Zoot Suit (play)

"Zoot Suit" is a play by Fernando Damaso that dramatizes the 1943 Sleepy Lagoon and Zoot Suit Riots in Los Angeles, exploring racial tensions between Mexican Americans and the wider community. It centers on a young Mexican American man accused of murder amidst a climate of prejudice, highlighting issues of identity, cultural pride, and social injustice. The play combines dialogue, music, and dance to illuminate the experiences of marginalized youth and their fight for dignity amidst discrimination. Overall, it highlights the complex interplay of racial identity, societal expectations, and resistance in 1940s America.