Destruction in Koreatown

As a public health physician, I consider the well-being of the Korean-American population to be dependent on improved race relations as much as disease prevention. The recent riot focused on black-Korean tensions. Prejudice and discrimination are a result of persons considering others as different.

Koreans and blacks have a common heritage of oppression. Perhaps through their understanding of this common legacy these communities could empathize with each other’s sorrow and anguish.

We are well aware of the oppression of slavery of the African-Americans. They were given their master’s names, they were not allowed to own property, and the families were separated. The Koreans have suffered similar indignities under the Japanese. Japan occupied Korea during the first half of this century. Japan wanted to obliterate Korean culture. During that time, Koreans were forced to adopt Japanese names.

Blacks and Koreans have more in common than they care to admit.

PORTIA S. CHOI MD, El Segundo