The late Rodney King
Los Angeles, CA — Lora King, the daughter of Rodney King, is paying tribute to her father’s life and legacy through the “I am a King” scholarship, which she launched last Monday on the 27th anniversary of the historic L.A. Riots. It aims to support Black fathers financially so they can be more involved in their children’s lives.Rodney G. King, a Black man whom police officers brutally arrested in 1991, has since played a significant role in social activism. The shocking incident, which was recorded on video and was highly publicized, has led to the L.A. riots in 1992.
Now 27 years after, King wanted to keep the memory of her father, who died in 2012, alive. She launched the “I am a King” scholarship to celebrate Black fathers in time for the L.A. Riots’ anniversary celebration.
The scholarship’s goal is to somehow lift the financial barriers from Black fathers so they could bond more with their children. It would cover activity costs to dining and entertainment such as a game of miniature golf, all-expense-paid trip to Disneyland.
The fund was established with the help of a private tech entrepreneur who donated $10,000. King said many have also promised to contribute and other donations are still welcome.
Through the program, King hopes other children get to experience what her father made her experience since the city awarded him $3.8 million in damages for the abuse he suffered in the hands of the police.
“Who knows if they will ever acknowledge him in the way that they should,” King told the Los Angeles Times. “He really didn’t care for that. He just cared about making a difference in people’s lives and creating change.”
To learn more about the Rodney King Scholarship Fund, visit https://www.rodneyking.org