70 Years Ago—June 3,
1943: Zoot suit riots
begin—sailors and Mexican-Americans scuffle in Los Angeles, as servicemen
resent flamboyant “unpatriotic” clothing of Latino youth; over the next several
days over 150 people will be injured.
Sarah, I am still laughing...(As we get older, we seem to remember only certain things!) Hence, Ex-RAF hubby remembers the suits alright but can't tell me the significance behind it. Why were they called not patriotic?
Zoot suits used an enormous amount of fabric at the same time that the US War Production Board had placed strong restrictions on clothing - no cuffs, ruffles, and limits on width of trousers, length of skirts, etc. So when the sailors saw these young men - not only not in the military - but also flaunting excessive fabric - it rubbed them wrong.
Sarah, I am still laughing...(As we get older, we seem to remember only certain things!) Hence, Ex-RAF hubby remembers the suits alright but can't tell me the significance behind it. Why were they called not patriotic?
ReplyDeleteZoot suits used an enormous amount of fabric at the same time that the US War Production Board had placed strong restrictions on clothing - no cuffs, ruffles, and limits on width of trousers, length of skirts, etc. So when the sailors saw these young men - not only not in the military - but also flaunting excessive fabric - it rubbed them wrong.
ReplyDeleteAaaahhh! Here we are, a tad sheepish...Thanks!
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