.A. riots in 1992.
Stevenson received the UCLA Gold Shield Faculty Award in 2014. Her scholarship focuses on the experiences of African-Americans, especially women, and the history of slavery in the Atlantic world. Her writings include “Life in Black and White: Family and Community in the Slave South,” which was selected as an Outstanding Book by Gustavus Myers Center for the Study of Human Rights in North America. She holds a doctorate from Yale University.
Lundring Events Center is located in the Gilbert Sports and Fitness Center at 130 Overton Court.
Cal Lutheran’s Pearson Library, Center for Equality and Justice, and Multicultural Programs & International Student Services are sponsoring the free event. For more information, contact Yvonne Wilber at 805-493-3092 or ywilber@callutheran.edu.