Zoot Suit Riots consisted of violent protests by Americans both civilians and service men that happened in Los Angeles in the year 1943. The riots involved Americans and Young Mexicans Americans who were referred to as zoot suiters because they wore the zoot suits. The riots were named Zoot Suits because the Mexican American youths wore outfits that were called Zoot suits during the war. The outfit consisted of a large jacket and large trousers that were worn by a flamboyant hat. After the Second World War, Mexican Immigrants migrated to the United States for as casual laborers and aid the United States government in aiding them during the Second World War. This was a move to strengthen their defensive efforts in the World War. However, the unity between Mexicans and Americans, young Mexicans were frequently bullied and attacked by United States service members (Herold, 2017).
The servicemen have never liked the Zoot Suit attire and they could attack every Mexican youngster wearing the attire. The main cause of the riots were the fears and fear of being attacked by Mexicans after a young Mexican was murdered by American teenagers the murder trial of a young Latino man. American teenagers had been alleged to murder the young Latino man. Their trial saw them convicted for murder and were sentenced to prison. The convictions have later overturned a factor that fueled animosity and hostilities between whites and the Mexican Americans. The servicemen, the police and all other media agencies portrayed the Mexican Americans as people who didn’t help matters at all, that they were gangsters, thugs, and hoodlums. Due to the rationing that the United States had imposed on the manufacture of wool, the army manufactured its clothing and placed restriction that would minimize the use of wool. Backdoor tailors who ignored the strict restrictions made by the government on wool made the zoot suits that were worn by Mexican Americans locally. The Mexican-Americans just wore the Zoot Suits that were locally made by bootleg tailors. The Mexicans for not following the strict rationing regulations that the Government had imposed saw this as a deliberate move (Castillo, 2000).
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White servicemen and American civilians constantly attacked young Mexicans Americans who was seen wearing the zoot suit. The outfits were considered unpatriotic and were seen to be extravagant since the government had placed a strict rationing on wool and fabrics. The outfit made Americans angry and it is due to this reason that the body of a young Latino was found dumped. The Mexicans Americans were not only the people who were attacked by the American civilians but also the young African Americans and Filipinos because they supported the zoot suit. The minority groups were attacked frequently for the reason of wearing a zoot suit (Castillo, 2000).
The murder case of the Mexican American prevailed in the country with media houses making headlines about the trial. The murder case trial triggered more hostilities and fights between the two groups. After the murder, trial servicemen would constantly get into violent altercations with Mexican Americans. The protests were seen nationwide with the biggest one being witnessed in Los Angeles that involved military personnel all together in arms with American Civilians. It escalated further when they marched down the town vandalizing the houses and stalls targeting the Mexican Americans in zoot suits attire. The police officers who had been given orders to arrest any protester assaulting Latinos joined the protests and joined in the attacks. After the riots, Mexican Americans were arrested, people were injured, and a some fatalities were reported. The City council approved regulations that made prohibited the wearing of zoot suits. The outfit had become a representation of hoodlumism. Although no laws were passed by the city council to criminalize the outfit, it issued a warning to curb the illegal production of fabric that violated the restrictions of rationing on wool and fabric that the U.S government had issued. Young African Americans were also targeted during the riots (Herold, 2017).
References
Castillo, R. G. (2000). The Los Angeles "Zoot Suit Riots" Revisited: Mexican and Latin American Perspectives. Mexican Studies/Estudios Mexicanos , 16 (2), 367-391. doi:10.1525/msem.2000.16.2.03a00080
Herold, D. (2017, June 14). The Strange Story Of The Los Angeles Zoot Suit Riots In World War Two. Retrieved from https://www.warhistoryonline.com/world-war-ii/zoot-suit-riots-the-wwii-era-los-angeles-race-riots-x.html
