The Impact of World War II on U.S. Politics

 

Zoot Suit Riots in Los Angeles (June, 1943) – white sailors at Chavez Ravine base in L.A. attack black and Chicanos youths; The violence involved over 1,000 youths and lasted two days before it subsided; similar attacks on the so-called zoot-suiters occurred in San Diego, Long Beach, Chicago, Detroit, and Philadelphia.

 

Riots in Detroit (June, 1943) – blacks and whites; military called in to establish order Twenty-five blacks and whites died in the riot. The conflict required nearly 6,000 National Guardsmen before order was restored.  Packard plant; blacks promoted and whites objected; much racial stress in Detroit

 

Riots in NYC (1943) -  Two months later race riots erupted in New York City, which resulted in the deaths of six blacks and more than 300 injuries.

 

Beaumont, TX - Beaumont then joined Detroit, New York, Los Angeles, Mobile, Philadelphia, Indianapolis, Baltimore, St. Louis, and Washington, D.C., as sites of bloody race riots in the summer of 1943.