Question

According to Eduardo Óbregon Pagán in Murder at the Sleepy Lagoon, what is the root source of the Anglo vs Mexicano conflict over the Sleepy Lagoon trial and the Zoot Suit riots? And more broadly, how are these moments connected, and what do they teach us about the development of race and racism in American history?

Answer 1

The root cause provided by Eduardo Óbregon Pagán provides the trial of both the cases of Sleepy Lagoon trial and the Zoot conflict by arguing that is the outcome of a very long history of social and racial tension .

He also argues that it didn't simply arise from anti-mexican sentiments but a variety of other causes and differences that had been long existed in multi-cultural society.

Ultimately , he concludes that there was an intense intersection between various pre existing stressed which trigged both the cases such as race relation, music, violence, neighbourhood activism and other racial and social tensions.

The Zoot riots were associated with the fear that arose from the coverage of sleepy Lagoon murder trial. The riot followed by this murder didn't even spare Latinos in various cities of America .

It was the era of world war II and an emphasis on preserving fabrics and certain foods but Zoot suits were made up of large of fabric which was considered unapatriotic and hence it followed by the stripping of those who used to wear suits including children , youths and teenagers who came from races like, African American , Italian American , Filipino American.

These selective riots, specially directed to only few races are evidence of the racism culture of American that was prevailing at that time in the history.