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Why did the zoot suit anger so many Americans?

User Pspi
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Final answer:

The Zoot Suit incited anger as it was seen as a symbol of defiance against wartime conservation efforts and exposed deep-seated racial prejudices during the Zoot Suit Riots of 1943.

Step-by-step explanation:

The Zoot Suit angered many Americans during World War II because it was seen as unpatriotic and un-American. The suits, requiring excessive amounts of fabric, violated wartime regulations that were put in place to conserve materials for the war effort. The wearing of these suits by Mexican American youths was particularly controversial and was viewed by some as a refusal to conform to national norms and sacrifice for the war. Racial discrimination, evident in Los Angeles' Zoot Suit Riots of 1943, played a significant role in the tensions, as white servicemen targeted Mexican American youths, leading to a series of violent confrontations. These events underscored the deep-seated ethnic and racial prejudices of the time, while raising concerns about civil rights and social justice.

User Antoine Murion
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