Since the 1992 Los Angeles riots, the awareness of tension between Koreans and blacks has moved both these groups to action. Many people have felt burdened to reconcile these two ethnic groups and bring them to a mutual understanding. This article deals with two people who have made a joint effort towards unification and racial harmony in New York between Koreans and blacks.

C.Vernon Mason, a former lawyer and advocate of African American rights who was disbarred in 1995 for "a pattern of neglect, dishonesty, fee-gouging and abandonment of clients," combined forces with Choong Sik Ahn, pastor of the Korean Church of Long Island in Garden City, to "help make New York a better, more peaceful community." After the first publicized incident between black residents and Korean grocers in 1984 in Harlem, Pastor Ahn initiated dialogue between the two cultures. One fruit of his labor evolved into a joint Christmas celebration at the St. James Church in Harlem.

He and Mason are now working with the Korean Business Association, which represents 130 businesses throughout New York and New Jersey, to educate their communities about each other’s cultures. Both have made a commitment to educating the two cultures on the other because relations "will not improve until each gain an appreciation and an understanding of the other." Mason said that:

‘These situations arose because people were dealing with each other on a very superficial level. You have a situation where people don’t get to know each other on the personal level. Instead they relate to each other based on social stereotypes.’

There were similar efforts to mend ethnic tensions after the Los Angeles riots. After conducting interviews following the riots, Roy Hong, a civil rights activist in the Korean community, found that " ‘it’s not so much an issue of prejudice but an issue of cultural misunderstanding.’ " Hong says that the answer lies in education—exactly what Mason and Ahn have found to be successful.

1. Why do stereotypes strain Korean/black relations? How can we better understand these stereotypes?
2. What are some tangible ways we can use to educate people on relating to other cultures?

1. Though efforts are being made to reconcile the two racial groups, many misunderstandings are perpetuated by the media.
2. One way to help issues like these is to build cross-cultural relationships in humility and openness.

Nam Hee Kim cCYS

IMPLICATIONS

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION AND DISCUSSION

Murtha, K. (1996, June 2). "In the name of harmony, Korean-Americans and African-Americans start on the path of reconciliation." Newsday, p. E1.

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