- manufacturing operation in a free trade zone (FTZ), where factories import material and equipment on a duty-free and tariff-free basis for assembly, processing, or manufacturing and then export the assembled, processed and/or manufactured products, sometimes back to the raw materials' country of origin.
- Currently about 1.3 million Mexicans are employed in one or more of approximately 3,000 maquiladoras.
-
result of the Border Industrialization Program (BIP).
- Workers were mostly women in their 20's who were single and had migrated to the border for jobs in garment/electronic industry. These factories were owned by foreign investors, meaning that they had no interest in helping the Mexican economy or the Mexican working class.
- As a result, border cities became a magnet for Mexico, but also led to a connection with the Pacific Rim. Additionally, cheap labor became exploited and
problems in the Mexican economic infrastructure were not addressed.
- People v. Zammora (1944) symbolized anti-Mexican racism and resistance
- Known as the "Sleepy Lagoon" case, Zammora is critical because it demonstrates just how deep anti-Mexican racism was ingrained in the courts and overall society.
-----22 Mexican Americans were accused of killing mexican farmworker near sleepy lagoon
- judge did not allow the defendants to confer with counsel and refused to let them cut their hair or receive fresh clothing => to let jury be
biased and not objective
- Despite insufficient evidence, the young men were held in prison, without bail, on charges of murder
- all white jury convicted 12 of the defendants. All twelve were sent to San Quentin Prison. girls were sent to Ventura school for girls
- Carey McWilliams defended the case
- case was successfully appealed by help of Alice McGrath
- lead to Zoot Suit Riots
ZOOT SUITS
- What has been called the zoot suit riots in the early 1940s has been extensively
addressed.
- Actually a servicemen riots in the city of Los Angeles. A bunch of servicemen dragged went into local businesses and dragged zoot-suit waring Mexicans out onto streets and beat them because they thought that zoot-suitors were un-American gang bangers.
- Newspapers spark more fear with "Mexican crime wave" sweeping LA. "Necessary illusion" prompts LAPD and Sheriff's Department to target "zoot suiters" or "pachucos" (meaning Mexicans).
- Media and politicians falsely claim
that pachucos/zoot suiters are a 5th Column of fascist supporters inside the U.S. Working with Axis countries to topple the U.S. government. More FEAR.
- Conspiracy theory gains traction or becomes increasingly popular given war-time hysteria. Axis countries "winning" in 1942.
- The SLEEPY LAGOON CASE then occurs. Jose Diaz found dead on August 1, 1942. Coroner never concluded that he had been "murdered."
- suspected that rival Pachuco gang fights were the cause of Díaz's death.
- In
response to the alleged murder, the media began a campaign calling for action against "zoot suiters".
- Over the next 3 days, 600 youth, mostly Mexican Americans wearing zoot suits, were arrested. Clear-cut case of racial profiling ("turned yourself into a target;" baggy pants, hoodies, etc.).
MORE INFO ON SLEEPY LAGOON CASE
- Judge Charles Fricke presiding (F. Charles in film). Seen as "hanging judge;" favors prosecution and rulings are extremely biased.
- George Shibley (defendants' attorney) repeatedly offers objections, but Fricke routinely rejects those motions. Basis for appeal.
- L.A. Sheriff's Dept. witness states that Mexicans are biologically prone to commit violence. Openly racist testimony. Mimics Hitler ("master race"). Shibley objects, Fricke overrules. Trial is a FARCE.
- Verdict (Jan. 1943):
--- Henry Leyvas (19); Bobby Telles (17); Chepe Ruiz (17) all convicted and sentence to life in prison.
--- 9 others, including Victor
Thompson (Thomas Roberts in film), sentenced to life in prison.
--- 3 Chicanas (Della Barrios, Lorena Encinas, and Frances Silva) also arrested, with other Chicanas, and sent to Ventura School for Girls.
- Chicanas have always been omitted in the Sleepy Lagoon case/story until quite recently. Catherine Ramirez's book.
---- Sleepy Lagoon Women Defendants sent to Ventura School for Girls
--- Chicana scholars long critiqued Zoot Suit; shows Chicanas as virgins or whores—or as
mothers. And it focuses on white allies. Why didn't Luis Valdez (film's director) highlight what WOC did?
--- Controversy critical because some contend SLDC is when Chicano Movement "began." Movement was very masculine and ignored Chicana voices and contributions.
--- Zoot Suit thus silences WOC—their activism, the fact that they were imprisoned, and many also wore zoot suits.
--- So the film is inspiring, but once we look more critically, we can see that the "happy ending" is not so
happy.
--- Chicanas were still locked inside the Ventura School for Girls and racism persisted.
- Controversy has always surrounded the Sleepy Lagoon Defense Committee (SLDC). Who created it and why does it matter?
- "Telling is political." Some authors focus on Chicanas (Fierro, Moreno), others emphasize white folks (McGrath, McCormick, McWilliams), and still others focus on black folks (Charlotta Bass).
- Confusing because there were TWO "defense committees," not just one. Certain people were active in one, but not other. Explain.
- Resistance was multi-racial because neighborhoods in East and South LA were multi-racial in 1940s. Music was multi-racial too.
Organizing across racial lines was common (Mendez case).
Zoot suit was a multi-racial cultural trend (emerges within black community in 1920s, Malcolm X film clip—check time).
The zoot suit was seen as "subversive" during World War II, un-American, so Mexicans were targeted and stripped. Forced
assimilation. Ethnic cleansing. Genocide.
Johnson's article is critical, but does she gloss over white women like McGrath and McCormick?