Racial and Ethnic Tensions in American Communities Poverty, Inequality and Discrimination

Hearing held before the U.S. Comm. on Civil Rights in L.A., CA, June 15-17, 1993. Unsettling episodes beginning with & emanating from the beating of Rodney King, a black man, by several white L.A.P.D. officers in Mar. 1991, confirmed the prior opinion of the Comm. that the tensions between racial & ethnic groups in L.A. required attention. During the 1993 hearing, the Comm. concentrated on 3 areas: (a) the administration of justice -- relating to police practices & policies; (b) economic development -- pertaining to unemployment, the L.A. Transportation System, job training & small bus. initiatives; & (c) the portrayals or projections of minorities through TV in both news & entertainment production.