Why Looting During Riots Happened Mostly In Inner-City Black Communities

For the vast majority of Americans, the typical stereotype of a looter during protest riots is a young black man, occasionally Latino, from a predominantly poor black neighborhood. It doesn't help that this general perception is being reinforced by images from crises as current as the still simmering Baltimore riots as well as those from recent and distant past: the bloody riots in Ferguson, MO last year, the massive 1992 post-Rodney King trial LA riots that left many Korean store owners forced to arm and defend themselves and their businesses from looters, and the 1977 New York City riots following a massive blackout brought memories of those pitch dark, hot and humid summer nights New York residents could never forget as they lived in extreme fear from both rioters and the serial killer Son of Sam terrorizing the city. In all of these, there were widespread looting, vandalism and other serious crimes committed. Billions of dollars in property damages were sustained. While buildings and cars were burning, you can hear the cries of "burn, baby, burn" from the angry mob.

A well-meaning friend pointed out to me that in Asia and in many other places elsewhere, people do engage in violent protests and sometimes resorted to vandalism but they hardly turn to looting of private properties. In truth, this has less to do with the color of their skin (if that's what my friend is implying) but more with the prevalent sense of powerlessness in these poor inner-city neighborhoods. Gang membership is also a significant factor in this maladaptive group mentality. The herd behavior during looting and vandalism among young men somehow give them personal empowerment and a sense of belonging.

The LA riots in 1992 were among the largest in US history and the second deadliest with 53 fatalities. But the worst US riots with massive looting happened in July, 1863 in New York City when many protested the military draft law passed following the emancipation proclamation of Pres. Abraham Lincoln. Most of the rioters were Irish-Americans who attacked black folks, burned their homes and looted stores. The official death toll: 119. How ironic that the wild rioters back then were not young black Americans but blue-collar Irish-Americans.