Zoot Suit Riots

Zoot Suit Riots

BY Sophia Bricmont Vazquez

Chicanos in American history struggled with identity. In the 1940s, young Chicanos, known as Pachucos, adopted the Zoot Suit to resist assimilation. During the summer of 1943, American servicemen beat anyone appearing to be a Pachuco in Los Angeles. Many Euro-Americans considered the Pachuco style unpatriotic due to the use of rationed textiles during World War II. This created tension, as Chicanos were seen as inferior and expected to assimilate. For days, Pachucos were beaten, women assaulted, arrested, and stripped by sailors. My mural depicts the pain and discrimination Pachucos faced during the Zoot Suit Riots and emphasizes the importance of community.