Zooted: Pachucos Under the Influence

Summer with the Library

Discover the film, history, and significance of the Zoot Suit Riots.

This event will be presented in English & Chicano Spanish and is intended for adults and teens ages 15 and older. Space is limited to 15 participants, so the event will be handled on a first-come, first-served basis.

In the 1930s, the Zoot Suit emerged from African American jazz culture in Harlem, influencing Latine communities (particularly Mexican American pachucos) as a style of resistance and identity. The fashion - characterized by long jackets and wide-legged pants—signified defiance against societal norms, creating a shared aesthetic of pride, dignity, and resistance in urban areas like Los Angeles. Young Mexican Americans, or Pachucos, combined the suit with a unique subculture that blended Mexican, American, and Black street styles that have evolved across the cultures and into modern times. The influence of Black culture on the Zoot Suit was a foundational element, inspiring a broader movement of resistance that would unfold during the 1943 Zoot Suit Riots. 

The movie Zoot Suit will be screened (1 hour 45 minutes) and the presentation (20 minutes, 10 minutes Q&A) that follows will discuss intersections and solidarity in emerging racial justice and labor movements across cultures as well as the echoes of resistance within Latinx indigenous histories and storytelling through theater.

·  liliana (yehuatl/yeh) was born in Salinas, California and comes from a migratory family that originated from both coasts of anahuac. liliana was raised around tables and in circles tended to and cared for by matriarchs who offered love and wisdom among the aromas of comforting foods and warm drinks. yeh is a descendant of storytellers, teachers, pathmakers, bridgebuilders, and community conveners. yeh has lived in redmond, oregon since 2015, engaging in education, advocacy, community building and gardening during that time.

·  Melissa (she/her) was born in Salinas, California to a family whose backbone was hard work in every aspect of life, a family who provided food to American homes across the country and gave her examples of how hard things can be but also how beautiful, to help guide her through life. With every hard lesson learned, there were laughs and life that happened in between. In 2015, Melissa moved to Redmond to explore the vast land space we call Oregon. Since living here, she has worked in several forms of printing, managed teams, customer service in barista work and working with the I/DD community as a DSP (Direct Support Professional).

Questions? Contact: jennym@deschuteslibrary.org