Light

Zoot Suit Riots

Definition

The Zoot Suit Riots were a series of violent clashes during the summer of 1943 in Los Angeles, California between U.S. servicemen and Mexican American youths wearing "zoot suits" - oversized suits that became a symbol of cultural defiance.

Analogy

Imagine if fans of two different music bands started fighting because one group didn't like the other's band t-shirts. The Zoot Suit Riots were similar but on a much larger and more dangerous scale, with racial tension adding fuel to the fire.

Related terms

Mexican Repatriation: A mass deportation of Mexicans and Mexican-Americans from the United States between 1929 and 1936. Many victims were not actually Mexican but were nonetheless targeted due to their ethnic heritage.

Pachuco Culture: A subculture associated with zoot suit fashion, jazz music, and rebellious behavior among some Mexican-American youth in the mid-20th century.

World War II Racial Tensions: Refers to heightened racial conflicts within America during World War II, exemplified by events such as internment of Japanese Americans and Zoot Suit Riots.