1. A Race Riot in the Guise of Fashion Policing
To many white military personnel, the wearing of zoot suits was viewed as public disrespect of the sacrifices made by others to sustain the war effort. Mexican-Americans came to be seen as unpatriotic – even though they actually served in the military at higher rates than whites. As a group, Mexican-Americans also had one of the highest percentages of Medal of Honor recipients. Unfortunately, racism seldom cares about facts. Riots erupted in June, 1943, when mobs of white soldiers and sailors roamed Los Angeles, and beat up allegedly “unpatriotic” Mexican-Americans clad in zoot suits. While the rioters focused on Latino kids, young African Americans and Filipinos were also targeted. Copycat riots spread throughout California to San Diego and Oakland, then across the country to Chicago, Philadelphia, and New York City. It was the first time in American history that fashion caused literal rioting and widespread civil unrest.
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Where Did We Find This Stuff? Some Sources and Further Reading
BBC – People Have Always Whinged About Young Adults. Here’s Proof
History Collection – Deadliest Fashion From History
New York Times, September 16th, 1922 – City Has Wild Night of Straw Hat Riots
New York Tribune, September 16th, 1922 – Straw Hat Smashing Orgy Bares Heads From Battery to Bronx
Pittsburgh Press, September 16th, 1910 – Straw Hat Riot
Ribeiro, Aileen – Dress and Morality (1986)
Slate – The 1922 Straw Hat Riot Was One of the Weirdest Crime Sprees in American History
