Topic > The Zoot Suit Riots in the United States

Mexican Americans often wore zoot suits consisting of high-waisted, wide-legged pants, narrow, pegged cuffs, and a long coat with wide lapels and broad padded shoulders that showed off the their culture. These zoot suits were often worn by young Mexican Americans and were attacked for it. The target was people of color and it didn't matter what gender or age they were. The zoot riots were a series of mass clashes between U.S. civilians and the U.S. military against mostly young Mexican Americans. Zoot Suiters were often beaten, stripped of their clothes, and then arrested by Los Angeles police who witnessed the beating. They were humiliated even in front of their own people and we hunted them as if they were animals. It started in downtown Los Angeles which led to wanting to destroy Mexican-American communities. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essayFor example, Vicent Duarte was a 15-year-old who was shot in both legs during a riot at the Azusa Theater on Thursday, June 10. 1943. He was an innocent boy who was doing nothing wrong and was attacked because of the color of his skin. And then, of course, the heroes are white Americans. Friday, June 4, 29 Taxi Caravans took 200 or more sailors and marines to hunt Mexicans. And then, on the fifth day of the uprising, 5,000 civilians came to Los Angeles to help defeat the Mexican Americans. These people knew where to find Mexican Americans and beat them for no reason, just because of the color of their skin and how they dressed. Mexican Americans were judged unfairly and almost lost their lives because of it. The reason I chose this topic is that I somehow felt connected to it and saw how it still happens in my community. Where people are judged by the clothes they wear or the color of their skin. For example, when my father was taken by ICE agents just because of the color of his skin it made me feel terrified of my own country. Another situation that happens is when my uncle is beaten by Americans because he looked like a gangster. It makes people afraid to even go out or maybe walk down the street. And for me this is not right because people should have the right to wear what they want and not be discriminated against for it. I'm a 19 year old Mexican American woman who wants to wear whatever she wants. If I want to wear an Oaxacan dress with huaraches, that's what I'll wear. I want to express and show love towards my roots, there is something wrong with that. I definitely don't want to live in my country in fear. I was born in the USA and should be respected and put down with so much negativity around. This topic is important to me, it opened my eyes to see what my people went through and it gives me the strength to fight for my rights. We all have a voice, many don't know how to use it and some are afraid. Another thing is that this topic of the Zoot Suit Riots has given me a reason to keep fighting and find ways to help my people. Most Mexican Americans are humiliated because of their color or race. I also feel like this topic is so important and students should be taught more about injustice towards Mexican Americans. I'm still angry that the zoot suit riots ended with the statement "If caught wearing a zoot suit in public, up to 30 days in jail." Why do Mexican Americans get blamed for this and white Americans get away with it? The society in which.