The Autobiography of Malcolm X

by

Malcolm X

Teachers and parents! Our Teacher Edition on Malcolm X makes teaching easy.
A style of suits first popularized in African American communities, they became popular with other groups, as well. Zoot suits typically used excessive fabric, giving them a baggy look which was supposed to signal wealth and status.
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Zoot suits Term Timeline in The Autobiography of Malcolm X

The timeline below shows where the term Zoot suits appears in The Autobiography of Malcolm X. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 3: “Homeboy”
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...out so that he can “conk” it, and Shorty tells him to buy his first zoot suit (an especially baggy style of suit). (full context)
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...a local neighborhood store and on Shorty’s recommendation, Malcolm gets measured for a sky blue zoot suit that he buys on credit (a practice that Earl Little always condemned). The store manager... (full context)
Chapter 4: Laura
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...being a shoe shiner. Malcolm heads back to the tailor’s shop to get a new zoot suit , which he chooses very carefully and purchases on credit. Then, with a fresh conk,... (full context)
Chapter 5: Harlemite
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...high, he blasts through his shift before heading to the bars in Harlem in his zoot suit . Finally, after the railroad receives an angry letter from a passenger, Malcolm is let... (full context)
Chapter 6: Detroit Red
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...all night. Another young white “hippie” who appropriates the style and slang of the black zoot suit ers can be seen everywhere in Harlem. Nevertheless, this white boy still makes a nasty... (full context)
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The day of the draft board, Malcolm shows up wearing a brand new, outlandish zoot suit , and puts on his most over-the-top impression of a hipster possible. He walks in... (full context)