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Latinos in Illinois and the USA

Music as a Cultural History

Catalina Maria Johnson, Ph.D, will focuses on a broad overview of the last 75 years of music in the Latino U.S. as a way of understanding the history, roots, and concerns of Latinos in this land.

Music can be viewed and read as a tool that shares the cultural values, roots, and history of peoples. There are numerous Latino musical genres that share the concerns of Latinos throughout the years.  For example, there are songs about immigrant woes of the early 20th century to today. Recently, Latinos around the U.S. commented on the 43 student-teachers murdered in Ayotzinapa, Guerrero by creating various songs in different genres.

This program focuses on a broad overview of the last 75 years of music in the Latino U.S. as a way of understanding the history, roots, and concerns of Latinos in this land, with a special emphasis on Mexican and Puerto Rican musicians in Illinois as Latino populations that have profoundly marked the state’s culture and music.  The presentation, paired with slides and musical samples, is lively, light and fun, and focused on participation, discussion, and musical enjoyment!  Registration Required.

This presentation will be done virtually by Zoom.  Please register for this program to be sent the login information and instructions for Zoom.

Illinois Humanities is supported in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and the Illinois General Assembly [through the Illinois Arts Council Agency (IACA)], as well as by contributions from individuals, foundations and corporations.
Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed by speakers, program participants, or audiences do not necessarily reflect those of the NEH, Illinois Humanities, IACA, our partnering organizations, or our funders.

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