Zoot Suit Riots Summary

In America, the reaction to the protest was very intense. Throughout the protest, the Freedom Riders came across violence and the reaction of the protest was ruthless. While having to delay their journey to change a slashed tire, “one bus was firebombed and the Freedom Riders were beaten (by a white mob). The second bus was similarly attacked and the passengers beaten”.11 In America, there was a Freedom Ride accompanied by the State Highway Patrol, taking their journey headed for Montgomery; but when “local police failed to protect them, they were again beaten”12.

White sailors invaded Mexican American communities and attacked Zoot Suitors. The city police did nothing to restrain the sailors, who grabbed the Hispanic teenagers, tore off and burned their clothes, cut off their hair, and beat them. However, when Hispanics tried to fight back, the police moved in and arrested them. After the Zoot Suit riots, LA passed a law prohibiting the wearing Zoot Suits” (www.stufflikethat.org, 2010)

The Plan de San Diego provided an excuse to both Anglos and Hispanics to settle scores and seize opportunities. The authors unveil how the backlash resulted in a wave of racism and the deaths of some three hundred Mexican nationals. Harris and Sadler bring light to little known historical events which seem to still affect relationships and feelings between both sides of the warring parties. For example, they suggest The Plan de San Diego was probably devised by supporters of Mexican rebel, Venustiano Carranza, in his homeland and not the town of San Diego, Texas. His motive was to divert the attention away from his rival Pancho Villa.

During World War II, Latinos in American neighborhoods were subject to inequality, prejudice, and exploitation even though they sacrificed so much for the country. During World War II, East Los Angeles was going through the racial tensions between Anglo sailors, marines and resident Latinos called the Zoot Suit Riots. In document N, it shows a set of photos taken during these Zoot Suit Riots and it shows several teenage boys being stripped of their clothes by the police. It also shows many Anglo sailors with bats and sticks in which they used to attack anyone who was wearing a zoot suit. The tension was all caused because Many sailors and marines would pass through Latino communities where confrontations between them and Latinos wearing Zoot

Chicano men are presented as dominant, and with an overwhelming desire to be accepted, to fit in – (signified with the Anglo origins within the zoot suit.) Yet simultaneously the Chicanos are presented as trying to forge their own identity and make their own mark within society. They are presented as brothers, fathers and friends, the fact they were acquitted of their supposed crimes proves the type of people these Chicano men were – young, and trying to find their place in a society which rejects them for being themselves – ‘cultural identity is a matter of becoming as well as being. It belongs to the future as much to the past.’ Hall (1989:

The Zoot Suit represents a changing society that the general population isn't ready to accept it so they blame the crimes and the murders on those who dare to vary from "normal." This is going on during World War II and many of the Mexican Americans feel like they have no place fighting the war and that the real war is the war between soldiers with their tight button up collars and the hang loose Zoot Suiters who are mostly Mexican American.

Gutiérrez’s analysis spans almost a century worth of history between Mexican Americans and Mexicans and how their relationship developed. Throughout his discussion he argues that the root of the conflict between these two groups long existed. He argues that “although most Mexican Americans retained their Mexican cultural orientations and maintained strong affinities to Mexico,” factors of American assimilation and essentially ideals of nativism

Zoot suits, associated with the Mexican race, consisted of a long jacket that reached almost to the knees, pants with a “tight stuff cuff”, a “wide, flat hat, and Dutch-toe shoes” (Berger 193). These zoot suits were worn by the Mexican youth who were accused of murder on August 2, 1942. People claimed that Jose Diaz was murdered by a gang that had broken up a party at Sleepy Lagoon ranch located close to Los Angeles. However, even though the lower court did convict them of murder, two years later the district court of appeals took that decision back by stating that there was not enough good evidence and that most of that decision was made based on prejudice issues. This incident became known as the “Sleepy Lagoon Affair” and was made

