The source describes the Zoot Suit riots from their origin in Los Angeles and the culture they were related to. The photo “Los Angeles Zoot: Race “Riot,” the Pachuco, and Black Music Culture” found in the Journal of African American History, is written by Douglas Henry Daniels. The photo has elaborated the zoot suit riots in details presenting the readers with a detailed story from the history. According to The photo, Zoot Suit riots were associated with the black race and they reflect the present age. The photo illustrated the brutality of the Los Angeles Police Department on the African-Americans. The photo associates Zoot Suit riots with race more than the fashion which the suit depicted as seen on the photo where the police is arresting the prisoner.
The photo is thus well elaborated and explained to show the readers the origin and relations between the zoot suits riots and racism in the United States. Additionally, the photo has well illustrated the development of a culture that never existed before and the unity of the minority group in the US. Readers will thus find it easy to understand the history of the violence and the issue of racism in the US. Additionally, the reading will help understand the need for equal treatment of people across the United States and the need for speaking out the truth (Daniels 100).
Development of Black Music Culture and Racism
Black music culture rose as a result of the atrocities that the black people faced. According to the picture, the arrested prisoner looks relaxed, which is surprising for a person who knows that there is a possibility of facing jail sentences should be rebellious. However, the fact that the person is relaxed and prepared for the arrest raises the attention to the reason for such a reaction. According to the photo, the police were looking to arrest any persons who wore the zoot suit since it symbolized that they supported the Latinos and the black population. The arrested prisoner is prepared for the act since he knows that wearing the suit creates attention which definitely, he required. The people thus acted in a way that they will be recognized and heard by the authorities. The police person is delighted to arrest the man since he is associated with the suit. The arrest would mark an achievement to the campaign to end the problem faced (Daniels 116).
The black and marginalized people were associated with the zoot suit as seen on the picture. Black music culture in the United States serves as a way to represent diversity in culture. The black music culture has an association with the problems that the black people faced in the United States. Racism and music go along since music was a way to express how the people felt about the way they are mistreated by the police and their fellow countrymen due to their skin color. Black music ranged from gospel, rap, classics, jazz, and blues. The people learnt to appreciate the black music and it has given the African-Americans an identity even at the present age. Music united the black people and reduced their crime rates since it helped them escape from poverty. The source has helped expand on the history of this problem that faced the black people and led to emergence of racism.
The photo illustrates the association between black culture and music in the United States. However, the photo looks at the Zoot Suit riots as a major reason for the rise of black music culture. According to The photo, the Zoot Suit riots emerged when the military personnel targeted the black population who wore the zoot suit. This was the history of racism in the United States since the reason for the targeted black population was the murder of a white sailor. Since the photo associates the Zoot Suit Riots to racism, the connection with the emergence of black music culture is evident. The photo thus has provided the necessary evidence to relate the zoot suit violence to the emergence of black music culture and racism (Daniels 112).
The photo does not complicate understanding of the theme under discussion since it has elaborated all the facts in details. In addition, the photo has also worked at improving the readers' understanding on the topic of black music culture producing relevant examples and trigger factors. Zoot Suit riots have served as an important base for explaining the rise of the black population revolted against racism through music and other factors.
In conclusion, the photo has served as an important base for an explanation of events that occurred during the Word War II period leading to the rise of a powerful black culture. Zoot suits violence was a significant step towards achieving freedom and democracy among the African-Americans. In addition, the primary source has served well in explaining how the source of violence is related to the Zoot Suit and how the people related to the suit were mistreated by the policemen and the military personnel. Black music culture has revolutionized to become one of the most powerful items used to convey a message to the people in the world about the problems they faced in the past and the ones they are experiencing in the present age.
Work Cited;
Daniels, Douglas Henry. “Los Angeles Zoot: Race "riot," the Pachuco, and Black Music Culture”. The Journal of African American History 87 (2002): 98–118. Print.
