Joe wrote:

"It is still the usual practice of American newspapers to identify only local victims of disasters - victims from places afar are less often mentioned by name."

In 1992, in the aftermath of the Rodney King decision, 57 people died in the Los Angeles riots - all local citizens and, presumably, all black. None of their names appeared in the Los Angeles Times.

Here's a song about it:

WHO WERE THE FIFTY SEVEN?

1. Los Angeles showed the rage of the poor
In nineteen and ninety two
Fifty seven people lost their lives
And the press didn't even tell us who

Chorus:

Who were the fifty seven?
We don't even know their names
Who were the fifty seven?
That died when the city was in flames?

2. Some might have been in the squads of police
But it wouldn't have been the same
The press would have told us everything
And everyone would surely know their names

3. Some might have been in the fire brigade
etc.

4. Some might have been in the national guard
etc.

5. Some might have been in the white middle class
etc.

Tag:

Some might have been in the squads of police
Some might have been in the fire brigade
Some might have been in the national guard
Some might have been in the white middle class
But it wouldn't have been the same

Bev and Jerry