In the article “Citizens as Foreigners”, reveals how dominant society views Mexican Americans in the United States as foreigners deserving of harsh treatment. An exposed case of this treatment was on April fool’s day 1996 when “a television crew videotaped the beating of a Mexican man and woman, suspected of being undocumented by law enforcement officers, after a high speed chase” (200). This defines discrimination and unjust treatment toward Mexicans. This continues to happen in today’s society. It is horrific that some people who witness this action thought the victims deserved the treatment. No one deserves to be humiliated and treated this way even if they are undocumented or not. As expected there were no actions taken for justice and

Even by the 1930s, this was particularly among young people who, “born and educated in the United States, demanded to be included in the city’s future … ” (Sanchez 226). At a crucial meeting of Mexican-Americans in 1927, facing an Anglo led municipal incorporation move that would have raised taxes and driven them out, many Mexican-American leaders opposed applying for U.S. citizenship. Even though it would have given them more of a target, specifically, the right to vote on a subsequent ballot measure. The affront to Mexico and their heritage was, for them, a crime that outweighed the benefits (Sanchez 4).

The book outlines ways in which to reduce riots in correctional institutions. Inmates want fair and consistent enforcement of rules and treatment by the staff, as well as, a sufficient ratio of staff and security for each inmate. Food quality is a major determinant factor, as well as, making sure with abrupt changes in prisoners or staff that there is someone to take over their position. If inmates are aware of the “No hostage” policy, they will be deterred from riots as their demands will not be considered if hostages are taken. Continuously having riot planning and training. alongside, communication between management, staff, and of course, the inmates. With a decrease in rumors, there is less animosity and a more peaceful environment for those who work and inhabit the facility. Finally, a good classification system, where incoming inmates can receive the necessary risk assessments.

During the 19th Century, the United States sought to expand westwards and increase their land. Since Mexico stood in the way they did all they could to provoke it and start a war. “The Mexicans fired the first shot. But they had done what the American government wanted” (Zinn 151). What they wanted was California, soon they wanted Texas and then Arizona and New Mexico came along. For a long period of time, probably still today; Mexican-Americans are seen as “an ahistoric people” (Romano 44). An assumption that is completely wrong. Mexican American have been fighting for their rights and equality since they became part of America. In fact, they had two movements conduct by different generations. The Mexican-American Generation between 1930 and 1960; and the Chicano generation between 1945-1960. Although both generations were had the same ancestry, they had different worldview because of their history and the events that were going on in their time. Both Mexican-American generation and Chicano generation similarities and differences help understand the overall Chicano history in the 20th Century.

I will be applying the three major sociological perspectives, which include functionalism, conflict theory, and symbolic interactionism to the experiences of Hispanic Americans. No ethnic group attracts more public attention than the Hispanic people do due to their large numbers, their residential clustering, and bilingual programs and signs associated with them making them a recognizable ethnic group. Hispanic people who live in poverty or the small number involved in gangs, drugs, or other criminal activity get more attention and generate negative stereotypes, but most of them live as members of the middle class.

Throughout Edwardo Portillos story connections are made between youthful gang members and actual violent criminals. Depicting the diverse issues that take place in our society today, the depiction of Latinos and Latinas as being commonly associated with gangs and drug abusers. As well as the depiction of police profiling and police monitoring that take place in certain areas. The quote “if it walks like a duck and talks like a duck, it must be a duck (Mann, 2006)” clouds police officers and other law official’s judgements when interacting with Latinos and Latinas youth and adults. Simply because of the way they dress and their mannerisms they use when they’re in public socializing. Within Portillos story he manages to explain how and why Latinos and Latinas are grouped into this stereotype.

Racial tension was running high to anyone that was different. Howard Becker suggested that “culture arises essentially in response to a problem faced in common by a group of people…” which is seen in the Pachuco culture (Becker, 80). The pachuco did not want to become a Mexican again; at the same time, he did not want to blend into the life of North America, this was the problem that many Mexican-Americans faced when living in the United States (Paz, 14). This group rebelled against both Mexican and American cultures and it grew because this group was not seen as patriotic nor American because they refused to enlist and resisted