LLCU test 2

Question 1

Bad Dream

Answer 1

• immigrant experience in the US
• undocumented family struggles, sacrifices + emotional burden on their children
• the American Dream FALSE
• DREAM act (pathway to legal status for undocumented youth who excelled in school/military, false hope)
• dreamers ^^
• crystal heart (mother found a crystal heart in the father’s taxi and thought it was a diamond. symbolized the american dream)

Question 2

The Structuring of Puerto Rican Identity in the US

Answer 2

• puerto rican identity is shaped by migration, assimilation, cultural resistance in the US
• being a US citizen but being treated like a foreigner
• role of race, class + colonial history (get low-wage jobs, reinforces sense of exclusion, colonial relationship w US)
• puerto rico is a US territory but don’t have voting power
• cultural expression (music, literature, activism)

Question 3

Episode 4: The New Latinos (1946-1965) (The Latino Americans)

Answer 3

• post WWII wave of latin american immigration to the US
• PR migrated bc of economic hardship, mostly to NYC
• Cubans migrated bc of Castro’s revolution, Miami
• Dominicans migrated bc of Rafael Trujillo dictatorship, NYC
• faced racism, labor exploitation, poverty
• rise of Nuyorican culture (poetry, music, activism)
• Nuyorican Poets Cafe
• activism in securing Latino rights (push for better wages, housing, political representation)

Question 4

History of Latin Music - The Salsa Revolution

Answer 4

• rise of salsa music + impact of Latino identity
• salsa’s evolution from Cuban + puerto rican roots
  
  • started in NYC
  • mix of different dances
  • hence “salsa”
• Fania records popularized salsa
• salsa reflected on experiences, struggle, pride
• voice of woking class + strengthened Latino identity
• community in NYC

Question 5

Feeling Pretty

Answer 5

• Rita Moreno
• West side story
• distorted puerto rican identity
• pushe stereotypes (men as gang members, women as fiery + promiscuous/virgins + submissive)
• brown face casting instead of hiring POC
• shows Puerto Rican colonial status (not rly american not rly puerto rican)
• starting point for puerto rican visibility in mainstream media

Question 6

Lifting the Curtain

Answer 6

• Lin-Manuel Miranda’s “In the Heights”
• challenged the racial stereotypes in west side story
• showed everyday life of Latinos (family, love, work, struggles, not just crime)
• focus on identity + belonging
• used rap + latin music to represent Urban latin culture
• critiques: idealizes Latino life, romanticizes gentrification

Question 7

Latin American Communities in Canada

Answer 7

• difference between immigration to Canada vs US
• canada: economic immigrations for education + work, no concentrated communities
• US: refugees, barrios + concentrated communities
• quebec has higher percentage (spanish + french are similar, easier to get immigration status)
• Latinos in canada earn less than other minorities (many work low-income jobs despite high education)