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Posted inCulture

CHARLEY TRUJILLO, Vietnam vet, writer and filmmaker on Caló, Chicano culture

Last month marked 79 years since the Zoot Suit Uprisings in L.A, which involved numerous violent confrontations between young Latinos/as and Chicanos/as against police officers, deputy sheriffs and members of the armed forces, including Marines and sailors, which were most often instigated by the latter. Chicanos like Trujillo had served in the military in high numbers, but many servicemen viewed Pachucos as World War II draft dodgers, according to History.com. Trujillo’s work flips the script and reveals Pachucos for the Latino cultural heroes they are.