ipl-logo

Zoot Suit Research Paper

1990 Words8 Pages

Mayra Diaz
Professor Chavez
Music 008
February 15, 2018 Zoot Suit As a young woman growing up in L.A also known as Los Angeles as a Mexican-American ethnicity living in that neighborhood we were called "Chicano" by American people. It 's the 1940s and it’s all about zoot suiter, the music, the style, and the aesthetic. Zoot suiter is a men 's suit that is high-waisted, wide legged, with tight-cuffed, and a long coat with wide padded shoulders. That style of clothing was popular around that time and my brother was one of them who wore it too. My parents fear of me being " too American" because of the way I dress and how I socialize with others. But also, the fear of others that I …show more content…

It’s their race and their choice of clothing. A trial that is full of discrimination. A life where no one believes what you say even though there is no evidence just words, no prove. Sarah Elizabeth Howard writes “zoot suit expressed the rebellion by young people against drab slum life through the colorful costume that identified them as members of their own society” (Howard 113). Essentially the evidence points out that anyone including myself want to be in group, to fit in, and have their own thing that represent who we are. By expressing ourselves and being in society that we create for our own entertainment purposes. From what I can recall the events that took place at that time that led up to the Zoot Suit Riots in Los Angeles was the Sleepy Lagoon Murder that lead the death of a Mexican-American fellow who was murder by someone and they put the blame on the zoot suiter because they were close by or that they happened to be there. I don’t know the specific because I wasn’t there at that time I was at home, but I heard it from my brother, who knows what really happened and who actually murder the fellow. But from what I read from Sarah Elizabeth Howard’s …show more content…

Also that they were using a lot of fabric and that was used for the war. The Navy was out to get them and including myself but they were more aggressive towards the boys since the beginning and as I ponder thinking why did they do such a thing and also why does anyone do anything? For attention, for revenge, the anger that they develop causes them to take it out on us, the emotions they are feeling. I don’t know even know myself but I guess I want to believe that there must be a reason someone does a thing. But then it occurred to be that as my memory is coming back to me was that it was illegal to have the suit manufacture. Sarah Elizabeth Howard writes, “Owning a zoot suit in wartime was not a crime, but it was a crime to manufacture the suit. The War Production Board placed a $10,000 fine on tailors who ignored the restrictions on cloth and material to make them” (Howard 114). In this society wanting to make something unique causes problems, but that doesn’t give them the right to punish us for what we thought wasn’t as harmful at that

Show More
Related
514 Words | 3 Pages

In the article “Zoot-Suit Fighting Spreads on Coast” (1943) it discusses the racial tension between sailors and soldiers and the “zoot suits” on the west coast. Zoot Suits were mainly Mexican Americans and some African Americans who wore certain outfits that showed that they opposed these “wartime authorities” on the west coast. Most of the Zoot Suits were young men, some as young as twelve years old. This racial tension eventually turned into the soldiers and zoot suits hating each other and this eventually resulted in a week of rioting where more than 150 people were hurt. During this time in 1943 the US was still fighting a world war, so there was no need for anymore chaos to be going on.

Read More
514 Words | 3 Pages

The “Zoot Suit Riots” were a series of events linked to the Sleepy Lagoon murder case, that took place in Los Angeles California in June 1943. Despite the fact that zoot suits were not only worn by mexican americans during this time, and they were referred to the zoot gangsters. Often throughout this period of time as the city of LA began to grow, Mexican Americans were looked as outsiders in a city that was once built by their ancestors. Although zoot suits were not limited to only a single race I think the name of the event give it a false single sided outlook on the story. Ultimately singling out Mexican Americans during this time, even though the sailors had just as much or even more involvement during the riots.

Read More
329 Words | 2 Pages

The Zoot Suit Riots reveal that the American society in Los Angeles during the WWII Era was racially discriminated against Mexicans/Mexican Descents because Mexicans/Mexican Descents were known to wear Zoot Suits while zoot suitors were perceived as criminals. During this time, the Zoot Suit Riots occurred causing the “Spanish-speaking community” to be in a hard situation of being excluded from society and their surroundings. Mexicans/Mexican Descents wore Zoot Suits as a trend with the thought that this would help them “fit in” with the American style. Instead, Zoot Suitors end up being viewed as a “bad” image. The sailors would go into the Mexican neighborhoods and harm any Mexican (and Zoot Suit wearers) in sight.

