Set in south central Los Angeles after the violent outbreak of riots after the 1992 Rodney King beating, trial and verdict, playwright and professor Anna Deavere Smith is able to transform herself into scores of residents of Los Angeles. Entirely using the words of over 200 residents of Los Angeles during and after the Rodney King Riots, she is able to reflect the experiences that spread throughout the city. Striving to display a wide variety of perspectives, Smith incorporates characters from different upbringings, cultures, and races; white, black, Mexican, Korean, Police officers and gang members. Through the words of individuals from all different walks of life, Smith successfully delivers the perspectives of those affected by the riots.
