Social Injustices in Los Angeles

NB: We do not resell your papers. Upon ordering, we do an original paper exclusively for you.

NB: All your data is kept safe from the public.

Although the blacks and Mexicans in Los Angeles regarded the suit as a symbol of defining their social class, the Americans criminalized it. The suit was a unique tool to determine the role of black and Mexican Americans in the U.S, although it triggered riots. These riots emerged from the notion by the Americans that Zoot Suit was an outfit for the gangs. It was unethical to raise the riots in the city by laying claims of connecting the zoot suit to gangs since the blacks and Mexicans wore it genuinely. The wearers received ill-treatment, and they were denied equality with the Americans in the city, although they would have taken heed to the directives given as discussed below.

The zoot suit was made up of baggy trousers tied near the ankle for the men and a long jacket with a wide collar and shoulders made of a soft material. The hats such as fedoras and pork pies accompanied the other attire and together formed the outfit. The occurrences in the plays below will help construct a comprehensive picture of Los Angeles and significantly build on the character of the Mexican and black Americans as the victims of the riots. Although the zoot suit was famous, fabric shortage and the murder of Jose Gallardo Diaz exacerbated racism, especially by the police, against blacks and Mexican Americans who wore it.

The Zoot Suit became famous in the city since it was worn by the blacks and Americans while going to the dance halls, an avenue to market the suit to celebrities also. The attire received a rejection from the whites, who termed it as an outfit for thugs. It created a somewhat racial image that alarmed the white Los Angeles authorities influenced by other white citizens. They perceived it as a rebellion against the law and patriotism.

A local newspaper company reports that white soldiers began lashing the blacks and Mexicans, which erupted into racism and riots (Walz 111). Riots spread widely in Los Angeles based on the racial grounds of the residents. For instance, a black worker was thrown out of a taxi, and the soldiers gouged his eyes using a knife. The blacks and Mexican Americans were severely injured from the lashing by the soldiers. Some of these injustices are unspoken, and the effects of the stereotype and racial inequities are pretty evident up to date, of which the people need to be aware.

Sadly, the level of respect accorded to a person is usually connected to their power and abilities. Bob, a character in the plot of the play, “If He Hollers Let Him Go,” is represented as a racist whose sole purpose is to oppress other minority groups. Through his interaction with colleagues and the local authorities, it is clear that he resides in an unjust area where he equivocates on racism, which disorients him from his ambitions (Walz 112).

As the story unfolds, he realizes that he is black, although he denies it, “He believes he is also more than just black.” Chester Himes portrays how difficult it is for African Americans to receive justice in Los Angeles when characters such as Bob are present. The vulnerability of Bob towards acquiring “whiteness” presents Los Angeles as a society governed by social class, and the poor blacks are rendered relatively essential and slaves for the whites.

The protagonist in the play above helps to demonstrate the aspects of discrimination present in Los Angeles. This morally corrupt society circumnavigates all its activities under the narrative of “whiteness.” These vices trigger neoliberalism that occupies much of what takes place in Los Angeles’ economy in the succeeding years, which alludes to the history of racism in the city. Kondo, a character in the play titled “Twilight, Los Angeles 1992,” demonstrates the same aspects of neoliberalism, racism, and conflicts among people living in a society related to what Blacks experienced in Los Angeles.

He helps readers to fully understand the vices in Los Angeles by how he conducts himself in the plot of the play. Therefore, it is evident that Los Angeles was an unjust society ruled by inconsiderate authorities who only focused on whites. The injustices indicate the depth in which racism, riots, slavery, and torture had gone during the World War II era. These took place with the consent of the rulers, and therefore it is adequate to call it a corrupt society where social class defines the engagements among the ancient occupants of Los Angeles City.

The first catastrophe brought about by the social unrest in Los Angeles was the fabric shortage after the Americans entered World War II. The fabric shortage had forced the American government to restrict the use of some of the fabrics. Among the prohibited materials was the one used in making the zoot suit. The suit’s popularity had influenced other middle-class whites to adopt it. Therefore, the tailors had to acquire large volumes of the fabric to meet the suit’s demand by the enormous customers. The claim used a lot of material perceived as wastage and reckless behavior of violating the rules given by the authorities. Additionally, the zoot suit symbolized disobedience to the codes outlined and a criminal offense by the whites who felt that the market was getting out of control.

Secondly, the catastrophe of the killing of Jose Gallardo Diaz accelerated the social unrest in Los Angeles. Despite the clear evidence that he had been run over by a car, the Los Angeles police department claimed that it was a murder by a gang. The zoot suit was regarded as an outfit associated with the gang members in the city, and therefore, anyone who wore it had themselves regarded as a member of a particular gang (Walz 114).

The police claims led to the arrest of twenty-two Mexicans in the face of insufficient evidence from the scene, and they got jailed. Nevertheless, they were later released, which angered the police leading them into raining their beatings on the zoot wearers. The police ensured that no Mexican American escaped without injuries declaring a stand on the criminality of the suit and that whoever wears it is a criminal. The threat caused the suit to disappear among the blacks and Americans in Los Angeles, despite its uniqueness.

From the texts, people can learn several lessons, which run from how they can carry themselves out to how to approach a problem in a civilized and morally upright manner. It was unnecessary to cause the riots out of the two catastrophes because a few people would have met and reached a workable solution. Here, readers learn the importance of engaging one another in decision-making as it shortens attaining a consensus without causing drama.

Secondly, the audience knows the importance of truth when laying claims on others. For instance, if the Los Angeles police department were genuine, no lashing would have occurred based on cutting the gang members. Finally, people can learn that it is essential to respect each other and obey every law passed by the authorities to uphold peace, unity, and harmony. The zoot suit was just a simple outfit, and it was unnecessary to cause the riots in Los Angeles. However, the Blacks and the Mexican Americans would reside in Los Angeles, and therefore, the Americans need to learn how to cope with their stay in Los Angeles.

Work Cited

Walz, Adam. “Autonomy and Control in Chester Himes’ If He Hollers Let Him Go.” IU South Bend Undergraduate Research Journal, vol. 18, 2018, pp. 109-118.

Click Here To Order Now!

Social Injustices in Los Angeles

Do you need this or any other assignment done for you from scratch?

We have qualified writers to help you.

We assure you a quality paper that is 100% free from plagiarism and AI.

You can choose either format of your choice ( Apa, Mla, Havard, Chicago, or any other)