What are some cultural/racial themes in Luis Valdez's Zoot Suit and "My Ride, My Revolution"? Is there a message that Luis is trying to portray throughout the play?

Zoot Suit follows the historical events of the Sleepy Lagoon murder trial and the Zoot Suit Riots of 1943 in Los Angeles. During the trial, the defendants were not allowed to communicate with their attorneys, and the judge ordered that the jury should see the defendants in the zoot suits worn only by "hoodlums." The zoot suit becomes a symbol for inequality, worn by protesters during the riots. The Zoot Suit Riots saw American servicemen challenge Mexican American youths and minorities that made up the civil rights organization The Sleepy Lagoon Defense Committee.
Valdez's short story "My Ride, My Revolution" counters the perception of glamor surrounding Hollywood, establishing a picture of this city's drug addicts, gang members, and people experiencing homelessness. He refers to the city as "Hollow-wood," and the story calls attention to the unique circumstances of the Chicano population and the need for equality. Luis Valdez's works have an important place in El Movimiento (Chicano civil rights movement) and Mexican American empowerment, advocating for the Chicano community through literature and theatre.