#3 – Latasha Harlins
Hearing the name of Latasha Harlins equals hearing the word tragedy. The 15 year old girl was shot to death while trying to leave Korean-owned store after a misunderstanding with the owner.
Young Latasha had taken a bottle of orange juice, placed it in her backpack and was headed towards the counter, with the $2 she had to pay for the juice.
Because she had already placed the bottle in her backpack, the owner and seller at the same time did not believe she wanted to pay and started a fight. When the young girl, upset for a good reason, put the juice on the counter and tried to leave the shop, Korean owner Soon Ja Du pulled a gun and shot her. The bullet hit Latasha’s back of the head and killed her.
After the trial, Soon Ja Du was charged and found guilty of voluntary manslaughter, but the judge leading the case decided she did not have to go to prison, getting only 5 years of probation, $500 fine and 400 hours of community service, instead of 16 years of prison.
Ever since, Latasha became a symbol of how African American residents and citizens of the U.S. should not be treated in their own country!