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30 years later… We remember her name, Latasha Harlins

A-Love-Song-for-Latasha.-Image-courtesy-of-Netflix.

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Netflix recently released ‘A Love Song for Latasha’ that was directed by Sophia Nahli Allison where the  award-winning film played at more than a dozen festivals, including Sundance, Tribeca and AFI. In 2021, the short film was also nominated by the Oscars. 

On March 16, 1991, Latasha Harlins was a 15-year-old girl who was fatally shot by Soon Ja Du, an owner of a Korean store. Her death was thirteen days after the video release of the Rodney King beating which contributed to the L.A. Riots of 1992.

Du saw Harlins put an orange juice in her backpack but didn’t notice the money she had to purchase it. Du proceeded to think she was stealing while Harlins continued to say, “I’m trying to pay for it.” Harlins returned the juice and as she walked away Du shot her in the back of the head.

When police arrived, they found the $2 in Latasha’s hand that she was going to use to pay for it. After trial, the jury gave her a maximum of 16 years but Judge Joyce Karlin only gave Du five years probation, 400 hours of community service and a $500 fine.

Tupac rapped about the real issues in the Black communities. He said her name, along with many other young individuals, various times in his music. Harlins death prompted Tupac to rap “a bottle of juice is no excuse – the truth hurts,” while ‘Keep Ya Head Up” music video opens with an image about being dedicated to Latasha Harlins.

In the movie Kings, starring Halle Berry, Latasha Harlins’ unfortunate story was played in a brief scene as well. 

Latasha Harlins would be 45 now. Although justice was not correctly served, Latasha Marlins will forever be remembered. 

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