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

New Insights

My insight into the "California Dream" previously had been limited to the opinions of those who had successfully found their dreams within the cities and suburbs of California. I still believe that the California Dream comes to those who have realistic views of what the "California Dream" means and are willing to work for it, or it comes to those who are extremely lucky. Although I had listened to various songs and had read many books and articles on the misery that follow the lost expectations of the California Dream, I hadn't connected how prevalent this idea of the "California Dream" after the start of migrations into California till even in the present.

Gladys Knight's song "Midnight Train to Georgia" revealed to me the expectations that most have when going into Los Angeles and the feelings that occur after realizing that they cannot handle the challenges California poses. Her song pointed out to me the reasoning behind most peoples' decisions in leaving family and traditions to come to a foreign place that may not even grant a person what they hoped for. Before this song, I hadn't asked myself: What does a person do if they don't find their "California Dream"? Those I had talked to about the "California Dream" still found hope within it even if not all of their expectations were met, so it wasn't until analytically evaluating this song that I came across the idea of a person being fully dissatisfied with what California had to offer. I feel like the purpose of this song is not only to refute the "California Dream", but also to point out a problem prevalent and relatable to most who arrive in California with expectations of wealth and fame.

"Midnight Train to Georgia"

by Gladys Knight and The Pips

"L.A. proved too much for the man,

So he's leavin' the life he's come to know,

He said he's goin' back to find

Ooh, what's left of his world,

The world he left behind

Not so long ago.

He's leaving,

On that midnight train to Georgia,

And he's goin' back

To a simpler place and time.

And I'll be with him

On that midnight train to Georgia,

I'd rather live in his world

Than live without him in mine.

He kept dreamin'

That someday he'd be a star.

But he sure found out the hard way

That dreams don't always come true.

So he pawned all his hopes

and he even sold his old car

Bought a one way ticket

To the life he once knew,

Oh yes he did,

He said he would

Be leavin

On that midnight train to Georgia,

And he's goin' back

To a simpler place and time.

And I'll be with him

On that midnight train to Georgia,

I'd rather live in his world

Than live without him in mine.

Go, gonna board, gonna board,

Gonna board the midnight train.

Gotta go, gonna board

Gonna board

Gonna board the midnight train

"

The main idea "Midnight Train to Georgia" by Gladys Knight and The Pips presents is the idea of the California Dream being just a dream for many, failing to transform into reality. Although there are a few people who reach their goals and have the ability of living in Los Angeles, many people who travel to LA with the dream of success do not contain the ability to achieve this. Instead, they find loss of hope and generally return to their hometowns with less than they came with. Most dreams within this aspect exceed reality and due to this, it's understandable that the California Dream is unmet. Within this song, the character tells of how her man has goals of becoming a star in LA, but after a few months, he realizes that these dreams are lost hopes when he loses his car, money, time, and idealistic view of California.

My California Dream

 Living in Orange County, I have been surrounded by the idea of the "California Dream" my whole life. During my childhood, my parents would tell me about their own experiences in moving to California. At this point, the dream that had been prevalent around me is that of my parents which had been filled with dreams of opportunities for the younger generation and themselves: a vast job market, a large university network, and a safe suburbia. Both of my parents came to California in the 1970s--one from chilly New York and the other from Japan--with the dream in mind. My Dad was drawn in by the environment--the promises of grand national parks and beaches, constant sunny weather, fresh air--that he couldn't find in Queens. Coming from a country that didn't have a vast amount of career choices for women, my Mom arrived in Fullerton, California with visions of a future filled with any opportunity she desired as long as she worked assiduously toward her goals.

Suburban neighborhood in Irvine, California

University of California logo

The "California Dream" transformed in my parents' conversations as I became older. The dream still held vast amount of promises, but I began to realize there were gaps and flaws that no realist could ignore. Deflation caused threats to the economy and job market, causing the cost of living in California to become more difficult. Filled with sunshine, California was not only just warm in the summer, but also became dry enough for large fires that consumed neighborhoods and filled the sky with thick, black ash. However, despite difficulties, each year there was still conversation about another year of sunshine, the best public university system, and places to visit. There continued to be talk about this "California Dream" which consisted of wondrous places, weather, and atmosphere which was prevalent nowhere else. The opportunity cost of living in Southern California was great enough that these flaws seemed minuscule in comparison to the luxuries provided in this state that my parents had failed to find in their own birthplaces.

With time and new generational views, the "California Dream" is constantly changing, and although it may not be the dream of the older generations, it continues to contain hope and opportunity for those willing to strive for it. The dream is relative for each person and what each person is searching for, and I continue to see California as a paradise that offers opportunities unlike anywhere else. Here in California, I can study a career in engineering with a pool of diverse people in pleasant weather. I have the opportunity to explore large multi-cultural city communities as well as to travel back to peaceful suburbia to relax. Although living in California poses challenges, I still find more pros than cons, making my "California Dream" come alive.