The Cultural Revolution in a Zoot Suit

José de la Rosa, aka Pachuco Nereidas, is a third generation pachuco. Pachuco is a term used to describe members of a subculture best known for wearing flamboyant and colorful zoot suits. With matching fedoras and shoes, pachucos are hard to miss—especially if they’re on the dance floor. When jazz, swing or Latin rhythms start to play, nothing can stop a pachuco from showing off their master moves. But below the bombastic surface, the culture was born as a result of the discrimination that Mexican-Americans faced in the 1930s. Serving as a reminder of the hardships his fellow pachucos suffered, de la Rosa is committed to honoring the past— all while looking extremely suave. SUBSCRIBE: This story is a part of our Human Condition series. Come along and let us connect you to some of the most peculiar, stirring, extraordinary, and distinctive people in the world. Got a story idea for us? Shoot us an email at hey [at] GreatBigStory [dot] com Follow us behind the scenes on Instagram: Make our acquaintance on Facebook: Give us a shout on Twitter: Come hang with us on Vimeo: Visit our world directly: