Carol & the Los Angeles Uprising: Part 2

The 1992 Los Angeles riots, or Saigoo, represent a pivotal historical moment that reshaped the lives of Korean immigrant families, particularly those operating businesses in Compton. Carol Kwong Park, who grew up working in her family’s gas station, spent years conducting oral history interviews with her mother to bridge the silence surrounding their experiences during the unrest. These conversations revealed the immense sacrifices and emotional labor her mother endured to sustain the family business. By facilitating similar dialogues with her brother, Albert, and teaching the history of the riots to her own students, Carol transforms her childhood trauma into a broader understanding of inter-ethnic conflict and systemic inequality. This process of questioning and storytelling serves as a vital tool for healing, allowing families to reclaim their history and foster deeper intergenerational connections.