When the author was growing up in East Los Angeles his mother told him about the "classy" gangsters of East L.A. who wore Zoot Suits. Through research, he learned that the Zoot Suiters were much more than well-dressed Latinos: they had a sense of honor and pride and exhibited class under adverse circumstances. In August of 1942, Jose Diaz, a 22-year-old Mexican American, was murdered near a popular swimming hole known as Sleepy Lagoon. The ensuing investigation and press hysteria fueled racial tensions and ultimately led to the Zoot Suit Riots in June of 1943. In this lesson, the "choose your own ending" format provides a chance for students to experience a historical situation and then delve into the specifics of history. As the students make choices, teachers may want to have them write down and reflect on their choices. All of the endings lead the student to an overview of the Sleepy Lagoon Case and Zoot Suit Riots. (Contains 7 notes.)