Hello and welcome back to Breakfast with Mom.
Today discuss the 1943 Zoot Suit Riots. These riots took place from June 3 to June 8, 1943, primarily between American servicemen, who were predominantly white, and young Mexican American and Mexican immigrant men, who were often seen wearing distinctive “zoot suits.” The zoot suit was a flamboyant style of clothing characterized by oversized suits with high-waisted, pegged trousers and long jackets. The riots were fueled by social tensions, wartime anxiety, and racial prejudice. Many members of the U.S. military stationed in Los Angeles viewed the zoot suit as a symbol of rebellion and nonconformity, associating it with Mexican American youth gangs.
