Huizar 1

Kathy Huizar
Jennifer Rodrick
English 115
17 November 2016
Richard Rayners identity
Its Black Friday every day! Except only looted, more chaotic and it is the result of a
racism riot in Los Angeles. The Los Angeles riots, also known as the Rodney King riots began in
April 29, 1992 and lasted until May 4, 1992. They were the result of the acquittal of four white
police officers who been caught on videotape beating an unarmed African American named
Rodney King. Despite the evidence the police officers were not convicted. Hence, the African
Americans release their anger by rioting against the injustice of the decree. Richard Rayner lives
in Los Angeles during this time in a Spanish-style villa who experiences and witnesses the
brutality of the riots. In Los Angeles Richard Rayner exhibits an excitement towards the
Rodney King riots to the extent that being privileged he realizes that L.A has steered him to
become racist.
Before the events of the riots Rayner realizes that his judgment towards African
Americans and their actions focuses on reacting by impulse which deems him as being racist.
Living in Los Angeles Rayner would categorize the blacks into sections of stereotypes such as
smart professional, middle-class, homeboys or gangbangers (Rayner 175). When he passed by
them, particularly the homeboys, he felt that, With them, I was the one who became
nonexistent (Rayner 175). He also describes the different types of communities in each part of
Los Angeles. In these communities he witnessed the frequency and causality it is for the blacks
to be normal in the environment of killing each other. For instance, Rayner observers, I saw a

Huizar 2
black kid hand a gun to a friend in the back, not even looking, passing the gun over his shoulder
as casually as if it were a pack of cigarettes (Rayner 176). Rayner concludes and even admits
that In Los Angeles I was afraid of black in a way I never had been. I behaved in a way that
would have disgusted me in New York or London. I was a racist (Rayner 176). Rayner despises
himself for being racist which is the reflection from categorizing and being afraid of the blacks.
Which emphasizes the development of his identity of being racists since Rayner fails to consider
the position and reasons for of the actions of the African Americans. Evidently, being privilege
he acts on impulse to stereotype and judge the blacks.
The fact that Rayner is white privilege he builds confidence to achieve his goals. For
example, Rayner claims, If the riots were going to start again, I wanted to see them for myself,
and I wanted to see them with a black, not, Im afraid, because I thought Id get a special insight
(although that was the way it turned out), but because I knew Id be safer ( Rayner 180). In
other words, Rayner was determined to satisfy his entertainment in which he will soon use his
black friend Jake. According to Modern Racism Attitudes Among White Students: The Role Of
Dominance And Authoritarianism And The Mediating Effects Of Racial ColorBlindness. Poteat, V. Paul, and Lisa B. Spanierman informs that Social dominance theory
builds on the notion that hierarchies exist between groups in society, such that some groups are
in positions of dominance and power over others (Poteat 760). Similar to how Rayner felt in
dominance using Jake to protect him. Because Rayner is privilege of being white he does not
fear polices whereas if he were black he would be afraid. However, in the riots the blacks seek to
kill the whites. Therefore, Rayner uses Jake to protect him in order to experience the riots
firsthand. In addition, to being privileged he is also financially able to move out of the riots but
he decides to not to. Which leaves Jake to always question him until he critiques, The it he

Huizar 3
was talking about was violence, But its never reached out and really hurt you. I agreed; I was
lucky (Rayner 182). This stresses the fact that because he is privilege he is able satisfy himself
thus become arrogant in the sense that easily be in dominance of other racist.

During the riots Rayner felt excited as it was getting closer to his neighborhood in which
he engages to fulfill the satisfaction for his entertainment. For instance, Rayner says, I
realized that the looting had got very close to my home. Id been expecting it all day, and I felt a
thrill as I saw a pair of homeboys, shouting and jumpingI wondered how the homeboys would
manage to dispose of that in South Central. I didnt know why, but I felt a little proud (Rayner
187). He felt proud because it was the chance for the people to unleash their hidden intentions of
what they feel. Instead of being trapped by the rule of government. However, when he
participated in the riots he expresses that, The TV hadnt prepared me for the deafening noise of
the riot breaking glass, engines, sirens, smashing, shouting. Everyone was shouting. The noise
of the riot was a shape, and it approached and receded like a wave, surging this way and that
(Rayner 184). Rayner describes no one actually feels or know the riots until they personally
experience it. Similar from the illustration, I paid no attention when my brother cried but I
understood his pain when he screamed. This articulates that people could not feel the intensity
of the riots through the T.V until it heard or experience from the heart of the riot.

Huizar 4
The lack of not knowing plays a vital role in the contribution of Rayners identity since is
blinded by the reasons for the blacks engage in the riot and instead Rayner cares more for his
selfish reasons. Jake mentions to Rayner that, He said that kids had no hope of getting out as he
had. Everything about society told them they were worthless, nonpeople. They had nothing, so
they had nothing to lose, something Id hear a lot of blacks say over the next days (Rayner 182).
Despite the riots fury Rayner embraces more easily than if it were a black person because of
being white privilege. In The Antecedents And Consequences Of Racial/Ethnic Discrimination
During Adolescence: Does The Source Of Discrimination Matter? Benner, Aprile D., and
Sandra Graham, suggest that cumulative personal experiences with discrimination by authority
figures in the larger society, as well as observations of others treatment, can lead young people
to question whether members of their racial/ ethnic group are treated fairly and respectfully by
societys institutions and whether, in fact, outgroup members who represent those institutions can
be trusted (Benner 1604). Because Rayner is privilege he doesnt realizes how much hope and
treatment is received differently than the African American. His personal experience lacks the
true understanding of another race.
In the end Rayner concludes She was right: If thinking that twelve people like her
couldnt be relied upon to hand down a fair verdict was racist, then I was a racist. I hated her. I
wanted to hurt her. I didnt want to argue or protest. I wanted her injured. I saw myself doing it.
Pow. Pow. Pow (Rayner 196). He reveals that his intention relates to the riots because even
though if the riots had a goal, people lose sight of it and instead fight for other hidden desires.
This exemplifies that Rayners fist would do the talking in the sense of releasing his hatred to her
similar to the riots.

Huizar 5
In L.A. Rayners identity emerges from experiencing the riots. When participating in the
riot Rayners intention was to not help the riot but instead be active in it for his own amusement
and satisfaction. The riots contributes to his own selfishness and the privilege he authorizes. In
comparison to the African Americans Rayner has the advantage to escape the societys harsh
stereotypes or accusations than if he were black. The white privilege is favored in society which
puts the blacks in a lower position. Living in L.A it made him believe that he was racist until the
experiences of the riots made him become racist.

Huizar 6
Work Cited
Benner, Aprile D., and Sandra Graham. "The Antecedents And Consequences Of Racial/Ethnic
Discrimination During Adolescence: Does The Source Of Discrimination
Matter?." Developmental Psychology 49.8 (2013): 1602-1613. Academic Search Premier.
Web. 15 Nov. 2016.
Digital image. Quotes Gram. N.p., n.d. Web.
Rayner, Richard. "Los Angeles." Another City: Writing from Los Angeles. By David L. Ulin. San
Francisco: City Lights, 2001. 173-96. Print.
Poteat, V. Paul, and Lisa B. Spanierman. "Modern Racism Attitudes Among White Students: The
Role Of Dominance And Authoritarianism And The Mediating Effects Of Racial ColorBlindness." Journal Of Social Psychology 152.6 (2012): 758-774. Academic Search
Premier. Web. 15 Nov. 2016.