Zoot Suit Riots

Nonfiction, History, Reference, Americas, United States, 20th Century
Cover of the book Zoot Suit Riots by Roger Bruns, ABC-CLIO
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Roger Bruns ISBN: 9780313398797
Publisher: ABC-CLIO Publication: February 28, 2014
Imprint: Greenwood Language: English
Author: Roger Bruns
ISBN: 9780313398797
Publisher: ABC-CLIO
Publication: February 28, 2014
Imprint: Greenwood
Language: English

Although the "zoot suit" had earlier been a black youth fashion trend identified with jazz culture, by the 1940s, the zoot suit was adopted by Mexican American teenagers in wartime Los Angeles, who wore it as their unofficial "uniform" as an act of rebellion and to establish their cultural identity. For a week in June of 1943, the Zoot Suit Riots, instigated by Anglo-American servicemen and condoned by the Los Angeles police, terrorized the Mexican American community. The events were an ugly testament to the climate of racial tension and resentment in Los Angeles—and after similar riots began across the nation, it became apparent how endemic the problem was. This book traces these important historic events and their subsequent cultural and political influences on the Mexican American experience, especially the activist and reform efforts designed to prevent similar future injustices.

General readers will gain an understanding of the challenges facing the Mexican American community in wartime Los Angeles, grasp the racial and cultural resistance of the larger Anglo-American society of the time, and see how the blatant injustices of the Sleepy Lagoon trial and the Zoot Suit Riots served to galvanize Latinos and others to fight back. Those conducting in-depth research will appreciate having access to original materials sourced from Federal and state archives as well as newspapers and other repositories of information provided in the book.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Although the "zoot suit" had earlier been a black youth fashion trend identified with jazz culture, by the 1940s, the zoot suit was adopted by Mexican American teenagers in wartime Los Angeles, who wore it as their unofficial "uniform" as an act of rebellion and to establish their cultural identity. For a week in June of 1943, the Zoot Suit Riots, instigated by Anglo-American servicemen and condoned by the Los Angeles police, terrorized the Mexican American community. The events were an ugly testament to the climate of racial tension and resentment in Los Angeles—and after similar riots began across the nation, it became apparent how endemic the problem was. This book traces these important historic events and their subsequent cultural and political influences on the Mexican American experience, especially the activist and reform efforts designed to prevent similar future injustices.

General readers will gain an understanding of the challenges facing the Mexican American community in wartime Los Angeles, grasp the racial and cultural resistance of the larger Anglo-American society of the time, and see how the blatant injustices of the Sleepy Lagoon trial and the Zoot Suit Riots served to galvanize Latinos and others to fight back. Those conducting in-depth research will appreciate having access to original materials sourced from Federal and state archives as well as newspapers and other repositories of information provided in the book.

More books from ABC-CLIO

Cover of the book Crash Course in Disaster Preparedness by Roger Bruns
Cover of the book Marketing Moxie for Librarians: Fresh Ideas, Proven Techniques, and Innovative Approaches by Roger Bruns
Cover of the book Integrating Children's LIterature through the Common Core State Standards by Roger Bruns
Cover of the book The Portable MLIS: Insights from the Experts, 2nd Edition by Roger Bruns
Cover of the book Redesign Your Library Website by Roger Bruns
Cover of the book Guide to Electronic Resource Management by Roger Bruns
Cover of the book Dinosaurs by the Decades: A Chronology of the Dinosaur in Science and Popular Culture by Roger Bruns
Cover of the book The Rise of Christianity: History, Documents, and Key Questions by Roger Bruns
Cover of the book The Failed Promise of Sentencing Reform by Roger Bruns
Cover of the book Mormons and Popular Culture: The Global Influence of an American Phenomenon [2 volumes] by Roger Bruns
Cover of the book Robots Are People Too: How Siri, Google Car, and Artificial Intelligence Will Force Us to Change Our Laws by Roger Bruns
Cover of the book Discrimination against the Mentally Ill by Roger Bruns
Cover of the book The Praeger Handbook of Media Literacy [2 volumes] by Roger Bruns
Cover of the book Guided Inquiry Design® in Action: High School by Roger Bruns
Cover of the book Earth's Landscape: An Encyclopedia of the World's Geographic Features [2 volumes] by Roger Bruns
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy