Intro

I was 19 when the Rodney King Riots broke out. I sat in history class, learning about the civil rights era, and thought, What am I doing studying history when it’s unfolding right outside the window? I raised my hand, told Ms. Freedman I needed to use the bathroom, then rushed to my car, grabbed my Nikon 6006, and headed downtown.

It was the first important story I covered. Initially, I found myself amidst the fires and looted shops—what the media was focused on—but as I moved through the streets, I saw something different. I saw the long faces of the people who bought their milk and eggs there, the ones who visited the tailors for their clothes and the shops where they bought their shoes. I began to focus on them, because while the news cameras captured the violence of a few, they failed to show the many who were unjustly labeled. That experience has shaped my perspective ever since.


All content © Jake Price 2025