Discussion Questions
1. How did the Zoot Suit Riots of 1943 affect people living in Los Angeles today?
2. Did the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) ever apologize or confess to the unfair treatment of Mexican American youth?
3. How did the verdict of the Sleepy Lagoon Trials evolve to form the Zoot Suit Riots?
4. Although the person or persons involved in the murder of Jose Diaz were never found, what could Diaz have done that ultimately lead to his untimely demise?
5. How did the Zoot Suit Riots, among other events, affect future waves of activism for Latino Civil Rights?
6. Did the media coverage on the Sleepy Lagoon Trials, and Zoot Suit Riots influence the way American citizens perceived the events during that time period?
7. What were the effects of the trial on the families of the accused?
8. Why did it take so long for the trial to reach a verdict?
9. How did the trial affect whites’ opinion on Mexican immigrants participating in American culture?
10.How did the trial change U.S. views on immigration, race and ethniity over time?
1. How did the Zoot Suit Riots of 1943 affect people living in Los Angeles today?
2. Did the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) ever apologize or confess to the unfair treatment of Mexican American youth?
3. How did the verdict of the Sleepy Lagoon Trials evolve to form the Zoot Suit Riots?
4. Although the person or persons involved in the murder of Jose Diaz were never found, what could Diaz have done that ultimately lead to his untimely demise?
5. How did the Zoot Suit Riots, among other events, affect future waves of activism for Latino Civil Rights?
6. Did the media coverage on the Sleepy Lagoon Trials, and Zoot Suit Riots influence the way American citizens perceived the events during that time period?
7. What were the effects of the trial on the families of the accused?
8. Why did it take so long for the trial to reach a verdict?
9. How did the trial affect whites’ opinion on Mexican immigrants participating in American culture?
10.How did the trial change U.S. views on immigration, race and ethniity over time?