Zoot Suit Riots - Research Paper Example

Lecturer: ZOOT SUIT RIOTS Thesis and introduction Seventy-two years after the Zoot Suit Riots, the search for racial identity and social gratification still put the U.S at risk of leaving with the realities of the riot. The implication of this thesis is that events and reasons leading up to the riots have not been well handled enough to avoid future occurrences. As opined by Novas, riots such as the Zoot Suit Riots that have social connotations require thorough sociological methodologies in curbing their impact on society (91). By sociological methodologies, reference is being made to the need to putting structures in place that clearly identify the causes of the riots, effect of on people, and how future occurrences can be blocked. Such thorough methodologies are needed because society is a perpetual generational establishment and so any events have social connotations could easily have permanent places in the hearts and minds of generations that come after them. It is for this reason that the current paper will be used to critically analyze the factors leading up to the riots and how the current generation is at risk to possible repetitions. Underlying reasons for the Zoot suit riots There have been extensive studies regarding the causes of the Zoot Suit Riots. In findings of most of these studies, two major reasons are assigned as causes of the riot. The first of these is the search for racial identity among people of color and the Whites in Los Angeles (Rivas-Rodriguez 23). By search for racial identity, reference is being made to the situation where both people of color and the White wanted their race to be given a form of recognition that they felt were befitting of them as a people. Typical in the riots, the White men who went off to fight in the segregated military did not understand why their jobs be filled by women and people of color (Meier and Rivera 54). As a result of this, racial tensions started developing. A second reason that is assigned as a cause to the riots is the search for social gratification. Even though there was generally the high social class and low social class, each of these wanted to express their social gratification in an unequivocal manner (Rivas-Rodriguez 19). This also created tension jazz musicians were reported to have openly defy segregation by mixing on and off the stage of events, leading to serious confrontations based on social class (Meier and Rivera 32). Unfortunately, the next section will reveal that these reasons for the riots still live with us today and remain largely unaddressed. Living with the realities of the riot today The same social dynamics that led to the riot and those that developed about it can be seen in the present generation. This is the main reason for arguing that seventy-two years after the riots, the world is still at risk of leaving with the realities of the riot. First, sufficient evidence can be given in the U.S where the riots took place and other places of the world to indeed confirm that very little has been done to prevent possible recurrence of the event. In recent times, the battle for racial recognition has been on the ascendancy in the U.S. This has taken place largely through series of shooting events, most of which have had White police officers as culprits and Black citizens as victims. The shooting of Michal Brown on August 9, 2014 is one example that blew up various degrees of violence in Ferguson (Tacopino 4). Analyzing the events leading up to the Michael Brown shoot and what happened thereafter, Tacopino observed a serious issue of racial disconnection (4). Similar racial disconnection was recorded when a White man shot and killed several people at a Black church in Charleston on June 17, 2015 (Friedersdorf, 2). The disconnection comes in the wake of long years of social stereotype and identity labeled against Black citizens of the U.S as being violent (Novas 34). Regarding this stereotype as a misconception, Friedersdorf argued that it has affected the way even public officials such as the police see Blacks in the U.S (3). In the delivery of their work and in the discharge of their discretional powers therefore, these officers are often forced to attach some levels of hard hands when dealing with Blacks. But just as was the case in Zoot Suit Riots, whenever a group of people with their own social identity are given a form of identity they consider wrong, they are forced to fight back. Even though it cannot be denied that racial discrimination in the U.S has been minimized compared to times past, it is still important that the right form of recognition that is devoid of biases, stereotype and misconception be given to all people within the country. This recommendation is particularly important as the U.S cannot deny the fact that it is the world’s single setting with the largest number of multi-racial demographics (Osgerby 31). As far as the issue of battle for social gratification is concerned, there can also be evidence given to justify the argument that not much has been done to deal with this issue several decades after a similar situation triggered the Zoot Suit Riots. Analyzing the socioeconomic structure of the U.S, U.S. Bureau of Census found that these two countries exhibit an ever deepening gap between the rich and the poor (57). This means that as the rich become richer, the poor becomes poorer. Meanwhile, Osgerby analyzed the possible impact of such a situation and noted that it has the tendency of fuelling social tensions which may be difficult to contain if they are made to escalate (19). Using the theory of government social responsibility Salles noted that citizens always see the government as having a responsibility of ensuring their overall social wellbeing (4). This includes the provision of quality education, healthcare and improved standards of living. But given situations where quality with basic social provisions such as education and healthcare can only be afforded by the rich, the poor becomes aggrieved and look for ways to seek social gratification. Unfortunately, Salles observed a situation where the search for social gratification and equality have often led to the use of wrong modes of operation such as theft, robbery, and bullying among the poor (14). At other times, the socioeconomic imbalance also makes the poor develop a negative perception about the rich, seeing them as people they are in direct competition with. In situations like this, the social tensions that led to the Zoot Suits Riots can easily resurface between those considered to be at the higher levels of the social class and those at the lower level. It is not therefore surprising that cases of mob attacks at events and programs organized by the elite has often been reported in the media (Johnson 12). With this said, it will be reechoed that even today, the realities of the Zoot Suits Riots caused by the battle for social gratification still lives with us and requires to be dealt with. Conclusion The paper has been used to analyze and defend the argument that, seventy-two years after the Zoot Suit Riots, the U.S is still at risk of leaving with the realities of the riot today. First, it has been debated that issues of racial recognition remains partially addressed in the society. Because of this, people of different racial backgrounds including both the Black and the White keep fighting for a proper recognition to be accorded to them. Unfortunately, the first for racial recognition may in itself not be a bad thing but the effect it carries when events like interracial shooting takes place is damaging. It has also been noted that socioeconomic gap between the rich and poor in the U.S continues to widen, creating undesirable tension between the rich and poor. When such tensions go on, chances that attacks that are influenced by hatred for people based on their social status is likely to continue. Having justified the argument, it will be recommended that as a country with several demographic differences, the U.S needs a pragmatic social reorientation that will bring all people together as one, regardless of race, color, religion, or social status. Works Cited Friedersdorf, Connor. “Thugs and Terrorists have attacked Black churches for generations.” The Atlantic. June 18, 2015. Print. Johnson, Kevin R. "The Forgotten Repatriation of Persons of Mexican Ancestry and Lessons for the War on Terror". Pace Law Review 2005, 26.1, 1–26. Print. Meier, Mario Simone and Rivera, Francis. The Chicanos: A History of Mexican Americans.New York: Hill & Wang Pub. 1972. Print. Novas, Himilce. "Mexican Americans". Everything you need to know about Latino history. New York: Plume. 2007. Print.  Osgerby, Bill. "Understanding the Jackpot Market: Media, Marketing, and the Rise of the American Teenager". In Patrick L. Jamieson & Daniel Romer, eds. The Changing Portrayal of Adolescents in the Media Since 1950. Nfvvzcew York: Oxford University Press US. 2008. Print. Rivas-Rodriguez, Maggie. Mexican Americans & World War II. Texas: University of Texas Press. 2005. Print. Salles, Denis. “Responsibility based environmental governance”. S.A.P.I.E.N.S. 2011, 4.1, 1-25. Print. Tacopino, Joe. “Darren Wilson on why he shot Michael Brown”. New York Post. November 25, 2014. Print. U.S. Bureau of Census. "C". Historical statistics of the United States: colonial times to 2014 . Washington, DC: Superintendent of Documents, U. S. Govt. Print Off., 2013. Print. Read More