Representations of Immigration Through Music Essay

During the mid and late twentieth century a major Mexican immigration Boom happened. With many job opportunities in the agricultural field in the United States and an economy in mexico that was growing but only benefited the rich. Many poor Mexicans migrated to the United States. According to the book, “Mexican Immigrants In The United States” by Portes, Alejandro, Bach, Robert L. Between 1960 and 1970 the Mexican economy was growing at a rapid rate with only the top 5 percent benefiting from it. Unemployment and underemployment began to spread and income inequality got even wider. These events led to a migration of legal and illegal Mexican immigrant into the United States. Mexico became an economic paradise for those who were already wealthy. The rest who were left behind had no other choice than to

Latino students are able to stay connected to the stories that their parents know and their grandparents know. In addition, music is significant because it helps to have the feeling of home and aware of one’s feelings and thoughts. Moreno also explains, "Everything that happens in our society is reflected in music and people don't really stop to think about that. For example, in the last five years, there has been a rise in Narco Corridos coming out of México and that can be attributed to the record levels of violence we so often hear about on television” (6). Thus, through Spanish-language music students in universities are informed of issues currently going on in the world, particularly of places they know very well. They are informed of the hardships that are going around and music has much of a tremendous impact in creating the way people view their culture. Much of Spanish-language music tell of current events or of romanticism. These are crucial in constructing identity. It influences whether students will act upon the current events based on the music or they will be influenced to gather romantic

Native American music has many different musical styles. Within every Native American tribe there is a variety of musical styles and instruments. In response to the research that I have conducted, there are three main musical styles that are going to be my point of focus. The Sioux Grass Dance, the Zuni Lullaby, and the Iroquois Quiver Dance are the principal methods which contribute to Native American music.      

Those were just the issues that migrants faced just trying to cross the border. They still had a lot more problems when they got to the US. A lot of these issues were with work. Mexican workers have been such an important part of the US economy. There was a program called the Bracero program. This was made back in the time when racism was major back in the 60’s

In the 1920’s life for Mexican Americans was hard for many of them and easy for others. The 1920’s is when the immigration movement was happening where Mexican Americans immigrated to the United States. As Mexican Americans immigrated there was a list created, this list made them wait if the didn't have the right papers, everyone on the list weren’t able to immigrate so many decided to hide and wait at the border til nightfall to illegally immigrate. People would try to hide and smuggle their family and friends across the border by hiding them in cars

For as long as mankind has walked on this earth, music has been an important part of our culture and lifestyles. Each walk of life beats to a different drum. Different cultures use music for many aspects of their lives; for religious purposes, for celebrations, for comfort, for sorrow, for relaxation, for sports, for dances, for energy, for learning, for sleeping, and for sexual experiences. Everyone uses music for something. Music connects with people and reaches them in ways that words simply cannot. Music is a representation of what feelings sound like. It expresses emotion and brings that characteristic out from within us; it tells us a story. Every generation has its’ own sound and different music styles have emerged and become

Hispanic people are people of passion and richness. Throughout their history, they have experienced hard work in the migrant fields, discrimination, and exploitation. When the Depression came, they were accused of taking jobs away from ‘real’ Americans (Florido, 2015), From the 1940’s through today, people still complain about illegal Mexican immigrants who come to the U.S. They claim the immigrants are uneducated with no job skills, stay in poor housing, and lack education. It is against this backdrop that Chicano musicians write their music. They play with a soulful timbre that music lovers throughout the world seek as they attend their concerts, buy their albums, and download their songs.

The political backlash to the widespread economic hardships of the time, which should have been aimed at the capitalist system of exploitation, fell instead on minority workers and their families. Mexican immigrants, welcomed as laborers during the economic boom of the war years, were scapegoated during the depression and subjected to racist attacks and severe immigration restrictions. Over one million immigrants came from Mexico to the United States between 1900 and 1930, filling the demand for low-wage, unskilled workers in the growing U.S. economy. Most Mexican Americans were farmers and they settled in the communities in California and the Southwest. Many Mexicans and their children became U.S. citizens. Mexican Americans faced a great deal of increasing hostility because they were competing with whites for whatever low-paying jobs that were available.

This fear increased as The Great Depression approached (Hoffnung-Garskof, 2007). In the 1930’s, Michigan officials felt that it was their duty to solve the issue at hand. “Ethnic cleansing” was their solution, and as a result, unemployed Mexicans were deported. After the depression, America found a way to kick start the economy again. The sugar beet industry was once again flourishing. Minimum wage was established, and manufacturers smuggled in Mexican workers to help. In 1957, the migrant worker population increased to 106,000 people in Michigan (Hoffnung-Garskof, 2007). The Mexican people migrated to the U.S. in search of better lives. They were an active part in the building of the United States economy and our culture.

In chapter ten, author Bruno Nettle takes the reader to the town of Browning, Montana, where he is about to witness a modern Native American ceremony. As he observes, he notices that only one-half of the people there are actual Native Americans. The rest are are white tourists and innocent observers just like himself. Eventually, somewhere around eighteen singing groups appear from different tribes and reservations. They will be summoning the dancers into what is known as the grand entry. Nettle notices that the overall style of the music remains the same among all of the different groups, or `drums.' People are able to interact by taking pictures, video and tape recording what goes on. In that

Although artists do not create certain music to cure diseases or to make scientific or technological discoveries, music is one thing society can never live without. To both artists and their listeners, music provides an indispensible beauty that helps fulfill lives, and connect to nature. Music expresses the human condition in the purest way and affects everyone at a personal level. Plato, a well-known classical Greek philosopher once said, “If you want to measure the spiritual depth of society, make sure to mark its music.” Generally performer collaborate songs to represent the popular pop culture, and social issues, and wish for their society as well as their current era. For instance, controversial issues such as sex, violence, racism

Since the beginning of its art form rap music has been subject to scrutiny throughout its existence. In a Theresa Martinez reading from the semester, the author describes rap music as a resistance. She builds on a theory of oppositional culture that was composed by Bonnie Mitchell and Joe Feagin (1995). In this article, “POPULAR CULTURE AS OPPOSITIONAL CULTURE: Rap as Resistance”, Martinez explains how African Americans, American Indians, and Mexican Americans draw on their own cultural resources to resist oppression. She states that this very resistance to the dominate culture in

When music is created, it integrates the cultural and emotional situations that occur in everyday life. People create dances to the

In this report, I will expand upon what was spoken in the presentation by providing a more in-depth look at each section I talked about. The presentation was divided into six sections:

Music is one of the greatest human creations (DeNora, 2000). It plays an integral role in human society worldwide irrelevant of race, gender, age, wealth or well-being (Kemper & Danhauer, 2005). Indeed according to Batt-Rawden (2010), playing different music in diverse situations can introduce listeners to the desired and relevant atmosphere. In most circumstances, music is played to entertain people, but it can also form part of an accompaniment in sad situations. Music is often the fulcrum that influences the listener by creating a unique ambience and atmosphere (Bernatzky, Presh, Anderson, & Panksepp, 2011). Chamorro-Premuzic and Furnham, (2007) adds that music can be a medium to enhance communication,