The Zoot-Suit Riots 1943 Essential Questions: What are Zoot—Suits? What was happening in the country during the 1940s?

The Zoot-Suit Riots 1943 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 Riots 1943 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 Riots 1943 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. On pages 3 and 4 of If He Hollers Let Him Go, Bob Jones conveys his feelings about the racial tension in LA at this time.

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 Riots 1943 Defiance & Unity

Sleepy Lagoon Murder August 1942—Jose Diaz Murdered Hundreds of Mexican-Americans rounded up—23 arrested LAPD Lt. testifies as a witness for the prosecution, state: “Mexicans were biologically prone to violence and crime due to their “oriental” Aztec ancestry Story sensationalized in the Hertz Newspapers This racist testimony resulted in the conviction of twelve young Mexican-Americans. The case was eventually overturned.

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