KJLH-FM and the Los Angeles Riots of 1992: Compton's Neighborhood Station in the Aftermath of the Rodney King Verdict

摘要

The Los Angeles suburb of Compton conjures a spate of stereotypes that guide the mind toward raucous rap, Mexican Mafia, and vicious violence. Stories of drug addiction, civic corruption, and criminal compulsion surge in the popular press and famed folklore surrounding the city since the popularization of gangsta rap in the '80s and '90s by groups such as N.W.A. and artists like Dr. Dre, Easy-E, and Ice Cube. Right in the thick of it all resides KJLH-FM, a 5,600 watt urban adult contemporary station operated by general manager Karen Slade and owned by pop legend Stevie Wonder. In her book entitled KJLH-FM and the Los Angeles Riots of 1992, Phylis Johnson returns readers to the tensions and turmoil revolving around the Rodney King verdict and recounts how the souls and sentiments of a radio station imparted information to and provided peace for listeners.