Rodney King
Rodney King
Rodney Glen King IIIwas an American taxi driver who became nationally known after being beaten by Los Angeles Police Department officers following a high-speed car chase while drunk on March 3, 1991. A witness, George Holliday, videotaped much of the beating from his balcony, and sent the footage to local news station KTLA. The footage shows four officers surrounding King, several of them striking him repeatedly, while other officers stood by. Parts of the footage were aired around the world,...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionOther
Date of Birth2 April 1965
CitySacramento, CA
CountryUnited States of America
When I came here almost nine years ago our economy was troubled and our nation was divided,
The trouble that they see me in is a part of my life that I'm working on.
People, I just want to say, can we all get along? Can we get along?
Nothing has changed in our country, so I am still feeling that same pain and anger.
You know, before when (the police went) to work, they used to be like, 'I'm gonna kick somebody's ass today and so I hope I can catch somebody in a bad situation or breaking the law, because I'm gonna beat someone's ass in a big way, I think that attitude has changed.
We wouldn't be as far along as a country if we didn't take on some of Martin Luther King's ways that he instilled in us.
Over the years, a lot of rappers - Lil' Wayne, Ice Cube - have used my name in their songs. I'm a real touchstone of history.
Nice guys just don't finish first in the music industry.
It's not painful to relive it. I'm comfortable with my position in American history.
It's happening right now... it's just not on film, it's not being recorded.
I saw my hometown burning that day.
As a black man, you run from the cops. It's different now, but back when I was coming up, you run.
Anybody can get bigheaded once they know the seat cannot be pulled out from under them.
Waking up sober is a good day. I love being able to wake up and do positive things, to go to the gym.