Julius Robinson
Head of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Group for the Americas
Having relocated to Northern California at the time of the riots the unrest brought me back to my experiences as a child during the Watts Rebellion in 1965. As a child of the Nickerson Garden Community, I bore witness to the smoldering frustrations of how inequality and disrespect can result in harsh indifference, violence, and destruction.
The Los Angeles riots were the culmination of turmoil and frustration in our communities at that time. The riots underscored that so many things were wrong in our city and across the country in a way that could no longer be ignored. While I know we have made progress since then, we still have a very long way to go. We are still struggling with some of the very same issues – among them are affordable housing, job security, food insecurity, living wages, and economic prosperity through the growth of small business with black and brown ownership.
In the aftermath of the riots we experienced a renaissance. Organizations like Faith and Community Empowerment (FACE) are helping us contextualize that turbulent period in our community. As Head of Corporate Social Responsibility at MUFG Union Bank I am so proud to be a part of this initiative and committed to building bridges of understanding that strengthen our communities, cross culturally, economically, and spiritually.
