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East Side Renaissance Part II
EASTSIDE RENAISSANCE PART II - "Sojourning in Peace..." part two
in a series that documents the events that lead up to one of the most deadliest
gang wars on record, and the police corruption that was involved. By Santiago
Naphtali
Metro GoldLine from the Bridge towards Chinatown
But first, I must
say:
There is a growing Asian population here in the neighborhood.
Personally, I think they are a peaceful people and make great neighbors. When
the expansion of Chinatown spilled over the L.A. River into this neck of the
woods - cultures combined and relationships were formed. Like my friend Sing Boy
that lived on the corner, was the best breakdancer on the block. A real flexible
cat that snapped gymnastical moves to da beat. His partner was called "Doc", and
also lived on Lincoln Park Avenue. They were in a crew with mostly Xicano
members called Cosmic City Knights. And that was the epitome of hip-hop culture
here in the early '80s. Breakdancing on the corner on cardboard or linoleum;
ghetto blasters gettin' attention and making a scene. They were all dedicated to
the art form, and the only thing that mattered was the content of the skillage
involved, not racial differences. So, there was no tension when everyone was
feeling the same rhythm - the drumbeat is universal, man.
When
Grandmaster Flash and the Furious 5 were documenting their New York times, the
hip-hop elements were also flourishing in this area. My friends had names like:
Kangol, Kid Kazaam, Smerk, and Truce. The writers of the walls had a new style
to them, different than the traditional lettering. More modern and abstract.
Then, M.C. Ice-T and the Niggas Wit Attitudes were causing a buzz at my jr. high
school. Since I was bussed from the east side to the San Fernando Valley for
junior high, my classmates lived in different parts of the city. A friend of
mine (from Compton) told me she had music from the boys in her hood. She gave me
a cassette and wrote the lyrics out for me. And everything changed...
After the chaos that ensued, one had to ask himself, "What's up with all
the set-trippin?" And the answer would spark more questions. Those that reasoned
the conflicts: who benefited? Who lossed out? Allainces were soon formed with
persons and groups of people that suffered similiar conditions, but chose to
elevate their consciousness. This transition was also reflected in the music
when gangsta rap reach a revolutionary plateau. The materialism, sexism, and
drunkeness turned to a more eastern philosophy. Similiar to the Wu-Tang's
enlightened House of Shaolin.
Temple
on N. Broadway under construction
There was a mural on Johnston Street
and N. Broadway (on the side of Big Saver's Market) that visually illustrated
this with symbolism. As of this writing, I regret to inform you that it has been
painted over; but, hopefully people familiar with the area will remember. On one
end of the wall was the Mayan heritage of the Aztecas (Mexican ancestory) and on
the other end was a depiction of Chinese histoy - the strong Mongolian race. In
the middle was the merging of the Hunab Ku and the Ying and Yang; two different
languages- but very much the same philosophy.
To be continued...
LINCOLN
HEIGHTS: AN EASTSIDE RENAISSANCE PART I
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