A review by kkpritchard
Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992 by Anna Deavere Smith

5.0

Amazing book giving a wide variety of perspectives surrounding and following the 1992 LA riots following the Rodney King verdict. It taught me many things I had no idea about, such as that there was a gang truce shortly before the riots began, and that Korean-American merchants suffered brutal violence during the riots. I have no answers, only sadness that the underlying race problems that led to the riot are still present and ongoing in America today. Smith's book, however, encourages everyone to consider everyone's viewpoint and empathize. In the words of Twilight Bey, we "can't forever dwell in darkness...of just identifying with people like me and understanding me and mine." Profound.