The Zoot-Suit Riots1943
Essential Questions: What are Zoot—Suits? What was happening in the country during the
1940s?
The Zoot-Suit Riots1943
What are Zoot-Suits? --Fashionable, loose,
baggy cloth worn by Mexican males in Los Angeles during the 1940s.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/zoot/eng_sfeature/mx/pop_zoot_mx.html
The Zoot-Suit Riots1943
Pachuca, Mexico *Zoot-Suits were the
trend among Mexican-American youth in LA.
*These unconventional, baggy suits were seen as a threat to the “American” culture
The Zoot-Suit Riots1943
What was happening in the country during the 1940s?
Racial Tension filled America during the 1940s.
Background
Japanese-Americans were the target of terrorist acts.
Japanese people were assigned to American concentration camps.
Shortage of labor in California during the 1940s.
Who’s going to work?
Bracero Program: 200,000 Mexican-Americans were sent to LA in 1943, to work
The U.S. forced rationing (to share). Goods such as wool, gas, butter, and sugar were limited.
The Zoot-Suit Riots1943
Defiance & Unity
Sleepy Lagoon Murder This racist testimony
resulted in the conviction of twelve young Mexican-Americans. The case was eventually overturned.
August 1942—Jose Diaz MurderedHundreds of Mexican-Americans rounded up—23 arrestedLAPD Lt. testifies as a witness for the prosecution, state:
“Mexicans were biologically prone to violence and crime due to their “oriental” Aztec ancestryStory sensationalized in the Hertz Newspapers
Zoot-Suit Riot of 1943
The “Sleepy Lagoon Murder,” resulted in rumors of Zooters being criminals.
On June 3, 1943, hundreds of American service men went downtown and attacked anyone wearing a zoot-suit.
Though they initially sought zooters, anyone of color became a target. The riot lasted until the 13th of June. Police broke up the riot by arresting the victims and the use of zoot-suits became a misdemeanor.
Zoot Suit rioters: Why didn’t they arrest the sailors?
A Symbol of Resistance
By showing the paradox of American society, zoot-suiters were the ones on the front line to demand full membership in society, not just ones convenient to the dominant society.
“The Pachuco is the prey of society, but instead of hiding he adorns himself to attract the hunter’s attention.” (33) Labyrinth of Solitude