The Role of Music During and After Puerto Rican Migration to the United States

The Role of Music During and After Puerto Rican Migration to the United States

For Puerto Ricans, music served infinite purposes. It allowed for the formation and reformation of cultural views and opinions, through the lyrics in the songs. These views were constantly changing, which in turn fed into the ever evolving identity of the Puerto Rican people. As a vehicle of expression it stimulated thought and provided a method of communication for the community. In The Puerto Rican community of New York City the increasing popularity of music indicated a desire for Puerto Rican based and oriented entertainment but more importantly for national unity. For the musicians themselves music served as an outlet for creativity while doubling as a secondary source of economic growth.

In Puerto Rico music became the major avenue for social acceleration. Musicians on both the island and the mainland looked to music as a career choice that would eventually lead to amassed wealth. This opinion, however, was not universal as the upper classes saw music as simply a hobby. “The white and more affluent populations... did not see music as a step up the social or economic ladder” (Glasser 32). Many musicians migrated to the mainland in search of a musical career that would reap fame and fortune. “For blacks and mulattos from an impoverished background, music could be a means of upward mobility” (31). Within the confines of their economical situation there was a dire necessity for improvement that was readily available in the music industry or so they thought.

Unfortunately the will and desire of the people did not suffice in a society where the mere color of the skin automatically closed many doors. This aspect of American soc...

... middle of paper ...

...an era. For the Puerto Rican community music created an outlet for their pain and sorrow as seen in Lamento Borincano. Also it established a much needed nationally recognized identity based on a common culture as opposed to the pigmentation of the skin. Glasser’s loose interpretation of race channeled the readers attention more onto the issue of race and what it should mean. For Glasser race is equated with color. Although I disagree with the statement, it is a viable one. The ambiguity of the word creates the problem. Her inconsistency with her terms shows a lack of preparation. This problem could have been easily remedied with a brief explanation of the terms used and her stance on the issue.

Bibliography

Glasser, Ruth. My Music is my Flag: Puerto Rican Musicians and their New York Communities 1917-1940. (University of California Press: Berkeley, 1995).