Alter Egos
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Alter Egos
The zoot suit was the ultimate fashion quo, popularized by the Mexican American teenage population of the early 1940's. These people were called zoot suitors because of their baggy suits, greasy hair, and Chicano customs. However their trademark suits often made them a target for rambunctious marines fresh from the war. This resulted in periodic battles which almost always resulted in one person from the rival groups seriously injured. These events caused the Chicano population to develop a violent nature in the eyes of the American people.
This ideal was emphasized in the 1942, Sleepy lagoon murder case in which twelve Chicanos were tried and convicted in the murder of a rival gang member. This famous trial is presented in the 1981 movie "Zoot Suits" in which the protagonist Henry Reina wrestles with himself over which ethnic group he really belongs to. This leads to an inward struggle with himself and an unresolved resolution.
In the movie's protagonist, Henry Riena is the calm, cool, and collected leader of the 38th street gang. He is the main defendant in the murder trial and the one that all members of his gang look towards for guidance and direction...