Read More
1383 Words | 6 Pages

Clashes between Mexican-Americans and military personnel continued in the days and weeks to come. The play Zoot Suit by Luis Valdez, underscores the Zoot Suit Riots that occurred historically in Los Angeles during the 1940’s following the infamous trial “The Sleepy Lagoon”. The play follows Henry Reyna, leader of the 38th Street Gang, along with with the gang’s members and Henry’s family, while seeking to combat the racial prejudice of the era. The play dramatizes injustice in order to educate and awaken responses towards acts of injustice that occur in today’s society such as racial profiling, bias judicial system, and bias media (yellow journalism) that are still present in society

Read More
242 Words | 1 Pages

One way he does this is in the story of the Zoot Suit Riots. I prefer that we call this story the Solider and Sailor Riots and here is why. During WWII the War Production Board banned zoot suits because there was too much fabric being used in the production of making them. Zoot suits were high in demand and were sold illegally to patrons. The government reacted by labeling people who wore zoot suits as hoodlums.

Read More
760 Words | 4 Pages

Claim: Luis Valdez’s play Zoot Suit introduces the idea that people of color tend to have a little support or opportunities than any other person. The people who are colored can make a little mistake and may struggle with that mistake all their life. Context: Zoot Suit is the story of a Mexican Street Gang, whose members are accused of a murder they didn’t commit.

Read More
686 Words | 3 Pages

Zoot Suitted Soul Many say you can’t judge a book by the cover, but sure don’t go around saying you can’t judge a Latino by their suit. The play, Zoot Suit, was written by Luis Valdez and is about the struggle Mexican-Americans had within our country during WWII, talking about another war occurring within this nation. The ideal sense of pride in Pachugo is expressed through Henry’s encounters with certain situations and characters, from the guidance of Pachugo, and his pride ends up doing more harm than good. The Pachugo's masculinity and pride are shown through Henry’s interactions with characters and handling of serious situations.

Read More
666 Words | 3 Pages

The Zoot Suit Riots began in the early 1940’s up until the late 1990’s. The riots took place in Los Angeles and California and during this time the riots were seen as the most horrendous racial tensions between the Anglo Americans and White men. Although the battle was between the White sailor and the Anglo American men, African American’s and Filipino’s were engaging in the riots as well. The start of the Zoot Suit Riots in 1992 was due to the murder of Jose Diaz.

Read More
842 Words | 4 Pages

For the white society to hate the zoot-suiters even more, the “zoot-suit” came from the mid-thirties Negro fashions, where during that time Malcolm X began sporting the look. On top of the fact that these “zoot-suits” came from Negro culture, during the 1942 cloth rationing, the illegal suits still remained popular, which was a very “non-supporter, un-American” thing to do while our country was at war. These zoot-suiters were not doing much to help themselves stay out of trouble by consistently rebelling against the social norms, and their rebellions were un-patriotic which made white Americans despise them even

Read More
1762 Words | 8 Pages

In 1967, Rodolfo “Corky” Gonzalez wrote “I Am Joaquin,” a path breaking poem that helped shape an identity for thousands of Chicanas and Chicanos through its verses; and served as a key component in developing the Chicano Movement of the late 1960’s and 1970’s. During this time, the term Chicano was specific to Mexican Americans and the movement was very male centric. The term Chicano is key to the Chicano movement, but the definition of Chicano has evolved over time and I would argue continues to evolve. The Chicano movement excluded women as well other’s with similar struggles, like Central Americans who can also identify with this movement. The Chicano social identity should not exclude anyone, it should only expand; to all those of other

Read More
742 Words | 3 Pages

After guns were adopted for use in battle and quilted clothing no longer protected the wearer, such clothing was used only

Read More
1311 Words | 6 Pages

During the 1960’s and 1970’s, fashion theme dominated styles with flares, ruffle blouses, big gold chains, afro hair, and empire waists; during this era it was a time of bold and an overstatement style. Recently, the Migos and Drake brought back the disco influence in one of their singles,“Walk it Like I Talk It” In the article, Migos’ Stylist Shares the Key to Their “Walk It Talk It” Video: Definitely Ruffles, The Migos stylist Zoe Costello says, “Offset wears a pale pink suit, whose studded lapels recall the designs of Nudie Cohn, over a peach silk open-front ruffled blouse.”

Read More
1488 Words | 6 Pages

Dress Code When it comes to the topic of dress code there are many controversial factors that come to mind such as While some argue that dress code is necessary in order to properly teach students to dress appropriately, others contend that dress code infringes on students individuality and creativity. This is not to say that there are some people whose feelings land in the gray area in between. In recent discussion of dress code, a common question has been whether dress code is fair or not fair among all students. On the one hand we have parents, young women, and other members of society who argue that some schools take dress code too far.

Read More
1145 Words | 5 Pages

People allow the societal norms to rule their lives, trying to dress and act as the society wants them to as opposed to what they feel like dressing or acting. In the past, however, the oppression had a more prominent effect. In post-World War

Read More
1125 Words | 5 Pages

Versatile room par excellence, we now meet parkas at every corner. It has become the joker that comes out of the bottom of his sleeve - or his cloakroom - when the weather conditions dictate, or just that we want to be sure to have style. Finally ... you still have to know how to choose and wear it. History, product, style and brands ...

Read More

More about Zoot Suit Research Paper

Related Topics

Open Document