Zoot Suit Riots!

Zoot Suits represented a Mexican-American teenage cultural fashion that was made out of material that was discouraged from purchasing during World War II due to rations. Amongst Mexican-Americans continuing to wear this material as well as the racial tensions that had been building up within Los Angeles, a city that contained a high percentage of Latinos within the 1940s, due to job displacement and negative media from the Los Angeles Times, there was sparked hatred towards Mexican-Americans especially those who wore these zoot suits. 

When June 3, 1943 came around, many navy sailors on the streets turned their hatred into violence and sadistically harassed, humiliated, and beat hundreds of Zoot Suit wearers. Throughout this whole ordeal, policemen watched and turned the other way, approving of the actions of the sailors. Even after, some of the officials within the judicial system blamed those wearing Zoot Suits for these riots or didn't properly distribute punishments to those who participated in the violence to innocent citizens. Although Mexican-Americans fought in self-defense from those targeting minorities throughout those few days, the policemen ended up arresting primarily those who were of Latino descent.

Through the events at hand, one can look back at Los Angeles history and see the racial tensions and inequalities that plagued the lives of minorities and caucasians. History is important in this case because it shows us mistakes within courts and authorities, and that with power comes responsibility to treat every person, no matter if different in any sense, equally. It also shows the cruelty within human nature when given persuasion through media as well as a situation that creates jealousy or competition when a group shows differences within culture. Much of the country as this time was facing discourse with civil rights, and California and Los Angeles was specifically faced with racial discrimination concerning Latinos and Mexican-Americans.

Through my research, I will look for different perceptions of the Zoot Suit Riots, especially of those who were harassed as well as those who contributed to the injustices. I want to look for discriminations against minorities within Southern California during the 20th century in general as well as the Latino community. I also want to find through my research how the civil rights of the Mexican-Americans has changed since the Riots and to what extent was justice served after the Zoot Suit Riots.

Primary Sources of Zoot Suiters

Functions of a Public Space

These are some of the factors that are incorporated within a public space:

Aesthetics: Many public spaces try to appeal to a certain audience by containing specific features that would attract one body of people particularly. A great public space would be able to incorporate features that would attract multiple audiences, unless the function of that public space is to exclude certain groups of people. Aesthetics are usually utilized within public spaces that have a greater function than to contain a group of people and have the ability to go beyond the function by giving a look to it. Although aesthetics may not serve a function for the people of the space, it does serve to bring awareness to a space. Most spaces with little decor or thought into the building are for the general public, while those that incorporate lights and other extraneous extravagances attract those of a higher class who can afford to go there.

Availability/Accessibility: The function of a public space is limited to a certain group of people if they are unable to arrive at that public space. Location and spatial organization affects whether a space is limiting a certain group of people from utilizing that space. For example, if a place is located within a residential neighborhood and is considered public because it is not closed off from the public but doesn't have any bus stops in proximity to it, then it is limiting outsiders from coming into that community. Public places that don't have modes of transportation accessible to outsiders serve the function of catering to the direct community.

Safety: Depending on how large the public space is and who it is directed for, safety becomes a large issue. If the public space is catering towards families and children, then the public space may have obvious security that pushes away delinquents but also is comforting to those who are utilizing that space. In the above photograph, the police men are on horses to represents a barrier and threat to those who want to cause disruption to that community but by sitting on horses and strolling around the streets it gives an ambience of peace that won't disrupt the citizens daily lives and thoughts. Depending on the funds of the area as well as the reputation of an area, the safety can either be more abrupt, less frequent, or more hidden.

Activities (cost benefit): The activities of a place determine the function of a place the most. The function of a place could be for a certain economic class or age group depending on the activities present. Places, such as L.A. Live, are considered public, but only those with money would want to attend L.A. Live because the activities are limited to shopping and eating at high-scale places. Public places that don't have any cost may attract people from all economic backgrounds and age groups, such as parks. Places can limit their audience through what is available.

Santa Monica Pier

When visiting Santa Monica, I was able to catch a certain ambience portrayed. I visited in the beginning of February, yet the sky only had light wisps of clouds and there were people bustling on the streets, malls, and sand as if it was summer. An out-of-state USC graduate student I ran into described Santa Monica as the "image of California, what you imagine California to be like before you arrive here."

Santa Monica seems to be a place that promotes healthiness and safety. The public and more accessible portions of the beach contain exercise areas with paths for both bikes and walking. Smoking is prohibited in almost all areas of the tourist attraction areas of Santa Monica. The beaches, malls, and streets leading up to the beaches contain signs that show no smoking. As well, across all ends of the beach are signs that note rules that must be followed, including no drinking or profane activity, showing that the city of Santa Monica wants to emphasize on its family orientation.

Safety is exemplified through the security cameras placed throughout the streets. As well, there is law enforcement on non-imposing modes of transportations such as bikes. In more private places, cop cars were present to ward off suspicious characters.

Official Santa Monica Website

history of Santa Monica