Zoot Suit Riots Essay - 1406 Words

Draped Suits versus Pressed Uniforms Race is an ongoing discussion that has been a prominent topic since the beginning of the United States of America. It is difficult to understand the issues that rise from a factor that people cannot control like their color of their skin or the family ties with religion. Being open and understanding can be difficult if one is not willing to learn and be open towards new ideas that are different. Some of these issues were raised during the 1940’s when the world was at the start of a war. People were uncertain of their future and held themselves apart from the rest of their community because they were scared for the possibilities of something happening to their way of living. The Sleepy Lagoon Trial†¦show more content†¦These kids were found fighting near the Sleeping Lagoon ,which was a popular hangout spot since Mexicans were not allowed in public pools, because these kids were seen fighting the Los Angeles Police Department believ ed that these kids killed Jose Diaz. The police placed their efforts on arresting those kids that were affiliated with the fights that happened the night before Diaz was murdered thus dwindling down to 22 kids from the 38th Street gang being prosecuted for the death of Jose Diaz(Baeder) . This eventually led to court case The People v. Zammora which was the biased trial with no evidence and the misrepresentation of defendants within the court of law (Pagan 80). This trial resulted to the false accusations of 17 innocent kids that were of Mexican descent to got to jail for murder. All of these boys went through the appeal process because of the lack of evidence put against them, speculation, and not being able to communicate with defense attorneys. They went through an unfair trial based on the color of their skin and the social stigmas of that time period that helped further the negative looks of Mexicans during the trial. This was important to bring up because it clearly exemplifi ed the racist views of the police and the uncertainty of the people and their understanding of different culture ofShow MoreRelatedZoot Suit Riots Essay854 Words   |  4 PagesBased on the infamous 1942 Sleepy Lagoon murder mystery and the resulting Zoot Suit Riots in Los Angeles , playwright Luis Valdez weaves fact and fiction to depict the fate of 22 young Mexican Americans brought to trial for a murder they did not commit. Zoot Suit brings together unforgettable characters such as the irreverent El Pachuco and the charismatic Henry Reyna, an unsuspecting gang leader who finds himself caught in the middle of the racially turbulent events that rocked Los AngelesRead More Zoot Suit Riots Essay626 Words   |  3 Pages   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Zoot suits, associated with the Mexican race, consisted of a long jacket that reached almost to the knees, pants with a â€Å"tight stuff cuff†, a â€Å"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 yearsRead MoreZoot Suit Riots in Los Angeles Essay1929 Words   |  8 PagesZoot Suit Riots in Los Angeles Outline Topic: The Zoot Suit Riots of 1943: What caused them, what happened, and what were the effects? Introduction Causes for the riots in 1943 History of racism Stylish dress seen as un-American during wartime. Stage set for riots Sleepy Lagoon murder case and the Zoot Suit riots Effects of riots Cultural repression Political activism in Mexican American community Series of reforms in the Los Angeles Police Department Causes Mexican Revolution,Read MoreChicano Gangs And The Los Angeles3699 Words   |  15 Pagesof gang life is seen as a negative mainly because of the violence and crimes that occur because of gangs, but some aspects of gang life have led to some positive outcomes, whether or not it may have started out in a positive way. Nonetheless, this essay educate readers Chicano gangs. Attention will be brought specifically towards the issues of Chicano gangs in Los Angeles. In order to fully educate readers about Chicano gangs there will be information about the background history of how Chicano gangsRead MoreLaw Enforcement And Criminal Justice System2527 Words   |  11 Pagesis why a large percentage of incinerated individuals is made up of members from the black and Latino communities. The observed victimization and criminalization of blacks and Latinos has been the subject of much literature and press releases. This essay aims to explore how this criminalization has been reported in books, media outlets and so on. Edward J. 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The racist connotation that Miss Jimenez associates with who she thinks would â€Å"fit in† society’s box is a definite reflection of the hardships Valdez witnessed in his community. For example, the Zoot Suit Riots that occurred in 1944 was rooted by a reaction by young Mexican-American males against a culture that did not want them to be a part of it. Stuart Cosgrove examines this issue when he states, In the most obvious ways they had been stripped ofRead MoreImpact World War Two Had on Trinidad3252 Words   |  14 PagesArielle Spann 00033827 History 210 CRN 35943 How has World War II impacted on Trinidad and Tobago? This essay explores the impact of World War II on the development of Trinidad and Tobago. World War II played a very important role in the development of Trinidad and Tobago in terms of social, cultural, economic and political changes. 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There is a presumed nonrealistic status that provides a narrative license to for displaying ‘exoticism’ and subliminal eroticism. (Shohat, 235) (see also I. deJesus essay)These films, although on the surface they may seem to solve the problems of racism and fear of miscegenation in the United States, only compound the problem by manifesting an ‘unrealistic’ setting. They are also examples of films that had political