Activity 7.1: A Cry for Justice

Lesson 1: The Korean Diaspora and Korean Americans

  1. Teacher Guide
  2. Alignment with California Content Standards
  3. Activity 2: Where Was the First Koreatown and Who Was Dosan Ahn Chang Ho?
  4. Assessments
  5. Extension: Civic Engagement Support

  1. Teacher Guide
  2. Alignment with California Content Standards
  3. Activity 3.1: Who is Sammy Lee? What was the Immigrant Experience of his Family?
  4. Activity 3.2: How did U.S. Immigration Laws shape Sammy Lee’s Life?
  5. Assessments
  6. Extension: Literature and Writing Extension: Book Reviews and Storytelling

  1. Teacher Guide
  2. Alignment with California Content Standards
  3. Activity 4.1: How was the Korean Independence Movement Impacted by Wilson’s Fourteen Points?
  4. Activity 4.2: How did the Korean Independence Movement shape and become shaped by Formation of the Korean American Identity in the United States?
  5. Assessments
  6. Extension: Writing Extensions

  1. Teacher Guide
  2. Alignment with California Content Standards
  3. Activity 5.1: Who was the First Asian American to Command a U.S. Battalion?
  4. ​Activity 5.2: How is Colonel Young Oak Kim an Unsung Hero?
  5. Assessment & Extensions:: Argumentative Essay

  1. Teacher Guide
  2. Alignment with California Content Standards
  3. Activity 6.1: Aftermath of the Korean War
  4. Activity 6.2: ​Korean War Orphans
  5. Activity 6.3: ​Experiences of Korean Transnational Adoptees
  6. Assessment
  7. Extensions

  1. Teacher Guide
  2. Alignment with California Content Standards
  3. Activity 7.1: A Cry for Justice
  4. Activity 7.2: Experiences of Korean Americans during the 1992 LA Civil Unrest
  5. Activity 7.3: The Legacy of Saigu
  6. Assessment
  7. Extention: Research Project
  8. Extention: Research Project Supplemental

  1. Teacher Guide
  2. Alignment with California Content Standards
  3. Activity 8.1: Hallyu and K-Pop: A Global Phenomenon
  4. Activity 8.2: Oscar Winners: A Closer Look at Minari
  5. Activity 8.3: Korean Americans Past, Present, and Future
  6. Music Video Resources
  7. Assessment & Extension

Activity 7.1: A Cry for Justice

 

Students create a timeline of events associated with Saigu, the 1992 LA Civil Unrest.  They define ​terms related to the event, including civil unrest, riot, uprising, justice, injustice, advocate.  They analyze differences between justice and injustice as it relates to race and poverty in America.

​A historic photograph of Korean Americans keeping watch over a store during the LA Riots of 1992. (Source: LA Times)​

Activity Questions

  • What events occurred during the 1992 LA Civil Unrest?
  • Who was involved in the unrest and what were their roles?
  • What were some outcomes of the unrest?
  • How does civil unrest affect communities who have limited access to financial or social support?
  • How has this incident shaped issues of justice and injustice for Korean Americans?

Instructional Strategies

  • Use Lesson 7: Saigu – The 1992 LA Civil Unrest presentation to support this lesson.

Definitions Brainstorm

  • Begin this lesson by having students brainstorm definitions for the following terms: civil unrest, riot, uprising, justice, injustice, advocate

Introduction to Saigu

  • Use the lecture presentation to introduce what happened during Saigu.

Timeline Activity Internet Activity

  • Either individually, pairs, or trios (using student devices) or as a class (via teacher device), have students complete the Saigu Map and Timeline Activity using the interactive map at K’TOWN 92 MAP.

Reflecting on Justice versus Injustice

  • Show the YouTube video, 1992 LA Riots, Mojo’s Top 5 Facts (6:58 min). As students watch, have them note examples of justice and injustice (and to whom and from whom) presented in the video on the T-Chart: Justice.
  • Individually, in pairs, or small groups, have students complete a Think-Pair-Share: What is the difference between justice and injustice? What examples of injustice did you see in the story of Saigu? Who benefits from injustice? Who benefits from justice? How might advocates impact injustice?

Closing the Activity

  • Show the Vimeo video, April’s Way: a 1992 LA Riots Short Film (8:14 minutes) (based on a true story).
  • End class with review and discussion of the activity questions and how the April’s Way film reshaped or reinforced their answers.

Resources

Worksheet: Saigu Timeline of Events (PDF)

YouTube Video: LA Riots: MoJo’s Top 5 Facts (6:57 minutes)

Worksheet: T-Chart Justice (PDF)

Vimeo Video: April’s Way (8:57 minutes)