The zoot suit riots were a sequence of many different racial bursts that occurred between Mexican Americans and American servicemen in Los Angeles, California. These attacks developed in this area throughout the early 1940’s.Before all of the many American’s started coming to live in the Los Angeles area, Mexican Americans “Zoot Suit Riots” take their name from the high-waisted wool trousers and baggy, long-tailed suit coats then worn by many Los Angeles youths, but the violence was more about race relations than fashion.The zoot suits were inspired by the jazz music that was very popular among the youth of Los Angeles.Latino youths known as “Pachucos” caused a sensation by donning zoot suits, pork pie hats and dangling watch chains, and
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Surprisingly, no one was killed during the riot week, but it was not the last outbreak of racial violence based Zoot Suit. The first Lady Eleanor Roosevelt stated that the riots were a cause of “race problems,” she was definitely concerned with the treatment of Mexican Americans in the states on the border with Mexico. After she made the statement, Preston Hotchkis, who was the president of the California State Chamber of Commerce, insisted that the issue had nothing to do with racism. A lot of people were appalled that the first lady could suggest something like Mexican ethnicity being the underlying reason for the riots.
Realizing the disastrous international effects of the riots several measures were finally taken to end the Zoot Suit Riots. Federal Government officials in Washington, D.C. placed pressure on various government officials to stop the conflict. Among actions taken, the: Navy canceled all shore leaves and declared downtown Los Angeles out of bounds to all service men. Mexican Ambassador in Washington, D.C. requested Secretary of State Edward Stettinius to conduct a formal inquiry into the matter. Press was pressured to cease printing negative reports misrepresenting Mexican American zoot suit-wearing
Surprisingly, no one was killed during the riot week, but it was not the last outbreak of racial violence based Zoot Suit. The first Lady Eleanor Roosevelt stated that the riots were a cause of “race problems,” she was definitely concerned with the treatment of Mexican Americans in the states on the border with Mexico. After she made the statement, Preston Hotchkis, who was the president of the California State Chamber of Commerce, insisted that the issue had nothing to do with racism. A lot of people were appalled that the first lady could suggest something like Mexican ethnicity being the underlying reason for the riots.
Realizing the disastrous international effects of the riots several measures were finally taken to end the Zoot Suit Riots. Federal Government officials in Washington, D.C. placed pressure on various government officials to stop the conflict. Among actions taken, the: Navy canceled all shore leaves and declared downtown Los Angeles out of bounds to all service men. Mexican Ambassador in Washington, D.C. requested Secretary of State Edward Stettinius to conduct a formal inquiry into the matter. Press was pressured to cease printing negative reports misrepresenting Mexican American zoot suit-wearing