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![]() Status in custody was displayed by wearing new, especially large baggy clothing, ironed or pressed to military-like creases. Since teen gang members were usually smaller than the average military man, and surplus military clothing was used by these institutions for uniforms, the clothing tended to be large and baggy-besides, no one in this predatory environment wanted tight close fitting clothing. Taking their time behind bars as a sign of honor, gang members developed a fashion style based on their institutional dress. Incarcerated gang members were being dressed in institutional uniforms. But something was changing in the California Juvenile facilities, county jails, and state prisons. In the 1950s, these jackets became identified, along with white T-shirts and blue jeans with rolled-up cuffs, as street-gang clothing. This anti-Pachuco gang attitude in the Hispanic community has been written out of our revisionist history by academia, which seem to see every significant historical event as radical or class warfare. Army uniform when he took on the Pachuco gangs. My Hispanic father fought in Los Angeles in the Zoot Suit Riots of 1943. This was an attempt to depict the cultural conflict between Zoot Suiters and Americans (of every race) that supported the war effort. Remember "Mighty Mouse" cartoons? This cartoon series depicted "Oil Can Harry" and his Zoot-Suited gang fighting the patriotic uniformed Mighty Mouse. Many Zoot Suiters refused to serve in the military and attacked uniformed military servicemen on leave in American cities. Exaggerated lapels and baggy pants "pegged" at the cuffs, as opposed to military bell-bottom pants. So rebellious youths had their suits cut from bold bright colors. Military clothing was dyed in muted colors and cut to a tailored trim look. The amount of material used to make a suit was limited, especially non-essential elements like lapels and pleated trousers. During the war, most things were rationed for the war effort, including cloth. The Zoot Suit was a sign of rebellion against American culture. But in the 1940s, American Pachucos wore the Zoot Suit. In a different era, gang members of the 1920s and 1930s were dressed in expensive suits and wore shirts and ties. Have you ever wondered why gang members wear the ridiculous costume that they do? Why do they wear their pants sagging below their butts exposing their underwear? There's actually a company that stitches boxer-type underwear into the baggy pants to achieve the baggy pants clown look. ![]()
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