Raza No Se Raja

Presenter: Pedro Ortega Perez

Co-Presenter(s):
MJ

Presenter Status: Undergraduate student

Academic Year: 19-20

Semester: Spring

Department: Music

Funding Source/Sponsor: SYRCE Symposium

Screenshot URL: https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1ywkJ6Vv8GuqJcxZZaDaPSU_R5kP40oTm

Abstract:
My project is a spoken word piece, “Raza No se Raja”,which was inspired after listening to “The revolution will not be televised” by Gil Scott-Heron. My piece is a spoken word that is a tribute to some of the heroic activists in the 1970’s that took part in “El Movimiento”. “El Movimiento” was the fight for Mexican American civil rights. In this piece I idolize Cesar Chavez who helped create the united workers union, which allowed farmworkers to have basic rights such as proper bathrooms and avoiding extreme exposure to pesticide while working. Ruben Salazar for giving “El Movimiento” coverage as he was a journalist. As well as standing against the Vietnam War where a vast number of Mexican Americans were dying. Dolores Huerta who also worked alongside Cesar Chavez in creating the workers labor union. She was a labor leader working to provide the opportunities for farm workers as well as rights. I also idolized music group “el chicano” as well for using a Jazzy/R&B type of groove but also having call to actions either in the titles or lyrics.The beat was remixed from the 1972 release “Suavecito” by Malo. I chose this song because it was a song that I was introduced to at a young age, and began to like the song. The whole creation was aided by a friend of mine who is a producer. He helped remix the original song and I added the spoken word to have the beat in the background, similar to Gil Scott-Heron.

 

Cklbg. “Malo-Suavecito.”Online video clip.Youtube.Youtube, July 27, 2017. Web 29 April, 2020 

 

Sebastian estrada. “MovimientoChicano.”Online video clip.Youtube. Youtube, Sep 10, 2014.web April 29, 2020

 

BESE. “The Lane Latinx Voice Of Journalist Ruben Salazar:Hidden Figuras.” Online Video Clip.Youtube.Youtube, Jan 2, 2020. Web April 29, 2020

 

History.com Editors, “CesarChavez”. History. A&E Television Networks, October 27, 2009. Web. April 27, 2020

 

Alex Henderson. “El Chicano”. All music. Allmusic.com. Web. May 1, 2020 

 

Mike Landers, “latin Rock Pioneers El Chicano-Greatest Hits”. LR Networks. Lowrider.com Nov 1, 2009. Web. May 01, 2020